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  1. Who We Are

World Bank Group Archives

Welcome to the World Bank Group Archives website! The Archives protects the institutional memory of the World Bank Group and provides public access to records of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). This website offers a variety of online historical resources and information products, such as ISAD(G) finding aids, transcripts of oral history interviews, and exhibits featuring the Archives' collection and World Bank history.

FEATURED
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75th Anniversary of World Bank Articles of Agreement Ratification
December 9, 2020 — On Dec. 27th, 1945, the World Bank's Articles of Agreement were ratified when 21 countries fulfilled the requirements to become its first members. Look back on this historic event and check out the new products the Archives has launched to mark the occasion. Read More »
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Remembering the Contributions of President James D. Wolfensohn
November 25, 2020 — The World Bank Group Archives is saddened by the passing of former President James D. Wolfensohn on Nov. 25, 2020. To learn more about his role in our history, click the link below. Read More »
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World Bank Group Archives Launches Records Management Roadmap
July 16, 2020 — The Records Management Roadmap is a multi-part toolkit, designed to help governments and public sector organizations implement strategic and coordinated improvements in records management. Read More »
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WBG Archives Reading Room Closure
March 13, 2020 — The World Bank Group Archives Reading Room will be closed until further notice as a result of precautions being taken to address the coronavirus. Other Archives services may also be impacted. For more on the World Bank's coronavirus response: Read More »
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Featured Exhibit -- I See Myself: Presenting Dr. Frederick Douglass Patterson
February 24, 2020 — To mark Black History Month, WBG Archivist Bertha Wilson describes her experience encountering Dr. Patterson, one of the first African Americans hired by the World Bank, in the records of the World Bank. Read More »
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Explore the History of the World Bank Group's Early Involvement in Europe
October 1, 2019 — Our new timeline, "The World Bank and Europe, 1945-1960" examines the Bank Group's role in the continent's reconstruction following the Second World War. The site also provides access to project profile pages where digitized records are available. Read More »
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    Archives Holdings

    The Archives Holdings website contains archival descriptions and provides access to digitized records.
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    Photographic Collection

    The Photographic Collection provides access to thousands of photos relating to World Bank operations, presidents, official signings, and more.
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    Oral History Program

    The World Bank Archives Oral History Program website contains transcripts and summaries of interviews with former World Bank staff.
    WBG Records Management Policy
    Access to Information
    Decorative graphic for World Bank Group History: Exploring the Archives
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    World Bank Group History: Exploring the Archives