What kind of documents can be found in the League of Nations and UNOG Archives?
Understanding what the UN Archives Geneva holds can be challenging, as its fonds and collections cover different periods, institutions, and individuals. To make it easier, the archives are grouped into five broad categories:
- League of Nations Archives (1919-1946)
These archives contain the original files of the League of Nations Secretariat, including correspondence, draft reports, and internal communications. They also hold official League documents and publications, records of external League offices and commissions, and a wide range of photographs,
- UN Geneva Archives (1945-present)
These records document the activities of the United Nations in Geneva. They include the records of the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG) itself, as well as the records of select UN related individuals and UN-related agencies based in Geneva; most notably the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs (ODA).
- Private Papers (1870–2004)
This category preserves personal papers of individuals connected to the League of Nations and the United Nations. They include documents prepared or used by senior officials in the course of their duties; papers later transferred into private hands; personal archives of officials, journalists, and members of civil society organizations operating in the League or UN environment
These fonds hold records from pacifist organizations and individuals active in international peace efforts. Materials were acquired through purchase, donation, or deposit.
The additional collections combine various assembled groups of documents, artefacts, and audiovisual materials. They cover the League of Nations as well as the UN Geneva collections.