Switzerland Archives and Libraries
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- Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm.
- If you plan to visit a repository, contact them and ask for information about their collection, hours, services, and fees. Ask if they require you to have a reader’s ticket (a paper indicating you are a responsible researcher) to view the records, and ask how to obtain one.
- Although the records you need may be in an archive or library, the FamilySearch Library may have microfilmed and/or digitized copies of them.
Archives
Federal Archives
Cantonal Archives
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Aargau
Appenzell-Ausserrhoden
Appenzell-Innerrhoden
Basel-Landschaft
Basel-Stadt
Bern
Fribourg
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Genève
Glarus
Graubünden
Jura
Luzern
Neuchâtel
Nidwalden
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Obwalden
Schaffhausen
Schwyz
Solothurn
St. Gallen
Thurgau
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Ticino
Uri
Valais
Vaud
Zug
Zürich
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Other archival resources
- Interactive list of Swiss archives, provided by arCHeco.
Libraries
Swiss National Library
Hallwylstrasse 15
3003 Bern
Switzerland
Phone: +41 58 462 89 35
Fax: +41 58 462 84 08
E-mail: info@nb.admin.ch
Website
Catalogues and databases
Research services
Assisted research on site
Museums
National Museum Zurich
Museumstrasse 2
Postfach
8021 Zürich
Switzerland
Phone: +41 44 218 65 11
E-mail: info@nationalmuseum.ch
Website
Other Museums
Google: Museums Switzerland A comprehensive list of links to the many museums of Switzerlnd.
Record Offices
As of 2017, the following records are accessible by the public:
- Births before 1 January 1900
- Marriages before 1 January 1930
- Deaths before 1 January 1960
Requests for information concerning ancestral families must be made by writing to the appropriate civil registry office.
When writing for records, access is generally restricted to direct-line relatives. Be prepared to provide proof of relationship (documentation connecting you to the ancestor), as well as proof of identity (a copy of passport or government-issued ID).
Finding the Civil Registration Office
- To find the civil registration office for any current or former municipality (back to 1962), the address can be accessed from the Swiss federal government website by clicking here. The top box, Wohnort/Ereignisort (residence or event location) is for the municipality where the event took place. The second box, Heimatort (place of citizenship) is for the municipality where the person holds citizenship. As you type in the name of your municipality in either box, a list of options will appear. Click on the town of interest, and the office will appear under Suchresultat (search results), along with the address and email.
- To find current information about municipalities that may have been annexed or merged, see the Wikipedia article List of former municipalities.
Note that contact information for civil registration offices can also be found on the individual parish pages in the FamilySearch Wiki.
Writing for Civil Registration Records
- Consult the Language Map of Switzerland, and then write your request in the appropriate language: