The Federal Archives research and analyse the history of the authorities that make up the Confederation, focusing on the federal administration since 1918.
History is a term that means something to just about everyone. You know that the Federal State has a history, and you’ll probably be familiar with the history of individual federal councillors or parties. You’ll have heard about the national strike, the campaign for women’s suffrage, and maybe even the popular vote on the turnover tax. But does the term “administrative history” mean anything to you?
Administrative history deals with the history of the individual authorities. When was an office created and how has it changed over the years? Has it taken on new responsibilities? How does it liaise with Parliament? At the Federal Archives, the focus is on the history of the federal administration from 1918 onwards. It too has seen major changes over recent years, but little research has been carried out into the background to them. That’s where the Federal Archives come in: we research, analyse and explain the history of the authorities. In so doing, we help to make the administrative history of Switzerland more visible and increase understanding of how the administration works and the changes it undergoes.