Methods of collecting Algerian documents during the colonial period from the second half of the 19th century AD: The Algerian historical society as a model

Méthodes de collecte de documents algériens pendant la période coloniale à partir de la seconde moitié du XIXe siècle : La société historique algérienne comme modèle

Abstract

In 1856, encouraged by the Ministry of War, the French colonial authorities decided to establish the Algerian Historical Society. Among its stated objectives was the launch of a comprehensive campaign to explore Algerian territory, aiming to collect data and information on areas under French control, as well as to extend this inquiry into regions still considered "outside control." High on the Society’s agenda was the collection of documents, artifacts, numismatics, and other materials capable of shedding light on Algeria’s history—from the Libyan (antiquity) era to the period of Ottoman rule. The Society's official publication, Revue Africaine, founded the same year, became its mouthpiece. It mandated that all documents obtained by soldiers or civilians during the campaign be collected, translated, and recorded, with explicit mention of the geographical location in which they were found.

This research focuses specifically on Algeria, examining the methods of document collection, translation, and analysis employed between 1856 and 1871—a particularly challenging period in Algeria’s modern history. During this time, numerous regions resisted colonial occupation, leading to military campaigns met with fierce resistance, such as those led by Emir Abdelkader in the west and center, Ahmed Bey in the east, and revolts in Zaatcha (Biskra), Mokrani, and Awlad al-Sheikh across the country. This study seeks to answer a central question: What motivated the colonial authorities during this period to show interest in Algerian heritage in general and documentary heritage in particular? What methodology did Revue Africaine, as the voice of the Algerian Historical Society, employ in the collection and analysis of these documents? And what were the outcomes of these efforts?

The research adopts a bibliographic and analytical approach, drawing on documents published in Revue Africaine from its inception in 1856 through the end of the 19th century. This era witnessed unprecedented efforts to research, classify, and translate legal, military, property, and other documents by a group of officers, translators, and orientalists who were highly regarded in the academic circles of their time. One of the key findings of this study is that the campaign to describe Algeria during this period had an unspoken objective: to gain an intimate understanding of Algerian society—culturally, socially, and politically—in order to strengthen colonial control. The ultimate aim was to integrate Algeria fully into France, even to transform it into a Latin-Christian province, as envisioned by certain French thinkers such as Louis Bertrand throughout the 19th century.