Austrian State Archives

History and Founding

The Austrian State Archives (Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, ÖSTA) is Austria's central national archival institution, established in 1945 and affiliated with the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport (BMKÖS). It is the custodian of Austria's most important state records and serves as the primary point of access for researchers seeking official Austrian historical documentation. The English-language portal at statearchives.gv.at provides international researchers with information on holdings, access procedures, and digitization initiatives.

Collections and Holdings

The Austrian State Archives comprises several specialized departments, each managing distinct record groups:

• Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchiv (HHStA): Documents the history of the Habsburg Monarchy and its foreign policy from the medieval period; headquartered at Minoritenplatz 1, Vienna.
• Kriegsarchiv (War Archive): A historical military archive primarily covering the period up to 1918, including over 600,000 maps and plans (Karten und Plansammlung), campaign and fortification plans, naval and air force materials, and field documentation of Habsburg forces.
• Allgemeines Verwaltungsarchiv (AVA): Administrative records from Austrian ministries including interior, justice, education, and transport, with an associated map and plan collection (1750–1950).
• Finanz- und Hofkammerarchiv (FHKA): Finance and court chamber records of the Habsburg era, including a Karten und Plansammlung dating from 1540 to 1938 covering financial and real estate matters.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

The Archives hold administrative and censorship records from the Habsburg era relevant to the history of the Austrian press. Records from ministries that oversaw information and public communication are accessible through the AVA.

Access and Usage

The Central Reading Room at Nottendorfer Gasse 2 (1030 Vienna) is open Monday and Thursday 9:00–17:00, Tuesday and Wednesday 9:00–18:00, and Friday 9:00–13:00. First-time users complete a researcher registration form. Holdings can be searched online via the Archivinformationssystem (AIS) catalog. The Archives also participate in the Mapire portal, which provides georeferenced online access to historical maps from the Habsburg era.