Swiss Federal Archives Schweizerisches Bundesarchiv (SFA)

Overview

The Swiss Federal Archives (German: Schweizerisches Bundesarchiv; French: Archives fédérales suisses; Italian: Archivio federale svizzero) are the national archives of Switzerland, based in Bern. They serve as the institutional memory of the Swiss Confederation, preserving and providing access to the records of the federal government from the founding of the Helvetic Republic in 1798 to the present day. The building and its collections are designated a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

History and Founding

The archives were established in 1798 following the creation of the Helvetic Republic, making them one of the oldest institutions in the Swiss federal administration. Through the Mediation, Restoration, and Regeneration periods, the archive grew steadily. With the founding of the modern Federal State in 1848, the archive became part of the Federal Chancellery and settled permanently in Bern. It received its current official name, Bundesarchiv (Federal Archives), in 1914. The dedicated archive building in the Kirchenfeld district of Bern was constructed in the late 19th century. Access regulations were progressively liberalized over the 20th century, culminating in the Federal Act on Archiving which now governs the institution.

Collections and Holdings

As of 2018, the archives held over 66,000 linear meters of printed documents and 20.7 terabytes of digital documents. Holdings span the entire history of federal Switzerland: records of the Federal Assembly, Federal Council, and Federal Administration; the original Helvetic Constitution; diplomatic documents and treaties; historical photograph collections; and Swiss television news reports. The collections are searchable through an online catalogue with metadata for millions of files and documents, including over 25,000 thumbnails.

Notable Materials

The archives include the original Swiss Federal Constitution, records relating to Switzerland's role during the Second World War (extensively researched during the 1990s reappraisal of Swiss neutrality), and an extensive historical photograph collection covering active service in the First World War. The archives also hold the databases on which the Independent Commission of Experts Switzerland–Second World War drew for its investigations.

Access and Usage

Reading rooms are open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 to 19:00. Analogue documents can be consulted on site after ordering online, while digital documents are supplied electronically. The archives operate and maintain the open-source SIARD Suite software for archiving relational databases, and use artificial intelligence to assist in anonymizing sensitive metadata.