Georgian Manuscripts Center: Archives and Historic Books

National Centre of Manuscripts was established in 1958 on the initiative of Professor Ilia Abuladze. Today, the Center is an important repository of Georgian and foreign manuscripts, historical documents, personal archives, public figures, unique printed books, photocopies and microfilms of the Georgian manuscript heritage stored abroad. The National Center of Manuscripts is also an international research organization for the sciences of Kartvelology.

The Center contains more than 10,000 Georgian manuscripts and up to 40,000 units of Georgian historical documents. Foreign manuscripts are represented by documents in Arabic, Persian, Armenian, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, Ethiopian, Mongolian, and Russian. The special fund “Series V” (Miscellaneous) unites important manuscripts written in Latin, Italian, French, Polish, German, English, and other European languages.

The chronological framework of the materials stored in the National Center of Manuscripts covers the period from the 2nd century BC to the 20th century. The Center has a rich scientific library, which also houses the memorial cabinets of K. Kekelidze, I. Abuladze, I. Javakhishvili, N. Berdzenishvili, Sh. Amiranashvili, E. Metreveli, Nino and Kalistrate Salia, Tamara and Akaki Papava. The Centre has a large exhibition hall, where important thematic exhibitions are regularly held.

The National Center of Manuscripts in Georgia is one of the largest and most significant repositories of cultural heritage in the Middle East and the Caucasus region. It was founded in 1958 on the initiative of Professor Ilia Abuladze and today is the most important center for the study and preservation of manuscripts, historical documents and personal archival funds of Georgia and many other countries.

The collection of the National Center of Manuscripts consists of more than 10,000 manuscripts and about 40,000 historical documents, as well as unique printed books, photocopies and microfilms stored abroad. The manuscripts include both Georgian and foreign documents in different languages, such as Arabic, Persian, Armenian, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, Ethiopian, Mongolian and Russian. Particular attention is paid to the preservation and study of manuscripts written in various European languages, including Latin, Italian, French, Polish, German, English, etc. The center also houses memorial offices of famous Georgian scholars, art historians and writers, such as K. Kekelidze, I. Abuladze, I. Javakhishvili, N. Berdzenishvili, Sh. Amiranashvili, E. Metreveli, Nino and Kalistrate Salia, Tamara and Akaki Papava.

The chronological framework of the materials stored in the National Center of Manuscripts covers the period from the 2nd century BC to the 20th century, making it not only one of the largest, but also the most diverse repository of historical heritage.

The National Center of Manuscripts is also an international research organization on Kartvelology.

Kartvelology is a scientific discipline that studies the history, language and culture of the peoples of the Caucasus, including Georgians, Abkhazians, Adyghe, Lezgins, Svans and others. The Center includes the Research Institute of Culture and History of the Caucasus, where research is conducted in the fields of history, archeology, ethnography, linguistics, literary studies and other branches of science related to the Caucasus.

The Center has also created an international scientific and educational program "Caucasian Cultures and Languages", which is intended for students and scholars from around the world. Within the framework of this program, lectures, seminars and conferences are held on various topics related to the history, culture and languages ​​of the Caucasus.

The richness of the collection of the National Center of Manuscripts attracts researchers from all over the world. Many manuscripts and documents are of great historical and cultural significance, as they date back to the period when Georgia was the center of the cultural and political life of the region. One of the most valuable books kept in the National Center of Manuscripts is "The Martyrdom of Saint Shushannik" - a Georgian literary monument of the 10th century, which is one of the first works of Georgian literature written in the Georgian language.

In addition, the center stores manuscripts and documents related to famous personalities such as the poet and statesman Shota Rustaveli, historian and archaeologist Ekvtime Takaishvili, writer and public figure Ilia Chavchavadze, writer and diplomat Konstantin Gruzinsky and others.

institutions around the world. Within the framework of international cooperation, the center participates in various scientific projects, organizes exhibitions, conferences and seminars. An important area of ​​cooperation is the exchange of manuscripts and books with other libraries and manuscript centers around the world.

One of the most interesting projects in which the National Center of Manuscripts participates is the "Electronic Manuscripts of Georgia" project. This project creates electronic copies of Georgian manuscripts and publishes them on the Internet to make them available for research and study around the world. This greatly simplifies access to the collection of the National Center of Manuscripts, allowing researchers, scholars and students to access unique materials from anywhere in the world.

In addition, the center actively cooperates with other cultural institutions in organizing exhibitions. The exhibition hall of the center is one of the most visited museums in Georgia. The exhibition hall regularly hosts exhibitions on various topics such as Georgian manuscripts, history of Georgia, culture and art. Exhibition projects organized by the center attract a wide audience and contribute to the popularization of Georgian culture both within the country and abroad.

The National Center of Manuscripts is not only an important cultural institution of Georgia, but also a unique scientific center where unique manuscripts and documents related to the history and culture of Georgia and other countries are studied and preserved.

Thanks to active cooperation with other cultural institutions around the world, the National Centre of Manuscripts has the opportunity to participate in major international projects, such as the creation of electronic catalogues and databases, as well as the organization of joint exhibitions and conferences. The Centre is a member of the International Federation of Library Associations and participates in various book and information exchange programs.

One of the most important tasks of the National Centre of Manuscripts is the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of Georgia. The Centre holds many events aimed at popularizing Georgian culture and art, such as exhibitions, concerts, lectures and master classes. For example, in 2019, the Centre organized the exhibition "Christianity in the Caucasus", which presented manuscripts, artifacts and paintings related to the history of Christianity in the Caucasus.

In addition, the National Centre of Manuscripts is actively involved in projects to digitalize and access its resources via the Internet. Currently, the Centre provides access to its collections through its website and digital libraries such as "European Library" and "Diadoc". This greatly facilitates access to manuscripts and historical documents for scholars, researchers and ordinary people interested in the history and culture of Georgia.

The National Center of Manuscripts continues to actively expand its collections, acquiring manuscripts and historical documents both at auctions and from private collectors. One of the latest significant acquisitions was the purchase of the manuscript of "Dede Cornelia" - one of the most famous Georgian epics.

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