Archives in the Age of Digital Humanities
University of Évora, 24-25 October 2018


An increasingly significant part of the current documentary memory is being digitized in the Information Technology (ICT) systems of private companies and public institutions, on servers connected to the global network, as well as on our computers and mobile devices. At the same time, files inherited from the past are subjected to digital conversion processes and become increasingly accessible over the Internet. To discuss the relationship between historical research, sources and digital means, means to confront a rapidly changing access to information dynamics, as well as to trace some lines of possible criticism of digital sources capable of providing the historian and not only with the essential tools for analysis and interpretation to face the complex technological, cultural and social stratifications of the new digital era.

We invite the submission of proposals that fit into the following thematic axes:

The digitization of public and private archives: limits, perspectives, repercussions of the technological revolution on and for the study of social and human sciences.
Methods and techniques of digitization and digital preservation: how to scan different documents and organize them into digital files; construction of archives and digital platforms; preservation, curation and obsolescence of digital archives.
The impact of information born in digital format: reflection about the impact of documents that are already born in digital format; use of digital-born sources by the various scientific communities and civil society; social networks as sources for the study of the present time.
Public use of the digital archive: new historiographic approaches on the impact of digital archives in the humanities and social sciences; the uses of digital archives and new ways of doing research; impact of digital archives in academia and civil society; reflections on the interpretation and manipulation of digital documents.


The selection of the proposals will be carried out by the members of the Scientific Committee, being guided by the objective of guaranteeing the maximum quality, relevance and originality of the works and also taking into account the scientific merit of the proponent(s).

The communication proposals must be presented in a text with a maximum of 500 words (in Portuguese, Spanish or English). Proposers should attach a biographical note of 200 words, indicating their institutional affiliation and an email for contact.

Proposals must be sent in word format to the following address: digitalarchiveconference@gmail.com


Submission Deadline: 30 June 2018
Notification of Acceptance: 13 July 2018


Organising Institutions:

Institute of Contemporary History - NOVA University of Lisbon
Interdisciplinary Center for History, Culture and Societies - University of Évora


Organising Committee:

Dália Guerreiro (CIDEHUS-UE)
Daniel Alves (IHC – NOVA FCSH)
Elisabetta Girotto (IHC – NOVA FCSH)
Maria de Fátima Nunes (Universidade de Évora e IHC-CEHFCi-UE)
Maria Inácia Rezola (ESCS-IPL e IHC – NOVA FCSH)
Nelson Vaquinhas (CIDEHUS-UE)
Paulo Batista (Câmara Municipal de Lisboa e CIDEHUS-UE)


Executive Committee:

Ângela Salgueiro (IHC-CEHFCi-UE-NOVA FCSH)
Elisabete Pereira (IHC-CEHFCi-UE)
Quintino Lopes (IHC-CEHFCi-UE)
Sara Albuquerque (IHC-CEHFCi-UE)


Scientific Committee:

Alfredo Caldeira (Fundação Mário Soares)
Ana Ribeiro (FLUC)
Daniel Gomes (FCCN)
Fernanda Bonacho (ESCS)
Fernanda Olival (Universidade de Évora e CIDEHUS-UE)
José Camões (FLUL)
Lurdes Rosa (IEM – NOVA FCSH)
Manuela Martins (Universidade do Minho)
Maria Manuel Borges (FLUC)
Paula Ochoa (CHAM – NOVA FCSH)
Pedro Penteado (ANTT)