From August 1947 to 2007 the journal was published under the title "Der Archivar. Mitteilungsblatt für deutsches Archivwesen". Since 2008 it has been entitled "Archivar. Zeitschrift für Archivwesen".

Equipped with a licence issued by the British military government on 14 December 1946, the journal was intended to be a link between the archives of all disciplines in Germany. On a fiduciary basis, the Staatsarchiv Düsseldorf and its former director, Dr. Bernhard Vollmer, have taken over as editors. Founded in 1947, the "Association of German Archivists" appointed the journal as its publication organ. In 1966, the Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia assigned the official task of publishing the journal "Der Archivar" as a joint organ for all German archives and archivists to the Hauptstaatsarchiv Düsseldorf. In the same year, the "Verein deutscher Archivare" (Association of German Archivists) laid down in its statutes that its announcements were to be published in the "Archivar".

The specialist journal "Archivar" appears four times a year, in February, May, July and November, with a circulation of approx. 3,600 copies. The volume of a volume ranges between 400 and 450 pages.

The journal is aimed primarily at a specialist audience: archivists, but also readers of related disciplines (historians, librarians, administrators). Members of the VdA receive the journal as part of their membership. It is also sent to numerous subscribers at home and abroad for a fee. Individual issues can be obtained from the Verlag Franz Schmitt (Siegburg).

In August 2006, the Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen and the Verband deutscher Archivarinnen und Archivare e.V. (Association of German Archivists) concluded an agreement on joint editorship for the "Archivar". In addition to necessary organisational changes, a conceptual reorientation of the body has taken place, whereby the editorial office continues to be located in the NRW State Archive. The advisory board of the journal consists of three members each from the Landesarchiv and the Verband deutscher Archivarinnen und Archive e.V. (Association of German Archivists).

The journal contains three parts in printed form: a general part, a second part with information and contributions from the Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen and a third part with information and contributions from the Verband deutscher Archivarinnen und Archivare e.V. (Association of German Archivists).

Since issue 3/1999 the journal is also available on the internet. The website is part of the portal "Archive in NRW". Some parts of the "Archivar" are only published online (calendar of events). 

At the end of May 2006 the long-time editor Dr. Peter Dohms retired.  His successor was Dr. Martina Wiech on 01.09.2006.  On 01.02.2009 Dr. Andreas Pilger followed.  Since 01.02.2014 the editorial office is in the hands of Dr. Kathrin Pilger. 

The Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen and the Verband deutscher Archivarinnen und Archivare e.V. signed an agreement in August 2006 on the joint editorship for the "Archivar".  In addition to necessary organisational changes, a conceptual reorientation of the body has taken place, whereby the editorial office continues to be located in the NRW State Archive.  The advisory board of the journal consists of three members each from the Landesarchiv and the Verband deutscher Archivarinnen und Archive e.V. (Association of German Archivists). 

The journal contains three parts in printed form: a general part, a second part with information and contributions from the Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen and a third part with information and contributions from the Verband deutscher Archivarinnen und Archivare e.V. (Association of German Archivists). 

Since issue 3/1999 the journal is also available on the internet.  The website is part of the portal "Archive in NRW". Some parts of the "Archivar" are only published online (calendar of events). 

At the end of May 2006 the long-time editor Dr. Peter Dohms retired.  His successor was Dr. Martina Wiech on 01.09.2006.  On 01.02.2009 Dr. Andreas Pilger followed.  Since 01.02.2014 the editorial office is in the hands of Dr. Kathrin Pilger.