Our goal is, through accelerated efforts, to restore the reputation and dignity of the institution, to strengthen awareness of the importance of archival heritage as a pillar of identity and statehood, and to position the State Archives as a modern European archive that actively participates in international scholarly and cultural exchange,” emphasizes Director Bogeski.
New energy, new dynamics, and a modern way of perceiving and thinking about the role of the State Archives are what the new director of this important state institution, Dimitar Bogeski, aims to bring into its work. A historian by education, the 45-year-old Bogeski has been part of the institution since 2008, having held various positions: Head of the Skopje Department, State Adviser, and Head of the Department – Central Section. In an interview for the newspaper Večer, he announces several projects and initiatives that will be the focus of his work, all with the goal of ensuring that the Archive is not only a guardian of the past, but also an active builder of the future.
The Macedonian State Archives marks 75 years of its mission this year. How satisfied are you with the status of the institution in Macedonian society?
– The beginnings of the State Archives date back to the period immediately after the Second World War, when, within the framework of ASNOM in 1944, the first legal regulations for the protection of cultural and historical monuments were adopted. The official establishment of the Archives took place on the basis of Decree No. 3/6-II-1951, when the People’s Assembly of the People’s Republic of Macedonia adopted the Law on State Archives. Pursuant to that Law, on April 1, 1951, the State Archives of the People’s Republic of Macedonia was established, with its headquarters in Skopje. The main role of the State Archives is the collection, preservation, processing, and protection of archival material, especially that originating from the highest state bodies. The Archives is the only institution that has specialized sectors and departments for protection and conservation—a conservation and restoration laboratory, a microfilming laboratory, a bookbinding unit, as well as a Sector for research, international and domestic cooperation, and the publication of archival materials.
– Regarding the status of the institution over the past decade, although we are an independent administrative body, unfortunately we have faced serious challenges: a decline in discipline, insufficient fulfillment of work tasks, reduced capacities, and inadequate care for the cultural heritage preserved in our repositories. Nevertheless, in the short period behind us, we have managed to address the inherited shortcomings and have begun to move forward with new energy, new dynamics, and a modern way of perceiving and thinking about the role of the Archives. Our goal is, through accelerated efforts, to restore the reputation and dignity of the institution, to strengthen awareness of the importance of archival heritage as a pillar of identity and statehood, and to position the State Archives as a modern European archive that actively participates in international scholarly and cultural exchange. In this way, the Archives is not only a guardian of the past, but also an active builder of the future.
What is kept in the repositories? What are they, and which documents—from which periods—are the most significant and most valuable materials preserved there?
– Today, after 75 years of activity, the Archives preserves in its repositories 1,486 archival fonds, 28 document collections, 36,000 archival boxes, 10,880 archival books, 14,245 binders, 18,400 microfilms, around 58 million documents, and 7 million micro-recordings. The oldest document held by the Archives dates back to the 12th century—the Gospel of Saint Apostle Luke. Among the more significant fonds is the “Bitola Kadi Register,” which contains archival material from 1607 to 1912, providing continuity over three centuries. From the period of the national-revolutionary movement of the Macedonian people, the fonds of our revolutionaries and revivalists have been preserved: Goce Delchev, Grigor Prlichev, Kuzman Shapkarev, Dimitar Vlahov, Petar Mandzhukov, Krste Misirkov, and others. The Archives also holds fonds from the period of Bulgarian administration, from the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, from the occupation (1941–1945), as well as from the National Liberation Struggle, where many highly significant materials are preserved. A special place is held by the fonds from the period of the creation of the Macedonian state and its reconstruction (1944–1991), which contain the most important documents of the Government, the Executive Council, the Assembly, the ministries, and the Presidency of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia. Over the years, the Archives has succeeded in achieving its goal: to enable all citizens, through documents, to become acquainted with their own history. Only in this way can we affirm identity and ensure the survival of human memory.
How accessible are the archival documents currently held in archives of other countries to our researchers?
– In the past, research has been conducted in archives where there is knowledge of documents related to Macedonia, and that process has not been interrupted. In addition, the trend of expanding international cooperation continues steadily on our part, with a number of memoranda and cooperation agreements having been signed. International cooperation is further complemented by significant visits to foreign archives, aimed at following new trends in archival practice, as well as by research stays of archival staff. Here I would like to single out the recent visit to the State Archives of Turkey, where we have an excellent relationship that includes the exchange of archivists and researchers. As a positive example, I would highlight two of our employees—Orientalists—who brought back rich fonds of xerographed archival materials. What I wish to emphasize is that European archives are open to us and we have full access to them; however, the main obstacle remains financial resources. Additionally, it should be stressed that access to archives in neighboring countries is of particular importance, since a large portion of historical documents related to Macedonia are preserved precisely there. In order to facilitate the work of our researchers, it is necessary to provide more scholarships, grants, and financial support for their stays abroad. Finally, it is essential to develop a strategy for the digitalization and exchange of archival materials, which would enable our researchers to access important documents without facing major financial and logistical obstacles.
