Sources and research aids: in the 20th century

Please note that there are retention periods of 30 to 70 years on 20^th century records (even 100 years on civil status registries). For viewing and use of such barred documents a request can be submitted.

General

• Search the archival catalogue for the respective names. However, our records are not always fully indexed, a hit is therefore a matter of luck.
• Search the protocol of the ‘Small Council’ in the register of persons for the respective names (copies of said protocols can be found on the first floor of our reference library)
• Search the yearly and alphabetic registers of the cantonal magazines (library reference number J.a 1) for respective names. Specific references to emigrants are given with key words such as 
  - ‘Erbennachsuchungen’ (search for successors and beneficiaries of people who died abroad), 
  - ‘Verschollenerklärungen’ (declaration of missing persons), 
  - announcements and publications from other cantonal agencies, 
  - the respective names in the registry
• Passport registry: the controls of passports of the 20^th century were mostly destroyed, as their contained information was far lower than that of passport controls of the 19^th century, which held information on reason for travel and Destination

• search the archival tectonics for further records on foreign military service (tectonics below AKT 44/389-470)
• search the archival catalogue for key words such as ‘Auswanderer’ (emigrants) or ‘Auswanderungsakten’ (emigration records)
• The index on overseas emigrations from Switzerland, 1910-1953 holds about 142’000 names and is located in the Swiss Federal Archives (reference number E2175-2), but can also be researched online (partially fee-based)

Examples

See our display window

•  Records on the return migration of foreign Swiss persons, 1919
•  Request for support by the charitable association of foreign settlements, 1943