Have You Ever Contacted a Swiss Archive?
Many researchers, myself included, are unsure how to reach out to Swiss cantonal archives—or what to expect. Please share your experience:
- Which archive did you contact?
- Did you write in German, French, or English?
- Did they respond, and how helpful were they?
Let’s demystify the process for newer researchers.
Kommentare
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Short answer on the language first: the local language (German, French or Italian) is of advantage, but I guess in all archives there will be staff members able to communicate in English. If you want to show good will by sending a translated text, I recommend DeepL - but even their translations are occasionally not fully unambiguous - so definitely include your original text in English (or whatever your mother tongue is).
Second question: how helpful is their staff? My experiences might be somewhat biased, as I know the staff (in many cases) personally from many hours in their reading rooms (long before any records could be viewed online). On the other hand, I have comments from researchers whom I had "sent" there (enquiries via mail from overseas). My main area of research (rather: helping others to research) is North-East Switzerland:
St.Gallen (State Archive): extremely helpful (confirmed by many "happy customers").
St.Gallen City Archive (Ortsbürgergemeinde): responsible for the "original" city of St.Gallen - mainly prior to 1803 - but overlapping on some issues) - extremely helpful (confirmed by "happy customers"). Scroll down on start page to "Kontakt".
St.Gallen City Archive (Politische Gemeinde): responsible mainly for after 1803 - but overlapping on some issues) - extremely helpful (confirmed by "happy customers"). Open submenu "Zugänglichkeit und Adresse".
Stiftsarchiv St.Gallen: responsible for documents of the former Abbey of St.Gallen (dissolved in 1803) - extremely helpful when you visit them, no experience with email requests. Scroll down on start page to "Noch offene Fragen?". Keep in mind that their documents will often be very informative - but time consuming to evaluate!
Staatsarchiv Thurgau: extremely helpful (confirmed by many "happy customers").
Staatsarchiv Appenzell-Ausserrhoden: extremely helpful when you visit them, but little experience with email requests (which then was positive).
Landesarchiv Appemzell Innerrhoden: a very small archive (not much more then a "one man show"). I know the head - very helpful - but no experience with email requests.
Staatsarchiv Zürich: Very helpful with first requests - but tend to be reluctant to answer follow-up questions … recommend to visit their reading room (or send someone along) instead.
There are several other useful addresses in Zürich (City Archive, Einwohnermeldeamt, …) where people are usually helpful, but I have hardly any experience with email requests.
In all cases it is a good idea to find out first, what's available online!
I am looking forward to hearing about other members' experiences - both with other archives, as well as with the ones mentioned above.
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Let me follow up on "In all cases it is a good idea to find out first, what's available online!" - reason: many archives will be willing to answer several requests - but not an unlimited number. Consequence: ask only questions which cannot be answered form information available online. If in doubt: ask here in the community first - someone might be able to find an answer online or help to improve your question.
When asking a question here, I would invite you to read my suggestion What title would be best for postings? first. Whilst this has been suggested with the transcription / translation requests in mind we see here most often, it may also help to check whether your request includes sufficient detailed information to make it promising. Keep in mind that archives will be willing to e.g. give you some specific answer (or send you a specific document), they will not have the staff to do extensive research for you - or have to spend a lot of time (incl. asking back) to first understand your question.
1) Location (community, parish or at least region): this will not be very important for a small canton like Appenzell Innerrhoden, but for a large canton like Zurich, or a canton like St.Gallen which (prior to its foundation 1803) was an administrative patchwork.
2) Type of record: obvious if asking for a specific document.
3) Time scale: this will decide what type of records would have to be consulted - might even decide which State Archive. For some information about reformed parishes in the St.Gallen Rhine valley, ruled by Zürich prior to 1803, the documents may be kept at the Zürich State Archive. Parts of what used to be ruled by Bern now belong to Aargau or Basel Landschaft. Time scale is especially important for any information after 1876: depending on how a given canton interprets the Federal Civil Registration Ordinance you would have to contact the State Archive or the Civil Registration Office - and in the latter case it will be important whether you are direct descendant (and can prove this) or not.
4) Name(s) involved: obvious when asking about specific documents.
5) Additional information: as much as you have - to make it easier for archive staff to understand your request.
I am now looking forward to hearing about other members' experiences - but when giving "points" to a response, also consider how many "points" your request would have gotten 😉.
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As usual @WSeelentag - well done! We are blessed to have you in our community. I am also looking forward to hearing other members' experiences.
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Zivilstandsamt (Civil Registry Office) Zurzach (Aargau)
Fisibach-Waldhausen AG - Bürgerregister - 1800-1923 - Meier - given names was a transcription request of an original document with poor resolution. The situation in canton Aargau is rather complicated - I just assumed the original register could be kept at Zivilstandsamt Zurzach. I contacted them and asked if they actually kept the register - and if I could get a copy of that page: this request included a signature number plus page number (see my comments above). Within a bit more than a week I had the image by mail (without charge) - see here.
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I have good experience with Bern Archives including Biel. I could follow up after my visit and always got my answers.
I visited Solothurn and Frauenfeld archives - very good experience.
I always communicated in German.
I wrote to archives for canton Vaud in French - I dont speak that language, I used Google Translate - worked very well.
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