CSI-AV - Digitisation of audiovisual sources from the CSI archive
The aim of the project
is to digitise all audiovisual sources, namely photographs, sound and video recordings from the historical archive of Christian Solidarity International (CSI). The digitisation serves on the one hand to ensure the long-term preservation and protection of the sources and on the other hand makes it possible to use them easily and independently of location by researchers and the interested public.
Description of the project
The historical archive of the aid organisation Christian Solidarity International (CSI) was taken over by the Archives of Contemporary History (AfZ) between 2019 and 2022. At the time of the takeover, it comprised around 95 linear metres of written records and 17 linear metres of audiovisual sources. All the documents were carefully evaluated; in particular, the audiovisual part was reduced to a meaningful selection and, after processing, still comprised 6 linear metres. Despite being catalogued in the archive database, some of the audiovisual sources cannot be made available to archive users at all or only under difficult conditions. For example, negatives from cameras can only be viewed with the help of a light box and a magnifying glass, and a playback environment is completely lacking for the professional Betacam video cassettes.
Digitisation removes these technical barriers to use. The possibility of accessing all digitised material in the Archives' virtual reading room makes it easier for all archive users and also enables the Archives to simplify the work of its user services.
The project involves the digitisation of around 4,500 photos, as well as around 100 hours of audio and video material. The various carriers are digitised by specialised service providers.
Synergies and context
The sources provide insights into the work of a Christian aid organisation that has been implementing international projects for several decades and has thus been active in politically volatile areas throughout history. They supplement other collections with similar topics from the AfZ and other archives, thus enabling a multi-perspective view of the work of aid organisations.
Time frame
2025