The mentor of many generations of Vietnamese archival studies.

The person who laid the foundation for the field of Archival Studies.

Born and raised in the traditionally rich countryside of Bac Giang, Associate Professor Nguyen Van Ham studied Archival Studies at the Faculty of History, Hanoi University. Since graduating in 1967, he has always been considered one of the pioneers who laid the foundation for archival studies in Vietnam. The initial difficulties, from books and information to wartime living conditions, did not deter his enthusiasm and dedication to archival studies. Recalling his memories, he often recounted to us young staff members the extremely arduous period of evacuation in Thai Nguyen, but the professors were determined to research a new field of study and compile the first textbooks for archival studies. During the war, food was scarce, and books were not readily available, yet every day, the professors diligently exchanged and discussed professional matters with the staff of the Archives Department of the Prime Minister's Office. Now, with the passage of time and the practical experiences of the teachers, the theory of archival studies has become increasingly complete and refined.Textbook on the Theory and Practice of Archival Work;Dictionary of Archival Terms;Publication of documents; General text and archival studies...In addition, he has been a long-time contributor to the Vietnam Archives Journal since its early days, with over 50 published articles.

Filled with fond and humorous memories of Thai Nguyen, the professor recounted stories of how, while cycling downhill, he would tie a leafy branch to slow down; or how, when his tire burst, he would catch a toad by the roadside, skin it, and use it to patch the tire… Even after starting his own family, life was still full of hardships, and growing vegetables and raising pigs remained common activities for the professors… Most of us young staff members are from the 70s, 80s, and 90s generations, and it's difficult for us to fully comprehend the hardships faced by the pioneering generations, but deep down, we all cherish everything that the professors have built for the Faculty and the field of study that we are now continuing.

Associate Professor, Distinguished Teacher Nguyen Van Ham

Head of the Department of Archival Studies and Office Management (1996 - 2004), Head of the Archival Studies Department (1993 - 2010)/Photo: Hieu Luong.

Dedicated to supporting young cadres.

When we joined the Faculty, the field of Archival Studies already had a long way to go. What we have achieved today is simply a continuation of the path that our teachers pioneered in those difficult early days.

Since its establishment in 1996, when the Faculty had only 5 staff members, it now boasts 16 faculty and administrative staff. Almost all of the young faculty members are full-time students who were retained for further training to become teaching staff. From his time as Dean of the Faculty for two consecutive terms (1996-2004) to his time as Party Secretary (2004-2010) and up to the present, Professor has always kindly reminded and guided every young staff member on the importance of humility and a thirst for learning in science, as well as on proper conduct, lifestyle, and discipline befitting the position of a teacher. For me personally, I was fortunate to be assigned to the Archival Studies Department, where Professor was then the Head of the Department. He guided me through each lecture, correcting my wording and speaking style, enabling me to confidently stand on the podium today.

During conversations with young staff members, the professor recounted the part-time jobs teachers took during the subsidy period: "hiring staff to organize documents," meaning going to various agencies to help them organize archival materials. Thanks to this work, the economy improved, life became less difficult, but more importantly, the rich practical knowledge provided a solid and comprehensive foundation for theory! He advised us young staff members to strive to immerse ourselves in practical experience to accumulate knowledge and identify gaps in research, thereby becoming more mature in our scientific endeavors.

Our department had many opportunities to travel with him on business trips. No matter where we went, he would wake up at exactly 5:00 AM to go for a walk and exercise, then return home to read. He was always the first to arrive at all departmental events. That serious and disciplined demeanor is something we young staff members will need many more years to cultivate!

Associate Professor and People's Teacher Nguyen Van Ham has spent nearly 50 years researching and training in the field of Archival Studies.

He is the mentor of many generations of officials, trainees, and students in the field of Archival Studies in Vietnam. (Photo: Hieu Luong)

The humble teacher

As one of the pioneers in establishing the field of Archival Studies in Vietnam, having spent half a century researching and training in this field, Professor rarely spoke about his achievements. His sons, daughters, daughters-in-law, and sons-in-law are all very successful, and we know he is very proud of them, but he rarely mentions it.

From his time in office until his retirement, Professor has always maintained a simple and "old-fashioned" style of clothing. This year, he is in his seventies, yet on days when he has classes or departmental matters to attend to, he still takes the bus to school, even though the bus is always crowded and passengers don't always pay attention to the elderly professor!

When I first arrived at the Department, I was surprised to see Professor sitting and arranging blank sheets of paper, clipping them together into a stack, and placing them in the corner of the cupboard. It wasn't until he asked me to type up articles, lesson plans, comments, and project reports that I understood the reason behind this practice. The bold, decisive handwriting on each "recycled" page made me admire his frugality and simplicity even more.

Associate Professor and Meritorious Teacher Vuong Dinh Quyen and Associate Professor and Meritorious Teacher Nguyen Van Ham - two leading experts in Archival Studies.

A leading scientist in the field of Archival Studies.

With nearly 50 years of research and training in Archival Studies, Professor Ham has collaborated with numerous institutions such as: the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam National Academy of Public Administration, the Hanoi University of Interior Affairs, the Vietnam Archives Journal, the Central Party Office Archives Department, the State Archives Department, etc. Almost every institution has former students from the Department, who often mention Professor Ham – the mentor who guided many generations of students since it was the Department of Archives and History within the Faculty of History, Hanoi University.

With his main research areas being administration, the history of state agencies, publishing studies, and archival studies, he has been invited to participate in numerous committees for evaluating master's theses and doctoral dissertations, approving research proposals, and reviewing projects. Wherever he goes, he always receives respect for his character and scientific knowledge.

At an age when he should have been resting, with the dedication and responsibility of a scientist, he joined his colleagues in the Editorial Board.Time's Imprint Magazine– a publication of the Vietnam Archives Association featuring articles specializing in archives, records, and historical documents.

In recognition of his continuous contributions since the beginning of his work in research and training, in 2005, he was awarded the Third-Class Labor Medal. In 2006, Associate Professor Nguyen Van Ham was awarded the title of Excellent Teacher. In addition, he was also honored with medals such as the Medal for the Cause of Education, the Medal for the Cause of Vietnamese Archival Studies, and the Commemorative Medal for the Development of Hanoi National University. These are well-deserved recognitions acknowledging the immense contributions he has made to science, education, and the field of archival studies in Vietnam. Our Faculty is always proud and honored by the accolades he has received.

With all the knowledge he has accumulated and passed on to future generations, and with his exemplary ethics and style, we wish to express our gratitude for the contributions of our teacher – the mentor of many generations of Vietnamese archival studies!