{{Short description|National archives of Switzerland in Bern}} {{Infobox archive/wikidata}}
The '''Swiss Federal Archives''' ({{langx|de|Schweizerisches Bundesarchiv}}, {{langx|fr|Archives fédérales suisses}}, {{langx|it|Archivio federale svizzero}}, {{langx|rm|Archiv federal svizzer}}) are the national archives of Switzerland. Additionally, the cantons have official archives of their own. The building and its collections are a Swiss heritage site of national significance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.babs.admin.ch/de/aufgabenbabs/kgs/inventar/a-objekte.html |title=Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance |date=1 January 2018 |website=A-Objects |publisher=Federal Office for Cultural Protection (BABS) |access-date=31 December 2019 |archive-date=2 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902033944/http://www.babs.admin.ch/de/aufgabenbabs/kgs/inventar/a-objekte.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2018 the archives held over 66,000 linear meters of printed documents and 20.7 terabytes of digital documents. The archives have a permanent staff of 57.8 full-time equivalent and a budget of 19.2 million CHF.<ref name=Facts>{{cite web |url= https://www.bar.admin.ch/bar/en/home/about-us/the-federal-archives/facts-and-figures.html|title= Facts and Figures |date= 2018 |website= bar.admin.ch |publisher= Swiss Federal Archives|access-date= 31 December 2019}}</ref> The archives are governed by the Federal Act on Archiving.<ref>[http://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19994756/index.html Federal Act on Archiving], original version 1998-06-26.</ref>
The Federal Archives were created in 1798 following the creation of the Helvetic Republic. Under the republic, the archives moved whenever the seat of government moved. With the creation of the Federal State in 1848 the archives became part of the Federal Chancellery and found a home in Bern in the town hall. The first federal archivist was Johann Jakob Meyer, who was appointed in 1849. In the second half of the 19th century, the archives moved to the western wing of the Parliament building. In 1868 the second chief archivist, Jakob Kaiser, was appointed. Over the following years he persuaded Parliament to purchase land across the Aare river in the Kirchenfeld district and build the current archive building.<ref name=History>{{cite web |url= https://www.bar.admin.ch/bar/en/home/about-us/the-federal-archives/history-of-the-federal-archives.html|title= The history of the Federal Archives |date= 2018 |website= bar.admin.ch |publisher= Swiss Federal Archives|access-date= 31 December 2019}}</ref> The building was built in 1896–99 by Theodor Gohl in the Renaissance Revival style.<ref name=BABS>{{Cite web |url=https://api3.geo.admin.ch/rest/services/kgs/MapServer/ch.babs.kulturgueter/614/extendedHtmlPopup?lang=de |title=Schweizerisches Bundesarchiv |publisher= Federal Office for Civil Protection| website=api3.geo.admin.ch |access-date=2019-12-31}}</ref>
In 1914 the archives are officially designated as the ''Bundesarchiv'' or Federal Archives. In the same year its first typewriter was installed. On 9 May 1944 the Federal Council approved the first regulations making all records in the archive which are at least 50 years old available to the public without restriction. In 1963 the first microfilm reader was installed, followed by a copier in 1965. On 15 July 1966, new regulations regarding the archives retained the 50 year limit, but made exceptions for academic research. In 1973 the 50 year limit was shortened to 35 years and in 1998 it was again reduced to 30 years.<ref name=History/>
== See also == * List of national archives * Staatsarchiv Zürich * Swiss Film Archive * Archiving Act (Switzerland)
== Full-time positions since 2001 == {{#chart:SFA_FTE.chart}} <div align="center">'''Raw data'''</div> Sources:<br />{{Cite web |date= |title=Federal Finance Administration FFA: State financial statements |url=https://www.efv.admin.ch/en/financial-statements |access-date=27 March 2026 |website= |language=en}}<br />{{Cite web |date= |title=Federal Finance Administration FFA: Data portal |url=https://www.data.finance.admin.ch/superset/dashboard/bundeshaushalt/ |access-date=27 March 2026 |website= |language=en}}
== References == <references/>
==External links== {{commons category|Swiss Federal Archives}} *{{Official website|URL=https://www.bar.admin.ch/bar/en/home.html }}
{{Europe topic|title=European national archives|prefix=National Archives of}}
{{Authority control}}
Switzerland Category:Archives in Switzerland