Museum
National Archives of Romania - Mureș Department, Târgu Mureș
National Archives of Romania - Mureș Department, Târgu Mureș is a museum.
About National Archives of Romania - Mureș Department, Târgu Mureș
Overview & Identity
The National Archives of Romania - Mureș Department (Direcția Județeană a Arhivelor Naționale Mureș) is the regional archival institution responsible for preserving the documentary heritage of Mureș County in Transylvania, Romania. Located in the city of Târgu Mureș, the institution operates under the central National Archives of Romania system. As of the available records, the director of the institution is Prof. Dr. Liviu Boar. The archive serves as a critical repository for administrative, cultural, ecclesiastical, and family records relevant to the historical and contemporary development of the region.
History & Founding
The archival activity in Târgu Mureș formally began in 1952 with the establishment of a Regional Service (Serviciu Regional). This initial service maintained administrative subordination over regional branches in Reghin, Miercurea Ciuc, and Odorhei until the administrative reorganization of 1968. The institution has since evolved into the current County Directorate. The history of the archive is documented in local publications, including works by its director, Prof. Dr. Liviu Boar, who authored a text on the semicentennial of the Mureș archives in 2002.
Building & Architecture
The current headquarters of the Mureș Department of National Archives is located at 8 Crizantemelor Street in Târgu Mureș. The building was officially inaugurated on December 8, 1978, marking a significant milestone in the institution's infrastructure development. This facility replaced earlier, likely more temporary or shared, accommodations used since the 1952 founding. The address on Crizantemelor Street remains the permanent location for the archive's public services and storage facilities.
Collection Highlights & Notable Holdings
The archive holds a diverse array of funds, primarily comprising records from former administrative institutions operating in the current Mureș County territory. Significant holdings include educational and cultural institution records, ecclesiastical archives, and family fonds. The oldest document in the collection dates to 1369 and is a land purchase contract for a property in the village of Vulcan. A historically pivotal document is the 1470 charter issued by King Matthias Corvinus, granting the city of Târgu Mureș its own jurisdiction. The Teleki family fonds is particularly notable for containing two contemporary manuscript copies from 1791 of the Supplex Libellus Valachorum.
Significance & Public Access
The Mureș Department of National Archives plays a vital role in preserving the administrative and cultural memory of Transylvania. Its collection of the 1369 land contract and the 1470 royal charter provides essential primary sources for understanding the legal and political history of the region. The institution facilitates research through a dedicated study room, with specific public service hours available for researchers and the general public. The archive also serves as a repository for the Supplex Libellus Valachorum copies, a document of immense importance to the history of Romanian rights in Transylvania.