Swiss Social Archives, Memory institution and specialized archive in Zürich, Switzerland
The Swiss Social Archives is a specialized memory institution in Zürich that collects documents, photographs, and materials on labor movements and social change in Switzerland. The collection spans records from hundreds of organizations and personal collections of activists, organized across multiple floors in a single building.
The institution was founded in 1906 as a center for Swiss social literature and attracted influential figures like Lenin and Trotsky early on. During the interwar period and Cold War, it became an important gathering place for refugees fleeing fascist and authoritarian regimes.
The archives hold materials from over 700 organizations that document Swiss labor movements, protest groups, and initiatives for social change. Visitors can trace how different groups worked across decades for reforms, better working conditions, and society-wide transformation.
The archives offer free access for researchers, students, journalists, and organization members who want to consult primary sources on labor and social movements. A visit works best when you know what you are looking for, since the holdings are extensive and some orientation helps.
The reading rooms served as a refuge for antifascists and political refugees during World War II and beyond, where they made contact with like-minded people from across Europe. This hidden aspect of the institution's past is often overlooked today, even though it matters to understanding Switzerland's role as a humanitarian haven.
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