Þórunn Marel Þorsteinsdóttir, project manager of private archives, opened the symposium with the question “Do you want to collect this?” where she discussed the collection of private documents and the role of the National Archives in this context.

Next, historian Þórunn Guðmundsdóttir spoke, who explained the registration of Páll Sigurjónsson’s archive, an engineer and former director of Ístak. After her speech, Páll’s children – Bjarndís, Gísli, Þórunn and Sigurjón – formally handed over their father’s archive for preservation.

The final speaker was Ólafur Arnar Sveinsson, Director of Education and Research, who discussed awareness raising about the importance of private archives under the title “Relevant documents”.

The chairperson of the meeting was Steinunn Valdís Óskarsdóttir, chair of the Hollvinasamtök Þjóðskjalasafns Íslands. The event was well attended and lively discussions were created after the meeting.

The Páll Sigurjónsson Private Archives is the first collection that the Hollvinasamtök Þjóðskjalasafns (the Hollvina Association of the National Archives) has covered for processing and recording. With this project, the association is taking an important step towards the goal of supporting the collection, preservation and registration of private archives, raising awareness of the importance of private archives and encouraging individuals and organizations to contribute to their preservation for the future. The registration work was carried out by Þórunn Guðmundsdóttir and in close cooperation with the National Archives experts.

In the picture are General Director of the National Archives Hrefna Róbertsdóttir, Þórunn Guðmundsdóttir and Páll’s children; Bjarndís, Gísli, Þórunn and Sigurjón.