Taipei Fine Arts Museum

The Taipei Archives Committee performs two major functions: (A) the compilation of historical records and (B) the arranging and utilization of historical materials.
A. Compilation of Historical Records
(1) The Taipei City Chronicles:
(a) The Taipei City Archives has compiled the Taipei City Chronicles since its founding. Since 1957 the Taipei Archives Committee began compiling and publishing the Taipei City Chronicles in draft, official and revised versions. However, due to limited content and the inconsistent division of historical periods, these various versions were not integrated together. In recent decades, Taipei has developed rapidly, becoming a global metropolis that requires an updated history. Therefore, a five-year compilation program was launched in 1986 and completed in 1991, with the cooperation of scholars, experts, and staff members from every level of the City Government. The Taipei City Chronicles begin from prehistoric times and conclude at the end of 1981 (which was chosen as a division point for a new historical era).
(b) In accordance with instructions from the Ministry of Interior Affairs, the Taipei City Chronicles focus on the Taipei City area, Chinese nationality and historical developments,and serves as a reference for historical studies and basic guidelines for the administration of Taipei and state resources. It draws primary upon resources from the fields of literature, science, and art. These serve as ideal teaching materials and outlines for guided tours. Since this is the best documentation of local history and culture, the Taipei City Chronicles is intended to be publicized and used to its fullest extent, and not shielded from the public eye.
(c) The Chronicles are divided into a preface, nine chapters, and an appendix section. The preface contains a foreword, sample materials, a table of contents, maps, and a chart of historical events.
Chapter One, “Rules and Regulations,” is divided into prehistoric culture, regional history, and city history.
Chapter Two, “Natural Science” is divided into geography, general materials, and climate.
Chapter Three, “Daily Government Chronicles & Records,” is divided into administration, autonomous governance, elections, household affairs, military service, land administration, public works projects, public health, judicial affairs, and police administration.
Chapter Four, “Social & Civil Chronicles,” is divided into social organizations, social welfare, surname groupings, customs, languages, religion, and population.
Chapter Five, “Chronicles of Finance,” is divided into city government fiscal planning, taxation, city government property, and banking.
Chapter Six, “Chronicles of Economics,” is divided into commerce; commodity prices; cooperatives; public utilities; transportation; post & telecommunications; industry; and agriculture, fishing, forestry & mining.
Chapter Seven, “Chronicles of Education,” is divided into educational administration, school education, social education, physical education, and schools.
Chapter Eight, “Chronicles of the Arts & Literature,” is divided into cultural enterprises, literature, art, public documents, and historical sites.
Chapter Nine, “Chronicle of Historical Figures,” is divided into Governmental Officials and Virtuous Citizens.
The appendix section includes an afterword; a cross-referenced time chart of Western, Chinese and Japanese calendars; an index; and the Ministry of Interior's Table of Registration Numbers.
(d) Due to the expiry of the central government's “Procedures for the Compilation of Local Historical Records” on December 31, 2001, and to accord with the current Local Government Act, which stipulates that the compilation of local history is a task of local city or county governments, the Taipei History Compilation Committee approved at its second meeting of 2001 the “Draft for the Compilation of Taipei History.” Made in accordance with Administrative Procedures Law, Article 154, the Draft was published by Department of Cultural Affairs (DOCA) of Taipei in the Taipei City Government Gazette on May 27, 2002. A plan and budget has since been prepared by the DOCA and is currently pending the approval of Taipei City Council. Passage of the budget and work schedule by the Council would permit the project to continue over the next ten years.
(2) Publication of the Taipei Historical Documents Quarterly:
The quarterly “Taipei Historical Documents” is published at the end of March, June, September and December of each year, with 1,000 volumes for each edition. They are presented as a reference resource to related organizations, libraries, public and private schools, cultural associations, social education groups, research institutes, and scholars and experts in related fields.
