Swiss National Sound Archives Fonoteca Nazionale Svizzera Swiss National Library

History and Founding

The Swiss National Sound Archives (Fonoteca Nazionale Svizzera) was established as a foundation under private law on 18 May 1987 in Lugano, following more than a decade of advocacy by librarians and cultural institutions. Preliminary discussions and proposals date to 1972, when Robert Wyler of the Swiss National Library first formally proposed the creation of a national sound archive. A working group report in 1980 laid the groundwork, and the formal founding in 1987 brought together the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG), SUISA, IFPI, the Canton of Ticino, and the City of Lugano as co-founders. The archive began its collecting activities in 1986. In January 2016, the foundation was dissolved and the Fonoteca was integrated into the Swiss National Library as one of its sections.

Collections and Holdings

The Swiss National Sound Archives collects and catalogs audio documents of all kinds — music and spoken word — that have a connection to Swiss history and culture. Holdings include recordings of classical, rock, jazz, folk, and popular music; audiobooks; radio plays; interviews; field recordings; and private collections. The archive holds more than 500,000 audio carriers, with 20,000 to 25,000 new audio documents added annually. Among the notable collections acquired are the estates of conductor Josef Krips, singer Caterina Valente, the sound archive of the Tonhalle Zurich, and the archives of the Schaffhausen Jazz Festival. Historical radio broadcasts from 1932 to approximately 1955 are also held.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

The archive holds recordings of historical Swiss radio broadcasts, including news and cultural programming dating from the early era of Swiss public broadcasting. These materials offer a unique primary source for the history of Swiss radio journalism.

Access and Usage

Audio documents are digitized and catalogued in the FN-Base32 database, which exceeds 40 terabytes. Users can search the database and listen to files online. Physical access is available at the Lugano headquarters by prior appointment. A network of approximately 50 audiovisual listening stations located throughout Switzerland and Italy also provides access to digitized content.