Documentary archives play a crucial role in preserving the history and culture of a society. They gather documents and information that have been created or received by an organization, a company, a public institution or a natural person.

These documents can take various forms, such as written texts, photographs, audio or video recordings, maps, plans and drawings.

Documentary archives are used for academic research, genealogy, legal investigations, documentary film production, and much more. It is therefore vital to preserve them carefully in order to guarantee their accessibility for future generations.