Vision statement & collection profile
1. Mission and function
The Archives of Contemporary History at ETH Zurich collects written, audio and visual documents from private collections on the history of Switzerland from the late 19th century to the present. Its services support teaching and research on Swiss contemporary history in an international context.
By safeguarding cultural heritage from contemporary history, it fulfills a task of national importance. As a so-called special archive, it complements the state's tradition-building activities. Its activities are supported by the ETH Zurich, by various foundations and by individual private sponsorship.
2. Focus of the collection
The Archive for Contemporary History mainly secures and makes accessible the bequests of natural persons as well as the archives of private organizations which are of nationwide importance. The thematic focus of the collection is on politics, economics and the history of Jews in Switzerland.
3. Description and preservation
In its cataloguing practice, the Archive of Contemporary History follows current international standards. It guarantees the ability to connect to future standards. The analog and digital archival material entrusted to it is permanently preserved in a trustworthy and usable form.
4. Research and teaching
As part of the Institute of History of the ETH Zurich, the Archive of Contemporary History promotes teaching and research. While safeguarding interests worthy of protection, it also grants access to files from the recent past.
The Archive conducts academic and high school courses and designs archival education and training programs. It is networked with universities, memory institutions and professional associations at home and abroad and maintains corresponding partnerships and project cooperations.
5. Dialogue with the public
The Archive of Contemporary History communicates its archival holdings by offering information and research services as well as user services in the physical and in the virtual reading room.
In its public relations work, it addresses different target groups with events and publications to publicize its holdings. In this way, it contributes to the discussion of topics in Swiss contemporary history.