2.3  Archival history   The World Bank adopted a central filing system in 1946.  One of the four parts of the central file was “Operational Files” which contained records relating to the management of Bank operations in a region plus separate files for operations in each country.  In 1972, the “Operational Files”  were removed from the central file and separate filing centers for each region were established under the general control of the central files unit.  The regional file centers were discontinued in 1998 and the regional and country files were transferred to the archives. All records-keeping since 1998 is the responsibility of the regional office.  During the period of the central filing system, many offices also kept separate working files.  These files are included in this fonds.

3.1 Scope and content   The Operational Correspondence provides an overview of the economic and political situation in post-World War II Europe and the Bank’s involvement in its reconstruction and development during the first ten years following that war.  The records for later periods document the Bank’s role in promoting economic integration in the region and in gaining cooperation of the new multilateral institutions in financing Third World development.
 
3.3  Accruals   Accruals are expected.

3.4  Arrangement   Arranged in one series:

                                 Operational Correspondence, 1947-1971, 5 linear feet

In addition, 18 sub-fonds, each containing the records of a single office, include series that have at least some records dating before 1987.

4.1  Conditions of access   Records are subject to the World Bank Policy on the Disclosure of Information.

4.2  Conditions of reproduction   Records are subject to the Copyright Policy of the World Bank Group.

4.3 Language/scripts  English; some French

4.4 Finding aids  Annotated list of organizational units with series that include files predating 1987.

5.3  Related units of description  WB IBRD/IDA 01, Country Operational Files, 1946-1998; WB IBRD/IDA 10, Records of the Middle East and North Africa Regional Office
 
7.2 Rules or conventions    Internal World Bank Group Archives rules 
7.3 Date(s) of descriptions  2004-06-22