GANJINE-YE ASNAD
Year:2018 | Volume:28 | Issue:1 (109) |Papers Count:9

Purpose: The instructions issued for diplomatic missionaries differed in content and appearance and this independent research considers the types and components of these documents. This paper explores the varying characteristics of the Qajar Foreign Affairs Ministry Instructions.Method and Research Design: Archival and library materials were examined to collect data.Findings and Conclusion: Foreign Affairs Ministry's manuals were divided according to the subject. Four types of instructions were identified: instructions regarding formalities; directions for ambassadors and other diplomatic staff; occult instructions; and guidelines for political institutions.

Purpose: Aims to investigate water resource management in the City of Qom during the Qajarid Period (1798-1925). After the invasion of Afghans which led to the fall of Safavids, Qom was hit hard. The city faced destruction and loss of population. After that, until the rise of the Qajarids, the city suffered many civil conflicts. With the establishment of the new rulers, tax incomes were required to preserve law and order. One important source of tax revenues was controlling the distribution of scarce water resources, including the Qom River and the man-made subterranean water canals called Kanats. This paper looks into the measures taken by governors and other social groups to organize and manage the water resources of the city.Method and Research Design: Library and archival resources were examined to collect data.Findings and Conclusion: Government bureaucrats, tribal chiefs, and the clergy played key roles in the construction and repair of Kanats. Merchants were instrumental in undertaking cistern construction and maintenance. Bureaucrats made more efforts to construct traditional ice holes and public baths. Most of the undertakings to build and revive water resources continued until the time of Naser al-Din Shah (r.1846-1896).

Purpose: To secure their political and economic interests, Russians sought to build roads leading into the North and northwest parts of Iran. This paper looks in historical records to see where these plans led to.Method and Research Design: Archival records and library materials were examined to collect data.Findings & Conclusion: Russian military policy towards Iran changed in the 19th century. Similar to other imperialist powers, Russians regarded control of trade of target countries as important for political and military influence. One strategy they adopted was to build and maintain roads in parts of Iran where they had a military presence. To neutralize this, the Iranian government resisted the Russians' road building projects. But governments' revenues diminished seriously. Domestic small businesses were not able compete with Russian trade power. So the Iranian government agreed to the road construction by Russians in North and North West of Iran. This allowed the Russians to acquire economic and military dominance on this region.

Purpose: To investigate the event of taking sanctuary in the British Consulate by Iranian merchants; and the actions taken by Iranian Ulama residing in (Karbala and Najaf) to support them.Method and Research Design: Data gathered from library materials and archival records kept in the Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry.Findings and Conclusion: Iranian merchants and tradespeople residing in Karbala protested against extra taxes but Ottoman authorities in Baghdad reacted violently and killed a number of them. Different groups containing Iranian Ulama in Atabat and Parliamentary representatives complained about this. These reactions led to the displacement of the Baghdad governor and to removing extra taxes. Slow and insufficient reaction by the Iranian diplomatic staff led to merchants' taking sanctuary from violence.

Purpose: To conduct an SWOT analysis for the National Archives of Iran, evaluate its strategic position, and to provide suggestions for further improvements.Method and Research Design: A questionnaire was designed to evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed by seven archive experts. The questionnaire was answered by 20 employees in the National Archives. The strategic position of the organization was studied using Internal and External Factors Evaluation Matrix.Findings and Conclusion: The strengths of the organization are more than its weaknesses. The organization can control threats and improve weaknesses. Besides, it can make new decisions and improve its services.Some of the provided suggestions are: developing digital services and accessibility, updating regulations regarding coding of different kinds of documents, closer coordination with other organizations, employing new specialists, more training courses for the staff, launching a web database, defining procedures and codes for collecting archival records.

Purpose: Reports types of sewing of manuscripts for the purpose of preserving originality of the manuscripts when repair is needed.Method and Research Design: Among the Six hundred manuscripts kept in the collections of the Document Center and National Library of Fars, the ones which had a date on them were picked. They were examined with a Canon Power Shot SX40 HS camera. Then the IBM SPSS Statistics software was used to determine the percentage of sewing types in each period. Experts were interviewed to identify and naming of the types of sewing.Findings and Conclusion: A number of forms of spines and types of binding. The most frequently identified sewing types were eight leaf sewing and double stiches. Most of the spines were flat.

Purpose: Traditional coffeehouse paintings are usually kept in public venues; therefore, they are exposed to all kinds of damage. To ensure appropriate repair in case of damage, knowledge of the ingredients and techniques used in them is essential. This paper reports on the examination of a single such painting created by Abolghasem Isfahani, a Qajarid artist.Method and Research Design: Some samples were taken of different parts of the painting and were studied by Spectroscopies (FTIR, XRF, SEM–EDS, PLM).Findings and Conclusion: This painting contained of 4 layers: support, ground, color and varnish layer. Chalk is found in all spectrums. Most of the coffeehouse painters were self-trained; and so did not know the professional tricks for making a resistant ground for their paintings.