Kärntner Landesarchiv State Archives of Carinthia

Overview

The Kärntner Landesarchiv (State Archives of Carinthia) is the official provincial archive of the Austrian federal state of Carinthia (Kärnten). Located at St. Ruprechter Straße 7 in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, it is the central repository for written, visual, and audio sources relating to the history of Carinthia.

History and Founding

The Kärntner Landesarchiv was formally founded in 1904, marking the beginning of the development and expansion of a centralized state archive for the region. In 1974, valuable archival collections from various public and private archives were transferred to the State Archives, significantly expanding its holdings. Since 1926, the Office of the Carinthian Provincial Government has been the primary source of archival accessions. A modern electronic archive information system, KLAIS, has been developed to support online research.

Collections and Holdings

The archive's holdings are organized into ten groups: district authority records (Bezirksbehörden), financial and mining authority records, court records, property tax and land survey authority records, municipal archives, federal state authority records, individual records, private archives, collective stocks, and state authority records. The manuscript collection encompasses approximately 600 manuscripts, including codices from the Geschichtsverein, the Allgemeine Handschriften-Sammlung, and the Ständisches Archiv, with materials from the 9th to the 19th century. Notable monastic archives from Ossiach, Viktring, and Millstatt are included, along with albums of coats of arms and account books from the Diocese of Gurk.

Publications and Research

The Kärntner Landesarchiv publishes historical studies and research findings through its own publishing house and organizes a variety of public events. Staff members actively participate in research on regional history and disseminate findings to the public.

Access and Usage

The reading room is open to all researchers free of charge. A reference library, microfilm reader, and sound-proof cabinets are available. Document retrieval is not available between 11:45–13:15 or after 15:15 on any given day.