(3) Solicitation of Articles
The Taipei Archives Committee welcomes articles, illustrations, and translations of various works, including those pertaining to history, culture, education, and public health related to Taipei City or northern Taiwan. Each article should be no greater than 30,000 Chinese characters in total length. The outer envelope of each mailed article should be marked “DRAFT SUBMISSION” and sent to: Taipei City Archive Committee, 7th Floor, No. 33, Section 2, Chengde Road, Taipei 103, Taiwan.
(4) Specialized Archival Publications
To strengthen the collection of archival material, actively compile and publish archival publications, improve quality and shore up areas of historical interest in which documentary material is deficient, the Taipei Archives Committee has in recent years published a wide range of special historical publications, including Oral Histories of Individuals Related to Political Incidents in the Taipei Area during the Martial Law Period: Interviews Regarding the White Terror Period; Special Report on the History of Indigenous People in the Greater Taipei Metropolitan Area; A History of the Hakka People of the Greater Taipei Metropolitan Area; and A Survey of Traditional Communities in Taipei City; as well as interviews with Taiwanese veterans from Taipei City who served as Japanese soldiers, oral histories of former Taipei City mayors and city council speakers, histories of Taipei place names and street names, and the history of Gui-De Street, etc.
(5) Sales of “Taipei Historical Documents” Quarterly and Other Books & Publications
To give a wider circle of readers access to the resources of the Taipei City Archives, our books and publications may be purchased from the following retailers: SMC (Southern Material Center) Publishing Inc.; Taiwan Shop Co. Ltd; Wu-Nan Culture Enterprise Co. Ltd; and the National Bookstore.
B. Organization and Presentation of Historical Documents
(1) Seminars on Taiwanese historical events (for educators):
The purpose of the seminars is to encourage teachers to explore local Taiwanese historical events so they may learn and spread their findings, methodologies and enthusiasm to younger generations. Seminars are held once during the summer vacations for five-day terms. There are typically 160 participants in the seminar ranging from principals, to division heads, to teachers from private or public elementary or secondary schools from Taipei County or Taipei City, or to administrative staff in charge of historical site management in county or city governments.
(2) Guided tours of historical sites
To coordinate the teaching of local history and offer Taipei citizens cultural and recreational activities, the Taipei City Archives has arranged professional guides at the following historical sites in Taipei City: Huiji Temple in the Zhishanyan area, and Longshan Temple in Wanhua. In addition, the Committee has organized special tours of such significant destinations in Taipei City as Zhishanyan, the 2-28 Peace Park, Taipei North Gate, the original Taipei Prefecture Hall, the Mengjia District (Wanhua), the Dalongdong District, the Dadaocheng District, historical sites related to the life of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the Beitou hot springs area, the National Taiwan University campus, Old Jingmei Street, Old Songshan Street, the scenic areas of Neihu, Old Nangang Street, and the Xinyi Rail Depot. Altogether there are 18 tours, each offered as a half-day outing. Visitors may also form their own groups and apply directly to the Committee for free tours. To register call: (02) 2556-4966#24.
(3) Special exhibitions of historical artifacts and documents
The display of actual relics, antiques and records bears witness to the realities of history, reveals the culture of Taipei in a complete and accurate manner, and inspires an abiding interest in our collective history.
(4) Oral history seminars
To trace historical events and fill in missing gaps in the current written historical record, the Taipei City Archives holds four oral history seminars each year, establishing discussion topics and inviting scholars and experts in related fields, as well as local elders and prominent community figures to recover history, acting as living witnesses of the past. All records of these events are published for reference in the Committee's quarterly newsletter.
(5) Taipei City Archives Library
Located on the 7th floor, No. 33,Sec. 2, Chengde Road, Taipei City, the Taipei City Archives Library offers a wide array of historical books and documents on the history of Taipei and Taiwan. Materials are arranged topically, this open-shelf library is available for general public use, including photocopy services and an information desk. More than 18,000 books are available for anyone interested in studying Taiwanese history.