Information from the city archive

The town archive is the "memory of the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer". It is located in the former Künstlerhaus at Venloer Straße 33 - 35 and its tasks include storing, organizing and recording the legally and historically significant documents of the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer and the town administration.

These include both modern administrative files from the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer as well as historical holdings from the Kervenheim office, which was dissolved in 1969, and the former semi-independent municipalities of Winnekendonk, Wetten, Twisteden, Kleinkevelaer and Kervendonk. In this respect, the archive's holdings include documents, official records, municipal accounts and tax lists, some of which date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as the registry office register from 1799, building files from around 1900 (until 1945) and various maps, plans and posters.

In addition to the traditional administrative files, there are also documents of non-official origin that are relevant to social and economic life in the town and its districts, for example from associations, companies, political parties or from donations and bequests from private individuals. These include a collection of printing plates by the artist Karl Neuy, as well as a complete collection of newspapers from the "Kevelaerer Blatt" (1879 to the present). In addition, an extensive photo and media library has been established, which presents not only classic photographs, slides and negatives, but also a unique collection of postcards and various videos relating to Kevelaer.

The archive makes these documents available for administrative purposes, scientific research and for the interested public.

Utilization

Use of the municipal archive is generally open to all interested parties. In this regard, please register in advance or order files in advance to ensure that your request is processed quickly and the relevant files are made available. Information and assistance is provided in writing, by telephone or by prior arrangement on site. For your inquiries or to make an appointment, you can contact the city archive by e-mail at archiv@kevelaer.de or by telephone.

A reference library is available with numerous publications on the history of Kevelaer, Keylaer, Twisteden, Wetten and Winnekendonk, the Duchy of Geldern, the district of Kleve in general and the history of the Lower Rhine in particular. As is generally the case in archives, it is not possible to borrow archival documents and books.

The relevant data protection provisions apply to inquiries.

Genealogy

Users of the city archive frequently request genealogical research. In this regard, the city archive has a collection of civil status documents that can be viewed in accordance with legal requirements: Birth registers after 110 years, marriage registers after 80 years and death registers after 30 years.

More recent documents can be found at the registry office. Only persons to whom the entry relates and their spouses, life partners, ancestors and descendants in a direct line may request information from the register office's books.