The doctoral students from the Jean-Mabillon Centre (École nationale des chartes – PSL) organized a study day on the theme “Source, poison or accident: understanding the document in the historical sciences”, which took place at the Condorcet Campus on October 19, 2023.

The main objective of the study day was to approach historical sources as legitimate objects of study and to explore their application in historical science research. Participants had the opportunity to learn how to critically analyze sources, complement them and face the challenge of the “historian’s poison”, as referred to by Joseph Morsel. The selection, preservation, dissemination and digitization of historical sources will become challenges to overcome in order to enrich the research process.

The event’s program included a presentation by Professor Maria de Lurdes Rosa, ERC grantee and PI of the Vinculum Project, entitled “An archival database for historical research: reflections on the experience of the VINCULUM project”, a presentation that brought to the discussion the crucial role of archival databases in historical research, using the VINCULUM Project as an unprecedented example.

The opening session was led by Abel Rodrigues, PhD student and Vinculum Project researcher and one of the organizers of the event, setting the context and expectations for the discussions to follow.

More information and the full program at: https://www.chartes.psl.eu/fr/source-poison-accident