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Scope and content

This collection lists some sources which are not archives but publications and printed documents which are not part of any archival fonds or sole collection (i.e.: copies of books and printed documents which can be found in different institutions or private collections).

The Ethiopian archbishop’s residence in the old city preserves a part of Ethiopian community’s archives. These archives are divided into two main sections: the current administrative archival office, which includes all types of administrative documents, and the manuscript section.

• The Administrative section
  In the current administrative archival office, there is an heterogeneous set of documents dated from the end of 19th century to present. There is no historical archives properly speaking. These archives are still used by the local administration for current affairs.
  Among all the folders stored in that place, seven include documents created before 1950: folders n°6, 154, 356, 358, 359, 360 and a last one entitled in Amharic “yä-leyu leyu guday däräseññoč käzih yegäññalu” including different types of documents unclassified. In addition to these folders, a book written in 1903-1904 (manuscript in Amharic) was recorded as “folder” n°172 and a report written in 1925 as “folder” 216.
  Documents dated before to 1950 found in the archives (ca. 160 documents) are administrative and financial documents, such as payment receipts, cheques, bank documents, financial reports, letters and correspondence including daily issues of the community, etc. These documents are written in Arabic, English, French, German languages. Amharic marginalia are often added to documents in order to give a clue to the topic of the document. Very few documents are fully written in Amharic. 55 documents are written in Arabic.

• The manuscripts section
  The manuscripts section carefully preserves numerous parchment and paper manuscripts written in Ethiopian languages (Geez and Amharic). The collection represents more than 760 manuscripts. The oldest one dates back to the 15th century.

Through this collection, one could study the daily life of the Ethiopian religious community established in Jerusalem, and get information to understand all their problems and opportunities, such as housing, supplies, access to public services, administration or worship. Receipts and payment document are witnesses of Ethiopian involvement in local life.

In the Waqf Inheritance section, the number of documents approaches a million and a half; as well there are 2,500 manuscripts covering various subjects, including religion, philosophy, Arabic language, history and so on. Among them, the Open Jerusalem team selected a body of 41 files (totalizing 668 pages) issued by the Jerusalem Awqâf administration and related to Moghrabi neighborhood in Jerusalem.
Note : the spelling is “Mograbi” from Arabic to English, and “Maghariba” from Ottoman Turkish to English.

These maps were commissioned to Dario Ingiusto for the purpose of the Open Jerusalem project. They represent Jerusalem at different stages of its evolution, from 1187 to 1967.

These documents are part of the records created by Vincent Lemire during his historical research on the Mughrabi quarter.
They mainly consist in photographs of objects which were found by archeologists on excavation sites and which are kept by the Israel Antiquity Authority (IAA). There are also a photograph of the Western Wall Plaza and an extract from his research notebook.

The documents of the collection are classified by year; it includes incoming and outgoing correspondence, comprising those from the Embassy in Constantinople on the affairs in Jerusalem: original messages from Russian Ambassadors and Envoys in foreign states, their letters, reports, telegrams; instructions, notes, and telegrams from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This fonds includes non-political documents about Greece, about the Greek Church, public health, police, pilgrims, and Russians acquisitions and buildings in Palestine.

This is a huge fonds, including more than 90000 units and described by 173 inventories. A number of sections deal with Republic of Turkey and Near East, including topics such as trade, archaeology, water supply and sewer system.

The fonds contains materials of the former State Main, and of St. Petersburg Main Archives : the gathered documents result from the activity of structural institutions of the central apparatus of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs, and of consular and diplomatic offices abroad; most part of them date back to 1800-1885.
The collection is divided into five artificial ranks, which are divided into families. Documents are then organised according topics.
In the first rank (a significant part of it is closed for researchers) a great number of documents are connected with Jerusalem, including:
I-1 catalogue 12. All-respectful reports on the affairs in Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Serbia (1822-1879).
I-1 catalogue 19. Highly confirmed projects of messages on issues in the Middle East (1816-1855).
I-9 catalogue 8. Materials on commissioning diplomatic envoys (in Turkey, as well), information on the events in Turkey, materials on the clergy, and ecclesiastic affairs. Notes, and memos. Materials on construction of the railways, and telegraph (1774-1905).
I-10 catalogue 28. Printed copies of agreements, conventions, treaties (especially with Turkey).
Many documents on Palestine are kept in the Second Rank (1763-1900), including:
II-3 catalogue 34. Russian trade exchanges with countries of the Middle East, reports of consulates, and the general situation in the consulates (1783-1869).
II-3 catalogue 35. Russian trade exchanges with countries of the Middle East, reports of consulates, and the general situation in the consulates (1869-1896).
II-9 catalogue 46. Spiritual affairs, monastic properties, Russian pilgrims in Palestine.
II-9 catalogue 83. Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem.
II-10 catalogue 49. Trip of Prof. Pomialovsky to Palestine (1864-1891).
IV-10 catalogue 129. Private messages of administrator of the Consulate in Jerusalem, on the situation in Jerusalem (1801-1879).
IV-16 catalogue 134. On the protection of rights of Orthodox clergy at the East by the Russian government.
IV-18 catalogue 137. A project of arranging the water-supply system in Jerusalem.