Archives cantonales vaudoises ACV

Overview

The Archives cantonales vaudoises (ACV), or Vaud Cantonal Archives, are the official state archives of the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. Located in Chavannes-près-Renens near Lausanne, they serve as the central repository for the documentary heritage of the canton, spanning more than a thousand years of history. The ACV are among the largest cantonal archives in Switzerland and are inscribed on the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National Significance.

History and Founding

The ACV were established in 1798 following Vaud's independence from Berne, making them one of the oldest institutions in the canton. The return of archives from Berne to Lausanne in autumn 1798 marked the beginning of the institution. Between 1798 and 1955, the archives were housed in the belfry of Lausanne Cathedral. The first cantonal archivist was appointed in 1837, and the reading room first opened to the public in 1919. The archives moved to a building at the Rue du Maupas in Lausanne in 1955, and in 1985 relocated to their current dedicated building at the Rue de la Mouline 32 in Chavannes-près-Renens, near the University of Lausanne's Dorigny campus. A law on archiving was enacted on June 14, 2011, the first such legislation voted in the canton.

Collections and Holdings

The ACV hold over 37,000 linear metres of archives comprising more than 3,700 fonds, including more than 2,000 private archive collections. Holdings span administrative records from the medieval period (from around the year 970), through the Burgundian, Savoyard, and Bernese administrations, the Helvetic Republic era, and the canton's records since its creation in 1803. Collections include parchments, paper documents, photographs, film, audio testimonies, maps, and plans. The ACV also house a specialized library partially accessible in the reading room, focused on Vaud history.

Notable Materials

Notable holdings include medieval illuminated manuscripts accessible via the Swiss e-codices platform, records of the Anglo-French Condominium in Vanuatu (held in French archives), and extensive genealogical and heraldic resources. Private fonds include archives of political parties, associations, businesses, and notable individuals with ties to the canton.

Access and Usage

Reading room access is free and open to the public without prior reservation. Holdings may be searched via the online finding aid database DAVEL. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 09:00–17:00 (documents not delivered between 12:00–14:00). Some collections require advance authorization for access.