Is it possible for those archives to provide or transfer archival materials significant for Macedonia? What does that depend on?
– Negotiations are still ongoing, and our goal is to obtain documents that originated from and are related to Macedonia in their original form. At the same time, our efforts are focused on securing funding for their digitization, making them accessible to the public. In many cases, archives in other countries do not allow the transfer of originals, as they are considered part of the national cultural heritage. Therefore, access is most often provided through copies, microfilms, or digital records. Additionally, the willingness of the archives themselves to cooperate and share materials is crucial. Our strategy is to build trust and partnership with foreign archives through regular visits, expert exchanges, and joint projects. In this way, we not only secure copies of significant documents but also create conditions for their systematic processing and scholarly analysis.
As the State Archives, you operate in the new building, but there have been remarks that it is insufficiently secure and safe. Isn’t that a risk for losing the most valuable materials?
– It is true that we are facing certain technical issues, and it is also true that the Government, through the Service for General and Common Affairs, is making efforts to improve the technical conditions of the building itself. As the Director of the State Archives, with a vision for this activity, I believe that, as in other European countries (Slovenia, Turkey), once the country achieves economic stabilization in the coming period, we should present a plan that over the next decades will meet the necessary challenges in accordance with the times and modern standards. This means that my goal is to present a plan for a new facility that will satisfy all international standards for the protection and preservation of archival material. In the meantime, we are taking concrete measures to protect the existing archival material—regularly monitoring conditions in the repositories and providing special protective packaging for the most valuable documents—with one purpose: to reduce the risk of damage and ensure their permanent accessibility for researchers and the public.
Is the process of digitizing archival materials that you hold an imperative for everyone, including our Archive? How far along are you in that plan?
– Are there certain problems here? What should digitization bring? Unfortunately, the process of digitizing archival materials was seriously neglected over the past ten years. I must admit that, as an institution, we have not digitized even one percent of the total number of documents held by the State Archives and its regional departments. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of software or a platform on which future scanned documents could be made accessible to the public. However, these problems will not be ignored. In the coming period, we will actively address these accumulated challenges, and we have already launched a pilot project in cooperation with Slovenia to develop software. This project is expected to bring many benefits, as it will enable citizens in Macedonia, and around the world, to access documents of historical, cultural, economic, and social significance with just a few clicks. Moreover, digitization will protect the original documents from physical damage, facilitate the work of researchers, and increase the transparency of the institution. Digitization will also bring economic benefits by reducing the costs of physical storage and by providing opportunities for additional revenue through specialized services for researchers and institutions.
Is the valuable archival material still held outside, in private archives, especially by former prominent state leaders or directors?
– It is known that some former Macedonian officials have transferred their archives to the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU). Shouldn’t the State Archives have been their custodian? Are changes needed in this regard—for example, making it obligatory for such official archives to be handed over to the State Archives, since they were created while performing state duties? The Inspection Service of the State Archives oversees the archival materials created by state institutions, including the President and the Government. According to the law, these institutions are required to care for archival materials of permanent value, and after 20 years from the end of their operational service, these materials must be submitted to the State Archives for scholarly research purposes. This oversight has been significantly strengthened and is already yielding concrete results, as a large portion of archival materials are now in our repositories. However, in the past, there have been prominent officials who decided to transfer their personal fonds to other institutions, even though their personal materials should have been deposited in the State Archives. That was their choice. In the future, we will try to engage in discussions with these institutions and request that such materials be transferred and preserved where they belong—in the State Archives of Macedonia. Additionally, we believe that legal amendments should be considered to establish the obligation for official archives, created in the course of performing state duties, to be mandatorily submitted to the State Archives. This would ensure their permanent protection and prevent their dispersal or loss.
Construction of a New Modern Archive
What should be the permanent solution for the State Archives building: returning to the old building, renovating the existing one, or constructing a new facility?
– The old building has fulfilled its purpose; it was constructed according to all the criteria of its time, with the goal of serving the Archives’ functions for the next 40 years. Naturally, those 40 years have passed, and the building has been reassigned to another institution. We are aware that today we require different standards, and technological developments do not allow us to return to the old location. Therefore, our plan remains to propose a new solution: the construction of a modern archive that will meet all top technical and digital requirements for the coming decades. The new building should be designed according to the highest standards for fire protection, humidity and temperature control, and include specialized repositories for storing the most valuable documents. At the same time, it must also feature a modern digitization center, enabling archival materials to be accessible online.
Exhibitions, Publications, and Document Presentations for Commemorating the Anniversary. Одбележувате вреден јубилеј, планирате ли соодветни активности?
– This year, 2026, is a milestone—the 75th anniversary of the founding of the State Archives. This anniversary will be commemorated not only with a ceremonial academy on April 1, the day the Archives was established, but also with the promotion of publications and documents that describe the history and development of our state. These promotions will be public and accessible to all citizens and researchers. Additionally, numerous exhibitions are planned, for which the public will be informed in a timely manner.