The oldest city archive and public records office in Germany

Das Reichsstädtische Archiv (the archive of the Imperial City) is an astounding place. Mühlhausen is unbelievably fortunate to have such a treasure. It has been housed since 1614 in the Renaissance wing of the town hall built at the beginning of the seventeenth century, although the present city archive collection (for it consists of a great deal more than just documents) has expanded well beyond. The good fortune begins with the fact that the archive, whose origins go back to the 14th century, was securely set up in 1615 just before the Thirty Years War in vaulted rooms with walls several feet thick and behind heavy iron doors. No battles then or later were ever able to destroy its contents. They contain the complete records of the city's affairs, its council meetings, its laws, its fiscal dealings and its correspondence with princes and cities throughout Germany.

Not to be confused with the Imperial Archive is the Stadtarchiv or City Public Records Office in a different part of the City Hall with its own reading room open to the public. This has become a continuous collective memory of all aspects of life in the city. It holds manuscripts, books, photographs, letters, artifacts, in fact, anything to do with the affairs of its government and citizens. Long deceased industries, businesses and individual lives are preserved here, often more by chance than intent, as buildings are cleared for sale, demolition or alteration, and their contents rescued from being simply thrown away. Most fortunate of all is the fact that they give such a complete picture within their original context, and have not been split up and deposited in big national museums miles away.