Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, State archive in Zürich, Switzerland.
The Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zurich holds millions of documents in a modern facility at Irchelpark, containing administrative records, maps, and plans from centuries of cantonal life. The collections are organized across extensive shelving systems designed for preservation and research access.
The archive was established in 1837 and preserves documents spanning more than 1000 years, including materials from before Zurich became a modern canton in 1798. This extended timeline makes it the region's record of governance and daily life across many generations.
The institution holds architectural drawings and patent records that reflect how local residents contributed to building and invention over time. These materials show the connection between the community and the region's technical development in concrete ways.
First-time visitors must register to obtain an access card before using the reading areas and viewing documents. It helps to plan ahead about which materials you want to research, as the collections are extensive.
The institution holds countless handwritten documents that require special skills to read and interpret correctly. Many of these older materials show personal handwriting and writing styles that offer direct insight into daily life from earlier times.
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