Landeshauptarchiv Schwerin

Archival work in the Mecklenburg region can be traced back to the 15th century. Today's archive building (am Burgsee) was designed in 1909-1911 by architect Paul Ehmig. After World War II considerable work was done to return and collect archival materials that were redistributed during the war. Since the re-establishment of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in 1990, holdings of the Archives were significantly enriched through the acquisition of records of dissolved state and economic institutions, former parties and organizations. Since 1 January 2006, the Landeshauptarchiv Schwerin became part of the Landesamt für Kultur und Denkmalpflege.

Holdings of the Main State Archives include the following collections:Älteres Aktenarchiv (older records), Mecklenburgische Landstände einschließlich ritterschaftliche Grundherrschaften und Landstädte (Mecklenburger estates), Mecklenburg-Strelitz 1701-1933, Mecklenburg Schwerin 1849-1933/Mecklenburg 1934-1945, State of Mecklenburg (-Vorpommern) 1945-1952, Bezirke Schwerin und Neubrandenburg 1952-1990 (districts), Nichtmecklenburgische Behörden und Einrichtungen (other authorities and establishments), maps, pictures, photographs, films and sound recordings

Various research aids are available online. A thorough collections overview is available: http://bestand.landeshauptarchiv-schwerin.de, a research databank: http://find.landeshauptarchiv-schwerin.de as well as an additional online research source: http://ariadne.uni-greifswald.de/images/Ariadne/.