Swiss Federal Archives: 50 linear km and 11.4 terabytes of material

If you are looking for official documents about Expo.02, you have come to the right place. This is where you will find information about the Helvetic Republic or the election of General Guisan in 1939. But it is not for people researching their genealogy or cantonal history. The Federal Archives preserve material from the Federal Administration, the Federal Council and Parliament: written documents, photos, films, sound recordings and databases. Then there are some 550 selected private archives with a bearing on the history of the Federal State, e.g. records of Federal councillors or army cadres. The records cover some 50 linear km and 11.4 terabytes an are constantly being enlarged.

All this material can be consulted in the Reading Room free of charge as the law requires. Here researchers will find treasures, some still drafted in the old Suetterlin handwriting, but also databases and microfilms.