Research tools

The collections and archives of the Prints and Drawings Department and the Federal Archives of Historic Monuments are all described online. There are already detailed entries for many collections and archives at single document or single dossier level and more are being added on an ongoing basis. Some older collections can be researched by using card files or internal inventory lists. They may also be preserved in alphabetical order under the name of the person or place.

Prints, photographs and plans are digitised where possible and – provided they are free from copyrights – placed on Wikimedia Commons.

Digitised image documents

As some holdings have still yet to be recorded in detail, we recommend you contact us for comprehensive research (contact details on the page below).

• HelveticArchives
  Database of the NL’s archival holdings. Contains information on the holdings of the Prints and Drawings Department and the Swiss Literary Archives, among others.
• Swiss Poster Collection
  This collection comprises posters created by Swiss and foreign artists. It presents a picture of Swiss and European culture from the end of the 19th century to the present day covering a wide range of areas (tourism, exhibitions, advertising, cultural activities, sport, politics, etc.). The posters described in the catalogue are drawn from a number of Swiss institutions, including those of the Swiss National Library (NL).
• Helveticat
  The main catalogue of the NL, containing a large proportion of the newspapers and periodicals. Cataloguing of old titles is currently in progress.

• Further information

  Your Research