University Archives - Heidelberg University

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Location
Akademiestraße 4-8
D-69117 Heidelberg

Mailing Address
Postfach 10 57 60
69047 Heidelberg

Phone number +49 6221 54-7542
Telefax +49 6221 54-7706
E-Mail archiv@urz.uni-heidelberg.de

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Hours
Tuesdays: 9:00AM-6:00PM
Wednesdays: 9:00AM-6:00PM
Thursdays: 9:00AM – 12:30PM

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Ark of the University – Since 1388

On February 8^th, 1388 — barely two years after the founding of the University of Heidelberg — the first rector, Marsilius von Inghen, began what would become the University Archives with a small box (parva archella) in the university chest (archa universitatis) behind the main altar of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. Since then, it has lost none of its relevance. The University Archives is dedicated to the preservation of documents concerning the history of the University and its legal securities. The current Archives collection contains around 5,000 meters of documents.

As a department of the rectorate, the current Archives preserves more than just documents dating b Lesesaal ack to the 1300s. It is also dedicated to the acquisition of administrative papers and records, which are no longer needed by departments and offices for administration, research or teaching, but are of lasting value to the “university's memory.” After being deemed archive and preservation worthy, documents are made available for academic research and to the public. In this way, the Archives also incorporates a public reference library focusing on University history.

The Archives does not only focus on archival “classics,” such as official books, certificates, and student and exam files, but also on personal papers, photographs, political pamphlets, plans and museum pieces, so long as they pertain to the history of University of Heidelberg.

Preserving digital documents presents a special challenge. In cooperation with archival committees and the University IT department, we are working on a solution to ensure that these documents will be readable and secure against forgery in the future. When handed down to future generations, the information on the “Digital Age” should not be more incomplete than that on centuries before.

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Corona-Update: From June 2020, the reading room of the University Archives will be open again with restrictions:

At the same time, only a maximum of 3 people are allowed to work in the reading room after prior registration. In the rooms of the archives, a mouth-and-nose cover is obligatory (it can only be removed during quiet work at the respective workplace). Persons who are or have been in contact with a corona-infected person may not enter the archives until 14 days after the last contact with this person. Persons who show symptoms of a respiratory tract infection or increased temperature may not enter the archive in accordance with the Corona Ordinance (CoronaVO).
Tuesdays: 9:00AM – 4:00PM, Wednesdays: 9:00AM – 4:00PM, Thursdays: 9:00AM – 12:30PM

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