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Interview: Amalia Pappa on the General State Archives of Greece
An interview with Amalia Pappa, Deputy General Director of the General State Archives of Greece, discusses the institution's role in promoting public engagement with history, confronting difficult pasts, and the emotional impact of archival research.
Greek
Greece
EntertainmentGreeceHistoryIdentityMemoryArchives
General State Archives Of Greece (Gak)National Library Of Greece (Ebe)ErtCultural Foundation Of The National Bank Of Greece
Amalia PappaEleftherios VenizelosGiannis VlahoyannisAnna Maria (Queen Of Greece)
- Where and under what circumstances did the interview take place?
- The interview took place at a cafe in Kolonaki, Athens, where the relaxed setting allowed for a wide-ranging conversation about the role of archives, both in Greece and internationally.
- What is Amalia Pappa's role, and what are some of her key achievements at the General State Archives of Greece?
- Amalia Pappa, the Deputy General Director and Director of Archival Research and Promotion at the General State Archives (GAK) of Greece, has overseen a series of successful initiatives to increase the GAK's public profile and accessibility.
- Can you describe an emotionally challenging encounter Pappa had with a citizen that highlights the human element of archival work?
- Pappa emphasizes the human side of archival work, describing emotionally charged encounters with individuals seeking information about their origins, adoptions, and family histories.
- What types of requests does the GAK receive from citizens, and what does this tell us about the importance of archives to the public?
- The GAK receives many requests from people searching for information about their personal histories, origins, and identities, highlighting the significant role that archives play in helping individuals connect with their past.
- How does the destruction of political files in 1989 illustrate a broader issue regarding how nations approach their difficult histories?
- The destruction of millions of political files in 1989 represents a major gap in Greece's archival history, a choice to avoid confronting a difficult past unlike some other European countries that have chosen to address their own complex histories more directly.