ARCHIVAL HOLDINGS

The holdings of the State Archive in Gdańsk include valuable information for researchers of the history of Pomerania as well as of economic, social and political relations between Baltic states and cities, Poland and Europe, covering the period between the 12th century and the present. Without the knowledge of these sources it would not be possible to write about the history of Gdańsk, Polish Parliament in 16-18th centuries, Royal Prussia, Hanseatic League, commerce and shipping trade in Northern Europe.
55% of the archival holdings in the State Archive in Gdańsk date from before 1945. The most important collection - Archives of the City of Gdańsk - includes documentation and correspondence related to political and economic history of our region and Northern Europe. The collection contains sources for the history of Polish Parliament, including unique copies of 16th century parliamentary reports, as well as holdings showing the importance of Gdańsk in economic relations of Poland and other countries in the past. Other valuable holdings in this collection are the documents of Pomeranian dukes, Knights of the Teutonic Order, reports of Hanse diets, precious collections of plans and maps, archives of the town of Elblag and of smaller towns and villages of the Gdańsk Pomerania. The collection also contains Prussian and Polish statet and local administration records of Pomerania, judicial records, records of political parties and associations eg. the Voivodeship Committee of the Polish United Workers Party in Gdańsk and church, monastic and public register records. In the holdings are also records of merchants' and industrial buisnesses, records of scientific, educational and cultural institutions, private papers and photograph collections.

The value of the holdings of the State Archive in Gdańsk may be described in one word: "priceless". Can we imagine the size of these collections? In the beginning of the year 2005 the archives held by the State Archive in Gdańsk (together with Division in Gdynia) reached a total of 11 028 linear metres of archival records, 962 713 archival units and 3 377 collections, becoming one of the largest and most precious holdings in Poland.

When you looking for the complete list of our holdings in Gdansk, you can use our national database SEZAM for the State Archives in Gdansk.

When you looking for the complete list of our holdings in Gdynia, you can use our national database SEZAM for the State Archives in Gdansk Div. in Gdynia.

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