Field research on the preservation and attitude towards the emigrant archival materials of the Slovene societies (partly also library and museum materials) in France and Luxembourg in May 2003 showed that the archival materials are poorly preserved as they are regarded as material of momentary interest and not as a part of the cultural heritage of the emigrant and immigrant country. The disintegration of Yugoslavia was a breaking point, as many societies vanished together with their materials. Some categories of materials are kept by the administrative and judicial organs of the immigrant country, since the societies had to provide some documentation (statutes, member lists, records ofgeneral meetings, financial reports, etc.). However, this does not reflect the whole range of a society's activity. In France, societies are becoming increasingly French, but this does not mean that they are willing to preserve even their own archival materials. Their activities are changing as well. Societies that once performed cultural, educational and social functions only support the latter, with the exception of some choirs and quickly fading Slovene language courses. The young show no interest to work in the societies. In view of the preservation of the existing archival materials of societies and individuals, it would be possible to gather the materials in the Cultural centre in Paris, which is soon to be established, but this more of an illusion. Another possibility would be systematic help from Slovenia in searching for, documenting and organising the materials, or sending them to Slovenia.