France Adot 65 gives its documentation to the departmental archives: “It is a part of the history of health in the department”

The France Adot 65 association, which aimed to promote organ donation, “was dissolved in December 2023”, recalls its former president Monique Barrau. The association, which operated for 37 years, requested the departmental archives to take care of all its documentation: papers, information panels, DVDs, photos, books, etc. Documents mainly focused on communication about organ donation. “The aim is that the 37 years of life of our association be preserved and can be used by anyone interested in the subject of organ and tissue donation, particularly high school students and students,” explains Monique Barrau.

The agreement for depositing the association's archives was signed this Tuesday, December 3, at the Ayguerotte hospital, by Monique Barrau and François Giustiniani, director of the departmental archives.

“These documents are a part of the history of health and the social history of the department. It is interesting for us to keep this trace.” François Giustiniani underlines that the documents donated by France Adot 65 will remain, for the immediate future, at the association's headquarters, at Ayguerotte and will be taken care of by the departmental archives when they move, at the end of 2025.

François Giustiniani adds that the departmental archives receive, as is the case for France Adot 65, archives through a donation when an association ceases its activity, but not only that. Associations still active, such as France Nature Environnement and Secours Populaire, entrust the management of their archives to the departmental archives. “What is with us is often more easily accessible, because it is classified, than in the premises of the associations,” underlines François Giustiniani.

“Ancient and contemporary documents”

The departmental archives therefore collect the archives of associations, unions, political parties, businesses, families, etc. “Your archives are our heritage”. François Giustiniani sites the catchphrase of his service. He adds, however, that “we do not take everything, but the departmental archives are, of course, old documents and also very contemporary documents. We already have documents from 2024. The prefecture's collection is released every months in the archives”. He adds that for certain archives, “we cannot yet comment on their interest for the future because we do not yet have enough perspective”.