UNESCO’s past orientations and actions have contributed to shape its present, and we might therefore all find some inspiration in taking a closer look at the history of our Organization. This is the main reason why 2,000 historical documents, reflecting the activities of the Organization during its early years, had been indexed and scanned in 2006-2007 as part of a long-term UNESCO Archives project. The objective is to make all official documents of a public nature since 1946 available on-line.

As a preview of the Organization’s accumulated assets of knowledge and know-how that will progressively emerge, you can, for example, access a sample of documents on the following topics:

• From the International Institute for Intellectual Co-operation to UNESCO
• First steps towards the reconstruction of a world devastated by war
• Venice 1952: the status of the artist in society (texts by Thornton Wilder, Henry Moore, Georges Rouault, Arthur Honegger, Lucio Costa and others)
• Of a truly historic character, this groundbreaking project on cultural diversity opened up new horizons for international understanding and laid the foundations for a dialogue among cultures: Major Project on the Mutual Appreciation of Eastern and Western Cultural Values, 1956-1967
• During the implementation of the Major Project, studies and debates on the improvement of textbooks, teaching materials and curricula received a new impetus, especially in regard to a more satisfactory presentation of Eastern cultures in Western textbooks: Education for International Understanding, with reference to the improvement of textbooks and teaching materials
• Created in 1948, UNESCO’s Programme of Literary Translations was integrated into the Major Project in 1956, but continued beyond it. Although these books are not yet accessible on-line, they are available for consultation in the Archives, and for either consultation or on loan from the Library: UNESCO Collection of representative works
• And finally, an Archives/BPI/Clearing House co-production: The UNESCO Courier online, 1948-1953