• What collections does the archive hold?

The Landesarchiv NRW mainly holds documents from the state authorities. These include, for example, ministries, district governments and courts. There are also documents from the predecessor states, such as documents from the early Middle Ages. In addition, our archives also hold estates, seal stamps, records of uprisings, civil status registers, association documents, party documents, etc. The list is very diverse.

• How are the archive's holdings organised?

Archive collections are usually organised according to the so-called provenance principle. This means that the documents are organised into units according to their origin. Each department of the Landesarchiv has its own tradition of naming holdings. As a result, the designations may differ considerably.

• Are there estates or collections of specific persons or institutions?

Yes, the Landesarchiv also takes on non-state archive material. These are the estates of politicians or the archives of associations. We are always on the lookout for historically valuable documents.

• Are there audiovisual materials or digital media in the archive?

Yes, our archives also include photos, films and sound recordings. The digital file has been introduced and used in the state administration for several years. In future, this form of file will also be accessible. Digitised files that are no longer to be issued in paper form for reasons of conservation can already be used either in the reading room or online.

• Is there information on holdings that have already been digitised or restored?

Yes, on the department pages you will find overviews of holdings that have been digitised. You will also find a list of holdings that are currently not usable, for example due to restoration work.

• How do I find specific documents on my research topic?

Narrow down your topic and think about the details. Which years are relevant, at which authority could files on the topic have been created? Based on this, contact the archive that could have taken over the documents. A search at archive.nrw.de can provide initial clues as to suitable archives.

• Can I make copies or scans of the documents?

Yes, in principle you can take photos yourself in the reading rooms and also order copies. However, you must check with the reading room staff in advance that there are no legal requirements, such as copyright or personal rights, that prevent this.

• Are there experts who can help with research?

Yes, you are always welcome to contact the Landesarchiv directly. Someone from the relevant department will give you an overview of suitable sources. If you would like someone to do the elaboration of the sources for you, you can commission a service provider for a fee. You can find an initial overview on the ‘Family research’ page.

• Are workshops or introductory courses on using the archive offered?

Once a year, a source workshop is organised for students in the Rhineland Department. There are educational archive programmes for school pupils. Occasionally there are workshops on genealogical research.

• Can the archive help you make contact with other archives or institutions?

Our colleagues can point you in the direction of other institutions if they might have relevant sources. You are responsible for making contact yourself.

• What additional resources (e.g. reference literature, internet access) are available on site?

There are reference libraries in the reading rooms of the State Archives. You can order books there and consult them on site. Analogue finding aids are also still available. A small reference library contains books on historical auxiliary sciences, among other things.