The PTT History Archive and Library

The PTT History Archive and Library (PTT Archive) houses the records of the Swiss PTT from 1849 to 1997 – some 4,500 lineal meters of original documents from the founding of the federal postal system in 1849 to its privatization and division into Swiss Post and Swisscom AG at the end of 1997. A few of the items stored in the archive predate 1849. The library devoted to PTT history comprises some 2,000 lineal meters of books, leaflets and periodicals.

Historical Heritage

The content of the PTT Archive includes a wealth of information about the history of the Swiss postal and telecommunications system as well as material concerning regional, technical, social and economic history.

Legal Basis

The legal basis for the PTT Archive is to be found in the Swiss Law on Archives under which Swiss Post and Swisscom AG, as legal heirs of the Swiss PTT, are bound to maintain an archive and make its contents available to the public. The PTT Archive operates under the supervision of the Swiss Federal Archives.

Organization

The Swiss Foundation for the History of the Post and Telecommunications, the entity behind the Museum of Communication, has been running the PTT Archive for Swiss Post and Swisscom AG since 1999. The archive is managed by the Museum of Communication.