On the occasion of the visit, the Archives’ staff curated a small exhibition of historic human resources–related documents preserved in the collection, which drew considerable interest from visitors. Among the exhibits were records from the archival collections of Bessastaðir and Viðey dating from the 17th century, as well as a private archive from Stóra-Háeyri in Eyrarbakki from around the turn of the 20th century.

The group received an introduction to public records management and instruction on various practical approaches to records administration, registration, and preservation. In addition, recent examples from public debate were discussed, touching on the right to information, the functioning of public administration, citizens’ rights, and the history of the nation.

Ólöf Jóna Tryggvadóttir, Process and Quality Manager, and Heiðar Lind Hansson, Head of Aquisition and Supervision, welcomed the guests.

Heiðar Lind Hansson spoke about public administration.

A receipt for the purchase made by Kolfinna Halldórsdóttir, housekeeper at Bessastaðir, from the year 1646. Her wages were three ells of fine linen and four ells of cloth.

Letters of dismissal for labourers at Bessastaðir and in Viðey from 1645. The document is a receipt for expenses relating to the labourers in 1645, with a note stating that these expenses were not anticipated for the following year.

An employment contract of Benedikt Jónsson, formerly a winter fishing-season worker. Here he hires himself out for carpentry and other household work from 4 May 1898 to 14 May 1899, to Guðmundur Ísleifsson at Stóra-Háeyri in Eyrarbakki.