Archives are the official and historical reference within which the constants of countries are integrated, they chronicle the civilization of nations, and depict the customs and traditions of people and their culture. They are the guarantor element of national identity and belonging. They also constitute the fundamental and original core upon which the characteristics of the national sovereignty, the foundation of the nation’s heritage memory, and the memory of institutions that establish rights and preserve official activities are built. It is by them that they are enlightened and guided in all areas. A nation that knows how to preserve its archives will inevitably benefit from its history and will be able to correct its path from time to time in light of its experience. It can also achieve for itself a civilizational advance in line with its originality, principles and constants. 

Archives centers work to preserve and store a large and increasing amount of very important documents of different types, forms and media, which play a major role in the growth and development of administrations, in addition to accommodating all the events and developments that take place within the country over time and ages. In other words archives are a faithful mirror that reflects the heritage and history of the country.

Keen to preserve the national memory of loss and exposure to different dangers, Algeria, like a large number of countries in the world, created an institution responsible for preserving archives called: “The National Archives Center”.