On December 2024, the first issue of International Journal of Documentary Heritage (IJODH) came out. Published last year under the auspices of the UNESCO International Centre for Documentary Heritage (ICDH), IJODH will serve as a window to promote interdisciplinary research on documentary heritage. The new publication is the first and only academic platform in the field of documentary heritage.
IJODH will address 1) increasing understanding of the concepts, theories, and methodologies of documentary heritage, 2) preserving and digitizing documentary heritage, 3) promoting international cooperation and knowledge exchange, 4) encouraging ethical and responsible use of documentary heritage, and 5) the social, cultural, and economic value of documentary heritage. This will contribute to the development of the UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme.
The publisher of the journal notes that this academic journal arrives at a critical moment, providing a much-needed platform to protect, study and celebrate humanity’s collective documentary heritage – a legacy that connects us across cultures, generations and histories.
The first issue covers a variety of topics. One of the articles “The Lithuanian Encyclopedia Published in Boston as a Unique Cultural Phenomenon” by independent researcher Ramūnas Kondratas writes about a unique cultural phenomenon of the Lithuanian diaspora, the 37-volume Lietuvių Enciklopedija [Lithuanian Encyclopedia], which was published in South Boston, Massachusetts by the Lithuanian Encyclopedia Press from 1953 until 1985. It is the only known example in the world of a general (universal) encyclopedia published by an ethnic community in their native language, while living in the diaspora.
IJODH welcomes contributions from scholars, specialists, and professionals worldwide. Submission guidelines and further information are available on journal’s website.
The first issue of the journal can be accessed here.