BME Archives Preserve 180 Years of University Records

"The oldest processed documents in our collection date from the mid-19th century, while the most recent ones were created just before the introduction of the Neptun electronic study administration system. This is the very first document in the archive: a notice from the Chancellery announcing appointments to the departments of the József Industrial School [BME’s former name], dated 25 June 1846," says assistant archivist Dávid Derda, pointing to one of the treasures housed in the Archives of the BME National Technical Information Centre and Library (OMIKK).

At the bottom of the yellowed document, beneath the ornate signatures, appear the names of Count György Apponyi — most likely the father of Albert Apponyi and a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences — and Count László Teleki, probably the late vice-president of the National Protection Association (Védegylet) and also a member of the Academy.

The Archives are located in the basement of Building K, yet the storage area is surprisingly modern. Nearly two centuries of university records are preserved in compact mobile shelving. We originally came to photograph the recently restored student registers of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering from the early 20th century, but there are plenty of other fascinating historical documents to discover.

The student registers contain virtually every important piece of information about the students enrolled in a given academic year, making them exceptionally valuable historical records. They include personal data, programme information, enrolment dates, the number of completed semesters, the date of the final certificate (absolutorium), diploma numbers and issue dates, as well as a semester-by-semester record of all completed courses and grades. The Archives can finance the restoration of a few documents each year. In most cases, the bindings require repair, as ageing spines can no longer securely hold the pages together.

Although these historic volumes are no longer consulted on a daily basis, researchers occasionally use them when looking for specific historical information. They are also essential for pension administration and diploma verification. The registers can confirm whether someone attended BME, the exact period of their studies, whether they completed their degree, and whether a diploma was ultimately awarded.

According to Dávid Derda, the Archives hold such an extensive collection that many records remain only partially processed — or have yet to be processed at all. New material continues to arrive as well, although naturally in much smaller quantities than in the era of paper-based administration. Faculties and departments retain their records in accordance with the University's records management schedule before transferring them to the Archives, where each new batch becomes part of a collection that has been growing continuously for 180 years.

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photos: Viktor Hankó