ETH Zurich University Archives

Extent

• ETH-Zurich and ETH-Board Archives: 2,900 metres (status 2023)
• Personal archives: 2,320 metres (status 2023)

Holdings

• Minutes and other records of the Swiss School Board (1854–1992), of organisational units of ETH Zurich (since 1854) and of the ETH Board (since 1993)
• Private papers of engineers: e.g. Karl Culmann, Robert Maillart, Aurel Stodola
• Private papers of natural scientists: e.g. Albert Einstein documents by Carl Seelig, Vladimir Prelog, Leopold Ruzicka, Rudolf Wolf
• Private papers of mathematicians: e.g. Paul Bernays, Heinz Hopf, Hermann Weyl, Eduard Stiefel, George Pólya
• Private papers of psychologists: e.g. C.G. Jung Papers Collection
• Subject-based archives with contents related to ETH Zurich: e.g. Archives of the History of Nuclear Energy in Switzerland
• Archives of student associations and academic societies

Relevance of research and Public

The balanced mix of administrative records and private papers is complemented by archives that have a structural or subject-based connection to ETH Zurich. Together, they form a solid foundation for research on technical, social and science history issues.

Moreover, the private papers, student administration records and the biographical documentation are also a valuable source for genealogical and other biographically oriented research.

Current activities, projects

• Archival description and digitization for presentation on the portal external page e-manuscripta.ch
• Cataloging of the Richard R. Ernst personal papers (ErNE) – by the end of 2025 the the scientific personal papers of Nobel Prize winner Richard R. Ernst will be archived and indexed.

Use of the archive / online presence

• Minutes of the Swiss School Board Meetings are freely accessible via Schulratsprotokolle Online.
• Digitally indexed archival material can be searched on ETH Library's Search Portal or via the Virtual Reading Room.
• Private papers are continuously digitised and made accessible on the portal external page e-manuscripta.ch in due consideration of the legal parameters.
• You can search for catalogued archive material in external page ETH Library @ swisscovery or in the Virtual Reading Room of the University Archives.