About AIMH
I. Starting Point of Preparation: Foundation Built on Diplomatic Archives
In 1955, the Academia Sinica established the Preparatory Office of the Institute of Modern History. The first Director of the Preparatory Office, Mr. Kuo Ting-yi, placed great importance on the collection of primary original historical materials. During the preparation phase, the Institute consulted with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to receive critical diplomatic archives from the Qing Dynasty's Zongli Yamen, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Beiyang Government of the Republic of China, laying the foundation for the archives' collection and preservation.
II. Institutional Establishment: Concurrent Progress in Archive Organization and Research
To properly preserve and organize the received archives, the Institute officially established the Archives Room in 1958, initiating systematic archival compilation and preservation work. In April 1965, the Institute of Modern History was formally established, integrating research work with archival organization. Early researchers primarily focused on the organization of archives and the compilation of historical materials, which they then utilized to write academic papers and monographs, gradually establishing the academic foundation for the study of modern history.
III. Expansion of Collections: Moving from Diplomacy to Economy
Starting in 1966, the Institute successively received archives from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, including those from the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republican period. This expanded the scope of the collections from the diplomatic field to the economic sector, making the structure and range of the holdings more complete and providing key historical materials for researching modern state governance and economic development.
IV. Opening of the Building: A Milestone for Professional Development
As the scale of the collections and academic needs continued to grow, and through the active efforts of Director Lyu Shih-chiang, the Archives opened a new building in 1988. The facility featured a loop-shaped warehouse, a reading room, an archival processing room, and a conference room, providing a better preservation environment and research space. This marked the Archives' entry into a new stage of professional and institutional development.
V. Diversification of Collection Sources: Integration of Personal Papers and Institutional History
Starting in 1996, the archives of the Personal Papers Room, which originally belonged to the Institute's library, were transferred to the Archives for management. In 1999, the Institutional History Materials Room was also merged into the Archives. Subsequently, personal papers from scholars and donations from organizations were gradually received, shaping another important and diverse source of collections alongside official government archives.
VI. Cooperation and Transformation: Moving Toward the Digital Age
In recent years, the Archives have continued to deepen cooperation with institutions both within and outside the Academia Sinica. This includes collaborating with public sectors such as the Academia Historica, National Defense University, the Military News Agency of the Ministry of National Defense, and the Bureau of Investigation of the Ministry of Justice on data collection and digitalization. These efforts promote the integration and opening of archival resources to respond to changes in research methodologies and user needs.
Through long-term and continuous collection, organization, and institutional development, the Archives have gradually shaped a complete collection system and professional operational model, reflecting an organizational history where modern history research and archival work have mutually shaped and supported one another.