"RUSSIAN ARCHIVAL ENCYCLOPEDIA": FORMULATION OF A PROBLEM
The article objective is to present the idea of creating “Russian Archival Encyclopedia”, which arose during work on the collection “The role of archives in information support of historical science” (Moscow, 2017, published as a part of the project “The role of museums - libraries - archives in information support of historical science”). The author describes necessary and sufficient conditions for its creation: the presence of scientific knowledge of a certain level and its carriers - researchers and specialists in the encyclopedic affair field; management systems capable to solve organizational and logistical tasks and provide financing. The paper substantiates usefulness of the archival encyclopedia for the society: it still characterizes the measure and degree of conventionalism and satisfies the need for reference information resources. The author shows advantages of an interdisciplinary approach. Working on an archival encyclopedia allows correcting our knowledge on the archive, if its creators would follow an encyclopedic canon; collect verified information about the totality of facts reflecting the chosen object objectively; implement the aim of actualization of the documentary heritage in its entirety and diversity related to the texts of culture, the cultural context of our and previous eras, public administration; present individual archives and the archive as an institution of historical memory in evolutionary development. The author determines territorial (Russia) and chronological (the whole protoarchives and archives history) frames and main blocks (sections) of the encyclopedia topic structure: articles on archives and their types, history and organization of archival affairs, biographical sketches. According to author’s opinion, the archival encyclopedia should help to advance significantly in studying the archive and understanding the history of Russia, provide materials to monitor the situation in this sphere and elaborate strategies for its development by the authorities.