Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern State Archives of the Canton of Bern

Overview

The Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern (State Archives of the Canton of Bern) is the official repository for all archival records worthy of preservation from the Canton of Bern and its historical predecessors. It holds documentary materials spanning from the early Middle Ages to the present day, making it one of Switzerland's most significant cantonal archives.

History and Founding

Bernese archival holdings have been maintained since the fifteenth century, when documents were first stored in the vaults of the Rathaus (town hall). A permanent archive commission was established in 1713. Following the collapse of the city-republic of Bern in 1798, the archives of the former city-state passed to the newly created Canton of Bern in 1803, with some holdings transferred to the cantons of Aargau and Vaud. The modern State Archive was formally organized in 1843, and in 1891 the first full-time State Archivist, Professor Heinrich Türler, was appointed. The archive moved to its current location at Falkenplatz 4 in the Länggasse district in 1939–1940, in a building designed by architect Walter von Gunten. Between 1984 and 1986, a four-story underground cultural heritage shelter designed by architect Magdalena Rausser was constructed on site.

Collections and Holdings

The archive curates approximately 17,000 linear meters of archival materials covering the city-state of Bern before 1798, the Helvetian cantons of Bern and Oberland (1798–1803), and the Canton of Bern since 1803. Holdings include around 18,000 maps and plans, 95 personal estates (Nachlässe), 450 linear meters of official printed documents, and family archives. The specialized library holds approximately 32,000 volumes, 140 periodicals, and 27 newspapers, concentrating on Bernese history, Swiss history, genealogy, folklore, and archival science. An online archive catalogue (introduced in 2005) and research platform via swisscovery Bern provide remote access to inventory entries.

Notable Materials

The archive's oldest documents date to the early Middle Ages. Notable holdings include the Federal Charter of 1353 between Bern, Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden; police documentation relating to Jewish refugees in Bern canton (1941–1944); government protocols; land registers dating from 1806; fire insurance log books; and bequests from prominent Bernese figures and photographers. The archive is a recognized resource for genealogical research in the region.

Access and Usage

The archive maintains public reading rooms and provides access to both physical and digitized holdings. Reproduction services for documents up to A3 format are available; larger documents are handled by an external service provider. Researchers can search holdings through the online catalogue or via archivesonline.org, which covers 34 Swiss archives.