Stadtarchiv Schaffhausen
- City Archive Schaffhausen
Address
Phone
Fax
Mandates/Sources of Authority
The Stadtarchiv Schaffhausen builds bridges between past, present and future and between research, administration and the public, because it secures authentic sources in accordance with its legal mandate and makes them usable as archival material for state and society. By making long-term administrative decisions comprehensible, the city archive enables the transparency of administrative action and the protection of citizens' individual rights, which are part of the essence of the democratic rule of law.
Archive material is unique and therefore irreplaceable. The primary tasks of the City Archives are to secure documents of lasting value and to form, preserve and make them generally accessible as records. The archival tradition is formed and indexed in such a way that it is open to different purposes and evaluations.
Administrative Structure
The Schaffhausen city archive is an integral part of public administration. As a competent partner, it advises the administration in all areas of archive management and develops criteria with the departments for the selection of documents of lasting value, as well as rational procedures for their separation and transfer. It thus relieves the administration and still provides it with long-term access to documents of lasting value.
The Stadtarchiv cooperates with the Schaffhausen State Archive and other related institutions and is also committed to preserving unofficial archive material important to the city's history.
Records Management and Collecting Policies
The city archive proactively collects documentary material on various topics to pass on the city's history not only from the point of view of administration and politics. The collections are constantly and specifically supplemented with written material and images from individuals, associations, companies and organisations.
Building(s)
The Schaffhausen Municipal Archives have been located in the so-called "Big House" at Fronwagplatz 24 since 1958. In the Middle Ages, the house was owned by various noble families. In 1685, the courtyard was rebuilt under the then owner Hans Conrad Peyer. Splendid interior decoration with stucco work by Samuel Höscheller and Hans Jacob Schärer. 1895/96 Conversion of the ground floor into business premises and construction of a public passageway. 1921 Purchase of the property by the city.
Archival and Other Holdings
It currently has 12 rooms and 6 compactus units. The shelving capacity is about 2'500 m; 89 % of it is occupied.
Finding Aids, Guides, and Publication
Publications: http://www.stadtarchiv-schaffhausen.ch/index.php?id=10174
Index: http://www.stadtarchiv-schaffhausen.ch/index.php?id=10065
Opening Times
Monday closed
Tuesday and Wednesday: 08.30-12.00 & 13.30-17.00
Thursday and Friday: 08.30-12.00
Conditions of Access
The municipal archives are freely accessible to everyone within the framework of the opening hours and the regulations for use.
In order to optimally prepare the inspection of files in the reading room, please make an appointment by telephone or e-mail at least 1-2 working days before the planned visit to the archives with information on the research topic or the desired archive signatures.
Research Services
The city archive meets the concerns of its users through qualified information and advice, user-friendly reading room opening hours and rapid delivery of search tools and archival materials. Indexing work is quickly converted into usable search tools that illustrate the context of origin, evaluation bases and archival classification and processing principles. If users' requirements cannot be met for legal or conservation reasons, the obstacles are made understandable.