Information on searching

Full Text Search

Full Text Search

Use the full text search to find a word or an expression irrespective of which field it occurs in.
Use the full text search first to check whether your search returns a result.
Field search

Field search

Use the field search to find a word or an expression in a selected database field such as title or reference code.
Use the field search if you want to search selectively and know the meaning or use of the individual fields.
Archive plan search

Archive plan search

The archive plan search enables you to navigate in the hierarchical tree structure of the archive, from the higher-level fonds to the individual document provided that it has been captured. Many documents are only comprehensible from their classification in the archive plan.
Use the archive plan search to get an overview of the various fonds or to selectively access known fonds.
Descriptor search

Descriptor search

Search by index terms and find the related archive items. This enables you to search for particular person terms, place terms and subject terms if they have been assigned by the archive. If the descriptor to be found does not exist, this does not mean that there are no associated archive items.
Use the descriptor search to selectively search for person, place or subject terms entered in the archive.

With this search tool you can choose amongst different types of searches, starting from the simple full text search to more complex ones.

In case your search request returns too many results, try to restrict your search. This can be done, for example, by using the more specific field search or by restricting the results within a specific date range. If your search request does not return any results at all, the information you are looking for may simply have not yet been electronically indexed. Take your time to learn about the different type of searches to choose the most applicable ones to your needs. Keep in mind that a single search type may not deliver all the results you are looking for.


This invisible link is used for directing Google or other search engines to the start page for their indexing.
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Online inventory of the Zurich City Archives