St. Gallen State Archive

Last updated

Staatsarchiv St. Gallen
State Archives St Gallen May 2011 ShiftN.jpg
Location St. Gallen
Coordinates 47°25′26″N9°22′39″E / 47.4240°N 9.3776°E / 47.4240; 9.3776 Coordinates: 47°25′26″N9°22′39″E / 47.4240°N 9.3776°E / 47.4240; 9.3776
Type memory institution   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Heritage designationclass A Swiss cultural property of national significance  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Website www.staatsarchiv.sg.ch
St. Gallen State Archive
[ edit on Wikidata]

The St. Gallen State Archive (German : Staatsarchiv des Kantons St. Gallen) is the archive for the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. Since the canton was founded in 1803, it has preserved the records relating to the cantonal authorities, the cantonal administration and the institutions of the state. It also contains records from the legal predecessors of today's canton. Organisationally, the State Archive is part of the Department of the Interior, located in the Office of Culture.

Contents

Responsibilities

The Gesetz über Aktenführung und Archivierung (Act on Filing and Archiving – sGS 147.1) of 19 April 2011 defines the State Archive as the highest specialised cantonal body for filing and archiving. [1] It decides on the archival value of documents offered and guarantees permanent storage and access to the records. The archive ensures the traceability of the actions of public bodies and contributes to the provision of ongoing legal certainty. In addition, it ensures the preservation of records relating to private institutions, organisations, families and individuals, in as far as these are relevant to the history of the canton and its population, and have been provided to it. It takes an independent role in carrying out its responsibilities. Further details of its legal basis and responsibilities can be found in the Verordnung über Aktenführung und Archivierung (Ordinance on Records Management and Archiving – sGS 147.11) of 19 March 2019. [2]

Construction of the Sitter Viaduct (1910), photo in the State Archive BT Sitterviadukt 1910-01-04.jpg
Construction of the Sitter Viaduct (1910), photo in the State Archive

History

Example from the State Archive: Plan of the course of the Rhine at Balzers, 1818 Grenze Balzers-SG 1818.jpg
Example from the State Archive: Plan of the course of the Rhine at Balzers, 1818

Like the canton itself, the State Archive was created in 1803. Initially, the focus of its archival activity was on legal documents from the early years of the Swiss Confederation and the subsequent transitional period from 1798 to the foundation of the canton. The change in legal structure during this time led to the transfer of archival records to other cantons. Archival records, such as those from the bailiwicks of Rheintal or Sax, were finally able to be incorporated into the St. Gallen State Archive. However, some of the proposed acquisitions were difficult and some failed. [3]

In recent years, the State Archive was able to acquire other valuable archives belonging to public bodies from the period before the canton was founded, such as the Rheineck Town Archive and the Lichtensteig Town Archive.

The fact that the canton consisted of twelve independent ‘states’ prior to 1798 is reflected in the archival landscape. For example, not all the written records from these regions are held in the State Archive. Important archival records from the period before the founding of the canton can be found in the Abbey Archive and in the St. Gallen Local Authority City Archive [4] (the archive of the former imperial city and republic of St. Gallen), in various other cantonal archives and in communal archives in the canton. There is currently no overview of all the archival records relating to St. Gallen in other Swiss archives from before 1798. [5] However, the cantonal records since 1803 have been secured, although there are gaps in certain periods. Important privately-owned records have been acquired in recent years and the State Archive has developed a consistent process for overseeing and evaluating records, which has been in place since 2003. In addition, the State Archive plays a significant role in digital preservation. In this and other areas, it collaborates with other archives both nationally and internationally (e.g. archives in the Arge Alp). [6]

List of state archivists [7]
Term of officeName
1803–1805Franz Josef Büeler
1805–1811Konrad Meyer [8]
1812–1819Vacant
1820–1826 Gallus Jakob Baumgartner
1826–1833 Josef Anton Henne
1834–1847Peter Ehrenzeller [9]
1847–1848Karl Wegelin [10]
1848–1852Johann Theodor Gsell
1852–1858Johann Joseph Weder
1859–1872Otto Henne am Rhyn [11]
1872–1885Joseph Anton Hardegger
1886–1912Otto Henne am Rhyn
1913–1943Josef Anton Müller [12]
1943–1957Karl Schönenberger [13]
1958–1968Franz Perret [14]
1968–1993Walter Lendi
1993–2001Silvio Bucher
Since 2002Stefan Gemperli

Records

The records are divided into state and non-state archival records. They are further divided into the following sections: [15]

State archival records
Non-state archival records

In terms of materials, the records are primarily on paper, but may also be parchment, celluloid or glass plates. Questions about the long-term durability of electronic data and media are becoming increasingly important.

