Archives d'État de Genève, Cantonal archive in Genève-Cité, Switzerland.
The Archives d'État de Genève is a state archive in Geneva that holds approximately 30 kilometers of documents on its shelves. The collection includes government records, private archives, maps, and photographs that document Geneva's development from medieval times to the present day.
The institution was founded in 1839 and occupies a building originally constructed in the early 18th century as a grain storage facility. The structure later served as a military depot before eventually being converted to house the archives.
The archives preserve documents from the Protestant Reformation and show through their holdings how church, trade, and civic life developed in this city. The collection tells the story of theological debates, guild regulations, and everyday life among Geneva's residents over multiple centuries.
Visitors can view digitized versions of documents through the archives' website, including records of council meetings. Access is free and allows researchers and the curious to explore Geneva's history from home.
A new building for the archives is being planned at the Arsenal de Plainpalais site to replace the aging current facilities. This project shows how seriously the city takes preserving its historical records.
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