The State Archives of Baden-Württemberg is a very young institution which, however, includes divisions that are steeped in tradition. The individual histories of the archives that are today united under the State Archives' umbrella stretch, in some cases, back to the Middle Ages.
The duties of the State Archives are regulated in the Landesarchivgesetz (the State Archival Law of Baden-Württemberg), and its organisational structure is governed by an Organisationsstatut.
The State Archives is a "Landesoberbehörde" within the portfolio of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for Science, Research, and Arts.
The headquarters is in Stuttgart. The State Archives of Baden-Württemberg contains eight divisions and is headed by a President. The different divisions are located in Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg, Karlsruhe, Freiburg, Sigmaringen, Kornwestheim, Wertheim, and Neuenstein.
The six archival divisions are responsible for accessioning, processing, and making available archival material. The two further service divisions are responsible for providing various services throughout the State archival sector.
As a centre of expertise in State culture and society, the State Archives secures the written history of Baden-Württemberg as part of our cultural heritage and the culture of remembrance, preserves it, and makes it accessible to every interested party. At the same time, the State Archives also works actively to research and communicate the history of South-West Germany.
In the State Archives' record groups, the historical and cultural diversity of South-West Germany is reflected. Each record group is unique, and represents the individual histories of human beings and regions. Thus the State Archives is an irreplaceable storehouse of knowledge and experience, with striking quantitative dimensions: the State Archives preserves in its vaults around 156 kilometres of files and volumes, 316,000 deeds and 362,000 maps and plans. Important photographic collections and audiovisual records round off its holdings. In the State Archives' digital repository, electronic records (databases, emails, and websites) are also preserved.
Apart from visiting the State Archives, which is free of charge, you have the option of making a telephone or written enquiry of one of the State Archives' divisions. In this case, we would ask you to describe your research topic as precisely as possible. On this basis the archive's employees can inform you whether any of their holdings, and which particular record groups, could be relevant to your research topic, or alternatively which other archives you should consult in the course of your further research. It is however important to note that the answering of written or oral enquiries is fundamentally restricted to indications of potentially relevant archival material.
You can pre-register over the internet before visiting an archive, conduct research in online finding aids, and pre-order archival materials. Additionally, the State Archives offers tours, presents exhibitions, and hosts a packed programme of lectures and courses.
Whatever the interest that has led you to us, we look forward to your visit in one of our archival divisions, or virtually on our website.