Safeguarding the memory and the identity of the organisation that produced them, the archives are kept for their value as evidence and their historical interest.
The archives are in various formats: printed documents and manuscripts, photographs, plans, graphic materials, electronic files etc.
The archives prior to 1999, when the museum and the estate were combined within a national department, are divided into two main collections which are produced on the one hand, by the curator, in charge of the museum and on the other hand the architect, in charge of the estate.
The Conservation archives relate to the furnishings at the château, the collections and the management of the château then museum, since the early 19th century.
They contain records relating to acquisitions, movements and the restoration of works, inventories, the management of museum staff, interaction with the architect or with central government, accounting etc.
In addition to the paper archive there is an extensive photographic archive.
The Estate archives relate to the management of the buildings and gardens and the work carried out there. The oldest documents date back to the 18th century.
They include records relating to the restoration works and maintenance of the château and gardens, to security, to the management of technical facilities, to the management of staff and accommodation, etc.
In addition to the paper archive there is a photographic archive and an extensive map archive (around 6,000 maps).
Since it was created in 2009, the EPCF is responsible for the management of its administrative archives.
The CRES collects accessions to the archives from the various departments at the château.
Total accessions between 2009 and 2018 amounted to more than 100 linear metres of archive boxes. Since 2017, archive collection has gradually included born-digital archives which receive special treatment.
The archives are also supplemented by donations or purchases. The proportion of these private additions to the archives is low but regularly supplements the resources available.
Conservation archives
Research into these archives can be carried out using research instruments, notably:
Items no. 1 to 37065: Verification "said to be from 1934" of the museum’s Conservation archives from 1785 to 1900, handwritten, by Maurice Couturaud. Item by item inventory, 1934.
C2 art. 1-350: museum’s Conservation archives (1921-2008): provisional digital inventory by Patricia da Costa, 35 p., 2015.
1 C art. 1-531: Inventory of ledgers (1806-1989), by Sophie Daënens, 51 p., 2005.
Estate archives
Research into these archives can be carried out using research instruments, notably:
1 D 1 art. 1-556: Digital inventory of archives from the Architecture and Estate Conservation Department [1738-1999], by Patricia da Costa, 92 p., 2014.
1 D 2 art. 1-260: Digital inventory of archives from the Architecture and Estate Conservation Department. Work records (1803-1925), 1st section: 1803-1916, by Mélanie Péraste, 133 p., 2017.
Boxes 1 to 27, and I to XXVI: Catalogue of drawings, engravings and reproductions [including old plans by the Palace architects] ([1736]-1939), by Albert Bray, 83 p., 1943.
Private archives
There are two main archives:
F 3223 C: Private archives of Brigadier Arthur Vincent. Handwritten notes and documents about the history of the château: detailed digital inventory by Patricia da Costa, 11 p., 2014.
1 AP/1-26: Private archives of Georges d'Esparbès, curator of the museum from 1905 to 1930 (19th century-1920): detailed digital inventory by Patricia da Costa, 30 p., 2016.
