A new digital repository is now freely available on the Internet, with more than 1.500 items, which testify to the history of the bourgeoisie of Lesvos of the 19th and 20th century. This is the repository of the Aegean Historical Archive "Ergani" (www.ergani-repository.gr), implemented by the National Documentation Center (ESF) in collaboration with the Archives, aiming at highlighting its richly documented material, capturing the business and cultural growth of the northeastern Aegean in previous centuries.
The archival material of "Ergani" highlights the political developments, the standard development of olive cultivation, entrepreneurship and the daily life of the bourgeoisie of Lesvos two centuries ago. Through newspapers, letters, financial documents, photographs, brochures, engineering drawings, postcards, literary texts, films of the period 1924-1929, the daily life during this historical period is captured.
Historians, researchers, students, web visitors with historical, social and folklore interests, visitors and residents of the North-East Aegean have the possibility to navigate the digital repository of "Ergani" gaining access to the documented content of the Archive. By searching for evidence using various criteria, such as family name, date, content type or place name, the users of the Repository can familiarize themselves with archival material, register as users receiving personalized research services and print material of interest.
The Archive takes its name from machine olive collection "Ergani", an invention of the Mytilini businessman, artist and inventor, Mitsa Kourtzis. "Ergani" was a particularly interesting innovation in 1924, recognized internationally in conferences and magazines of the time. The collection of the Kourtzis family, which is included in the archive, is of particular value, as it contains documents dating from the beginning of the 19th century. and they reach up to 1985, testifying to the gradual process of cutting off Lesbos from its natural geographical surroundings, the coasts of Asia Minor and the wider area of the Black Sea.
The repository is an information standard system management and promotion of the archival collections of "Ergani". Its purpose is the organized disposal of the digital content of the Archive, so as to facilitate the study of the complex historical-social phenomena that characterized the wider area of the BA. Aegean during the 19th and 20th centuries.
In order to document the Archive, common metadata formats have been adopted applying international standards, incorporating controlled vocabularies, established terms of topics, content types, individuals, collective organs and families, and ensuring direct and friendly access to information in terms of interoperability.
The Historical Archive of the Aegean "Ergani" is an urban non-profit corporation founded in 2002 and located in Mytilini. "Ergani" aims to protection and exploitation of the Greek cultural heritage represented by the Archive.
The development of the Aegean Historical Archive Repository "Ergani" was completed in the framework of the Operation "National Information System Research and Technology / Social Networks - User Generated Content" (Operational Program "Digital Convergence", NSRF, with the co-financing of the EU - European Regional Development Fund) (www.epset.gr), which is the main development project of the ESF.
The ESF (www.ekt.gr) develops digital repository services for organizations of high quality educational, research, scientific and cultural content. Soon, these services will evolve further, utilizing the Software as a Service model. The aim is to create a strong knowledge network for the exploitation and re-use of the reputable Greek digital content.
Addresses on the Internet
Repository of the Aegean Historical Archive "Ergani"
http://www.ergani-repository.gr
National Information System for Research and Technology
http://www.epset.gr