In 2022, the State Archive records would cover more than 10 kilometres. Every year, the archive grows by another 100 to 200 metres. [16]

Research

The Digital Reading Room [17] offers numerous search options. Individual archival records or collections are digitalised (particularly image documents) and can be viewed online. Recently, digital archival material has been transferred from the public authorities.[ citation needed ]

In addition to the archival records, the State Archive also offers a publicly accessible research library. The media are included in the old catalogue of the SGBN (St. Gallen Bibliotheksnetz) [18] or in the new SGBN catalogue [19] and can be found in the reference library of the St. Gallen State Archive.

Building

Nordflugel St. Gallen.jpg

Originally built by Felix Wilhelm Kubly [20] from 1838 to 1841 as an armoury, the north wing of the government building was in poor condition in the early 1970s. The Cantonal Council commissioned St. Gallen architect Ernest Brantschen (1922–1994) with a reconstruction project in 1970. The building was to serve as an archival and administrative complex in the future. Extensive renovations and the addition of new parts to the building were required for this. Since 1979, the State Archive, Abbey Archive and Cantonal Court have been based in this north wing, which is part of the Abbey District. Due to the increasing numbers of records and the inability to extend the building, two other buildings now house an external storage facility and other offices and workshops. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cantons of Switzerland</span> Member states of the Swiss Confederation

The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the Swiss Confederation. The nucleus of the Swiss Confederacy in the form of the first three confederate allies used to be referred to as the Waldstätte. Two important periods in the development of the Old Swiss Confederacy are summarized by the terms Acht Orte and Dreizehn Orte.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canton of Solothurn</span> Canton of Switzerland

The canton of Solothurn or canton of Soleure is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the northwest of Switzerland. The capital is Solothurn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Hilty</span>

Carl Andreas Hilty was a Swiss lawyer, professor of constitutional law, politician, philosopher, lay theologian and writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canton of Glarus</span> Canton of Switzerland

The canton of Glarus is a canton in east central Switzerland. The capital is Glarus. The population speaks a variety of Alemannic German. The majority of the population (81%) identifies as Christian, about evenly split between Protestants and Catholics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appenzell Innerrhoden</span> Canton of Switzerland

Appenzell Innerrhoden, in English sometimes Appenzell Inner-Rhodes, is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of six districts. The seat of the government and parliament is Appenzell. It is traditionally considered a "half-canton", the other half being Appenzell Ausserrhoden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appenzell Ausserrhoden</span> Canton of Switzerland

Appenzell Ausserrhoden, in English sometimes Appenzell Outer Rhodes, is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of twenty municipalities. The seat of the government and parliament is Herisau, and the seat of judicial authorities are in Trogen. It is traditionally considered a "half-canton", the other half being Appenzell Innerrhoden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canton of St. Gallen</span> Canton of Switzerland

The canton of St. Gallen or St Gall is a canton of Switzerland. The capital is St. Gallen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thurgau</span> Canton of Switzerland

Thurgau, anglicized as Thurgovia, more formally the Canton of Thurgau, is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of five districts and its capital is Frauenfeld.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flags and arms of cantons of Switzerland</span>

Each of the 26 modern cantons of Switzerland has an official flag and a coat of arms. The history of development of these designs spans the 13th to the 20th centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Englisberg</span> Village in the district of Seftigen in Canton Bern, Switzerland

Englisberg is a village in the district of Seftigen in Canton Bern, Switzerland. On January 1, 2004, the independent municipality merged with Zimmerwald to form the new municipality of Wald BE. Situated on the Längenberg, above the valley of the Aare river, it combines the villages of Englisberg and Kühlewil. Englisberg is first documented in 1166 [Endlisperc]. It is believed that Englisberg was created out of the much older village of Kühlewil [Cullenwil, Cullenwilare - originally of Celtic origin] the latter of which having since attained the status of a hamlet of the former. In the 14th century a castle is documented in Englisberg, owned by the family of the same name. It was abandoned by the following 15th century and quickly fell into disrepair and disintegration. The feudal rights over Englisberg were acquired by the von Erlach family of Bern in 1433 and passed in 1542 to the Baumgartner family of the same place. After 1570, these feudal rights were sold to local farming families Guggisberg and Zimmermann which over the course of several generations were split into 70 shares. In the 18th century, these rights were successively purchased by the aristocratic von Graffenried and von Tscharner families seated at the Lohn estate in Kehrsatz only to lose it all when Switzerland was invaded by the French in 1798 that resulted in the abolishment of the ancient order. Englisberg belonged until 1798 to the high court district of Seftigen. Ecclesiastically Englisberg was part of the evangelical reformed parish church of neighboring Belp till 1699 and thereafter was integrated into the newly created parish of Zimmerwald.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canton of Säntis</span> St. Gallen, Appenzell and Rheintal (1798–1803)

