Willy Brandt Archive

The Willy Brandt Archive

The Willy Brandt Archive in the Friedrich Ebert Foundation’s Archives of Social Democracy (WBA) in Bonn maintains the complete written legacy of Willy Brandt. Its function is to collect, store, sort, catalogue and make available archival materials from Willy Brandt’s personal background and from his professional and political career. In accordance with the Federal Law one of the most important functions of the Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt Foundation consists of contributing to the utilisation and evaluation of the Willy Brandt Archive. To fulfil this purpose, the Foundation published the ten-volume Berlin Edition.

The Willy Brandt Archive comprises ca. 400 linear meters of files and is one of the largest material legacies of any post-war German politician. In addition there are numerous devotionalia, medals, decorations, hospitality gifts as well as a voluminous collection of photographs. The written materials of the Brandt Archive represent an important primary source for research into the history of the German exile, the post-war period, the Federal Republic of Germany, the SPD and the Socialist International.

The Brandt Foundation in Berlin and the Brandt Archive in Bonn work closely together. Thus the permanent Willy Brandt Exhibition in Schöneberg City Hall is a cooperative work. The members of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation also constitute the Advisory Board of the Willy Brandt Archive, which is to remain permanently in the Archives of Social Democracy. The Advisory Board establishes the general guidelines for the work of the Archive as well as for access to them. Scholars or journalists wanting to conduct research there must first submit an application.

Manuscript of Willy Brandt’s Speech at the 1959 SPD Party Conference (Detail)

Contact:
Willy Brandt Archive in the Archives of Social Democracy
of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation
Chief Archivist
Harry Scholz M.A.
Godesberger Allee 149
D-53175 Bonn

Phone: ++49 (0) 228 / 883-8052

Email: harry.scholz[at]fes.de