The newly revamped Taiwan Archival Information System is officially online starting today! This upgraded version introduces a variety of new features, and The Official Documents Compilation of the Taiwan Governor-General’s Office（臺灣總督府公文類纂） now provides item-level listings for this collection, expanding from the previous 13,000 volumes of catalog entries to over 250,000 individual digitized official documents.

New System Features

1. Multi-fonds Search Functionality
   Users can now select and search across multiple fonds simultaneously, enhancing the flexibility of archival searches.
2. Post-Search Categorization
   Search results are now categorized by their respective fonds, making it easier to filter and locate the desired materials.
3. Improved Interface and Data Display
   • Archival structures are presented in a full hierarchical tree format, resolving previous limitations that displayed only partial information.
   • A new item-to-item navigation feature allows users to switch between items within the same file, regardless of whether digital images are available.
   • Each archival entry is assigned a unique URL, making citation and sharing more convenient.
   • A search history feature automatically records query conditions, result counts, and search dates, aiding in future reference.

Archival Contents

This system features a wealth of archival materials collected by our institute over the past several decades, categorized into three main types by source:

1. Personal Papers
   Personal Papers were the first hand record related to work and life created or preserved by individuals. The types of Personal Papers are abundant, including diaries, manuscripts, case files, correspondence, postcards, photographs, and paintings.
2. Family Papers
   Family Papers are the first hand record concerning clan kinship and asset certificates. The document types include land contracts, allotment agreements on family property, personal contracts, family rules, account books, genealogies, correspondence etc.
3. Organizational Archives
   Organizational Archives were the original records of organization operations. Its type evolved in different time period. By collaborating with other institutions, we digitize and open the archives to the public for application.

Access and Usage

All catalog metadata in this system is fully open for search. Depending on the data format, acquisition agreements, and relevant copyright or legal restrictions, archival materials are available through tiered access:

1. Viewing online (線上閱覽)
   Digital images can be viewed and printed by personal computer after logging in the system.
2. Viewing in the ITH Archives (到館閱覽列印)
   Digital images or archives in other formats can be viewed and printed in the Archives of the Institute of Taiwan History.
3. Transcribing in the ITH Archives (到館閱覽抄錄)
   Digital images or archives in other formats can be viewed and only be transcribed in the Archives of the Institute of Taiwan History.

This major upgrade aims to enhance user experience in searching and applying archival materials. We warmly welcome scholars, researchers, and the general public to explore and make full use of this resource.
Visit the new system now: https://tais.ith.sinica.edu.tw