Vorarlberger Landesarchiv State Archives of Vorarlberg

Overview

The Vorarlberger Landesarchiv (State Archives of Vorarlberg) is both the historical and the administrative archive of the Austrian federal state of Vorarlberg. Located at Kirchstraße 28 in Bregenz, the state capital, it serves as the official repository for the records of the Vorarlberg provincial government and acts as the central archival institution for the westernmost Austrian state.

History and Founding

The Vorarlberger Landesarchiv was established in 1899 to manage and preserve official records as the region developed administratively. Following the dissolution of Austria-Hungary in 1918, the archive became the primary repository for materials specific to Vorarlberg. The Vorarlberg State Library was founded in 1904 as a branch of the State Archives and achieved autonomous status in 1977. A three-story underground storage facility, designed by architect Josef Fink and air-conditioned for archival preservation, was put into operation in 2004. In 1999, the archive initiated a systematic microfilming program for preservation of vulnerable holdings. Documents from the Vorarlberg region held in Vienna were returned to Bregenz in 1954; military records for those born in Vorarlberg, Tyrol, and Salzburg between 1865 and 1900 remain in the Landesarchiv.

Collections and Holdings

The archive holds documentary and photographic materials spanning from the Middle Ages to the present. Collections include parish records (Catholic and Protestant) from regional settlements, municipal and guild archives, private collections, records of religious houses (including documents from Mehrerau, Feldkirch, Blumenegg, and Bludenz, 14th–19th centuries), and a folk song archive integrated in 2000. The oldest single item is a papal document from Mehrerau Abbey dating back more than 800 years. Military records, community coats of arms research, and extensive genealogical sources are also held. Online charter collections are accessible via Monasterium.net.

Publications

The majority of publications by the Vorarlberg State Archives are freely available online, including an extensive series of regional history volumes. Publications are also deposited with the German National Library for distribution.

Access and Usage

The archive operates an online reading room (vorarlberg.at/onlinelesesaal) and welcomes researchers for in-person consultation. Advance appointment is not required for regular research visits.