Säntis was the name of a canton of the Helvetic Republic from 1798 to 1803, consisting of the territory of St. Gallen, Appenzell, and Rheintal. Its capital was St. Gallen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pfäfers Abbey</span> Benedictine monastery in Pfäfers

Pfäfers Abbey, also known as St. Pirminsberg from its position on a mountain, was a Benedictine monastery in Pfäfers near Bad Ragaz, in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schänis</span> Municipality in Switzerland in St. Gallen

Schänis is a municipality in the Wahlkreis (constituency) of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

See-Gaster is a constituency (Wahlkreis) in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. The Wahlkreis has been established on June 10, 2001, with an area of 246.16 km2 (95.04 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Swiss Railways</span>

The United Swiss Railways was a former railway company in Switzerland. It was the smallest of the five main railways that were nationalised from 1902 to form the Swiss Federal Railways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staatsarchiv Zürich</span> State archives of the Swiss Canton of Zürich and its legal predecessors

Staatsarchiv Zürich, formally the Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, are the state archives of the Swiss Canton of Zürich and its legal predecessors, in particular the former city republic of Zürich.

The following is a timeline of the history of the municipality of Bern, Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johannes Dierauer</span> Swiss historian and librarian

Johannes Dierauer was a Swiss historian and librarian. He taught history classes at the Cantonal School in St. Gallen from 1868 to 1907 and, from 1874 to 1920, served as the head of the City Library of St. Gallen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In der Maur</span> Swiss-Austrian family

In der Maur is an ancient Swiss family. Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the family held positions of political and economic power as members of the bourgeoisie in Berneck, St. Gallen and as members of the lower nobility in Kurtatsch an der Weinstraße. The In der Maur von Berneck family were first granted a coat of arms in 1478, when Hermann In der Maur was appointed as the Ammann of the Abbot of St. Gallen of Berneck— a position the family continued to hold throughout the reigns of the Prince-Abbots of the Abbey of Saint Gall within the Holy Roman Empire. Members of the family also served as Imperial tax collectors and as clerks of the Court of Berneck. The first member of the family to hold the position of Ammann in Berneck was Ulrich In der Maur in 1435.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S5 (St. Gallen S-Bahn)</span>

The S5 is a railway service of the St. Gallen S-Bahn that provides hourly or better service between Weinfelden and St. Margrethen, in the Swiss cantons of St. Gallen and Thurgau. THURBO, a joint venture of Swiss Federal Railways and the canton of Thurgau, operates the service.

References

  1. ↑ "Statute Book". www.gesetzessammlung.sg.ch (in German). Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  2. ↑ "Statute Book". www.gesetzessammlung.sg.ch (in German). Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  3. ↑ "Staatsarchiv | sg.ch". www.sg.ch (in German). Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  4. ↑ "St. Gallen City Archive". stadtarchiv.ch (in German). Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  5. ↑ "Archivlandschaft St.Gallen | sg.ch". www.sg.ch (in German). Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "ARGE ALP – Archives". www.archive-argealp.de (in German). Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  7. ↑ "Digitaler Lesesaal - Staatsarchiv". Digitaler Lesesaal (in German). Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  8. ↑ Gschwend, Lukas. "Meyer, Konrad". Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (in German). Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  9. ↑ Mayer, Marcel. "Ehrenzeller, Peter". Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (in German). Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  10. ↑ Erhart, Peter. "Wegelin, Karl". Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (in German). Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  11. ↑ Bischof, Franz Xaver. "Henne am Rhyn, Otto". Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (in German). Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  12. ↑ Mäder, Paul. "Alt Staatsarchivar und Kantonsbibliothekar Josef Anton Müller (1882–1963)". Zeitschrift für schweizerische Kirchengeschichte 57 (1963) (in German). Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  13. ↑ Vasella, Oskar. "Staatsarchivar Dr. Karl Schönenberger (1898–1957)". Zeitschrift für schweizerische Kirchengeschichte 51 (1957) (in German). pp. 334–336. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  14. ↑ Hollenstein, Lorenz. "Perret, Franz". Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (in German). Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  15. ↑ "Digitaler Lesesaal - Archivplan". Digitaler Lesesaal (in German). Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  16. ↑ "Porträt | sg.ch". www.sg.ch (in German). Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  17. ↑ "Digital Reading Room". Digitaler Lesesaal (in German). Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  18. ↑ "SGBN – Katalog". aleph.sg.ch. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  19. ↑ "SGBN Common Catalogue". sgbn-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  20. ↑ "Kubly, Felix Wilhelm". Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (in German). Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  21. ↑ Gemperli, Stefan (2007), "Staatsarchiv und Stiftsarchiv St. Gallen 1979", in Gössi, Anton; Egloff, Gregor (eds.), Archivbauten in der Schweiz und im Fürstentum Liechtenstein 1899–2009 (in German), Baden, pp. 50–55

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.