Archives Territoriales de Martinique

Until the middle of the 20th century, the absence of specific regulations and natural hazards (in particular the eruption of the Pelée in 1902) did not allow for the conservation of abundant collections that trace the history of French colonisation since the 17th century. Thus, the most important collections do not go back much further than the end of the 19th century.

The edict of 1776, which instituted the Dépôt des papiers publics des colonies, was the first important act to ensure the conservation of documents necessary for the proof of civil rights.

In 1827, following the organic ordinances on the government of Martinique and Guadeloupe, the conservation of administrative archives began to be organised with the creation of the secretary archivist.

In December 2015, following the establishment of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique (merger of the General Council and the Regional Council), the Departmental Archives of Martinique became the Territorial Archives of Martinique.

The mission of the Archives is to collect, preserve, communicate and promote the archival holdings produced by the administrations that have succeeded one another since the beginning of colonisation. Through their inventories and files, in the form of originals, microfilms or digital images, they offer access to the most abundant primary sources for historians and genealogy enthusiasts. For many years, with the help of enlightened amateurs, the Archives have enriched their collections with documents of private origin that have been donated or acquired. For example, the collections of the former sugar factories, numerous documents on slavery or on the French Revolution in the colonies.

Digitised archives

Publications