Centre international de recherches sur l'anarchisme, Anarchist archive and library in Lausanne, Switzerland
The International Center for Research on Anarchism is an archive and specialized library in Lausanne holding around 25,000 books, 4,000 periodicals, photographs, posters, and documents on anarchist movements across the globe. The collection spans multiple languages and regions and serves as a research resource for anyone studying anarchist history and thought.
The center was founded in Geneva in 1957 by Pietro Ferrua and fellow activists, then relocated to Lausanne in 1964 under Marie-Christine Mikhaïlo's direction. This move allowed the institution to grow and establish itself as an important research hub.
The collection gathers materials in multiple languages from anarchist groups, activists, and independent publishers across different countries and time periods. Visitors can observe how anarchists shared their ideas through pamphlets, periodicals, and books.
The center is located in Lausanne and opens on weekday evenings, allowing visitors access to books and documents for research purposes. The collection is open to anyone with a genuine interest in studying anarchist history.
The center holds Europe's largest specialized collection on anarchism and operates entirely through donations and volunteer work, without a regular acquisition budget. This makes it a notable example of how a community gathers and preserves its knowledge resources.
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