PTT Archive, Memory institution and library in Köniz, Switzerland
The PTT Archive is a memory institution and library in Köniz that holds more than 7500 linear meters of documents. This collection documents the history of Swiss postal, telegraph, and telephone services across more than 150 years.
The archive was established in 1893 when Switzerland's postal authorities created instructions for organizing records of postal operations. Over time it expanded to include the complete history of telegraph and telephone services.
The archive holds documents in German, French, and Italian that reflect how Switzerland connected its different language regions through postal and telephone services. Visitors can explore these records and see how these services shaped everyday communication patterns.
The archive requires advance access requests since the collection is primarily intended for research purposes. It is helpful to arrive with specific topics or questions in mind, as the material is extensive and well-organized by subject.
The collection holds a complete set of Swiss telephone directories dating back to 1880, showing how rapidly the telephone spread across the country. This material reveals how a single technology transformed communication practices in just decades.
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