Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv
The central state archive of Brandenburg, preserving records of the region and its predecessor territories from the tenth century onward.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv, commonly abbreviated BLHA, is the central state archive of the German federal state of Brandenburg. Based in Potsdam, it is responsible for preserving, organizing, describing, and making available historically significant records created by the state administration and by earlier political entities associated with Brandenburg. Its holdings document the development of the region from the medieval period, with records reaching back to the tenth century, through the history of Brandenburg, Prussia, the German Empire, the Nazi period, the postwar division of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, and the re-established state of Brandenburg. The institution was established in 1883 as the Brandenburgian Provincial Archive. At that time, Brandenburg was the only Prussian province without its own provincial archive because the Prussian Privy State Archives already performed an archival role for Brandenburg, the core province of the Prussian state. The creation of a dedicated provincial institution reflected the growing need to manage regional administrative records and to support historical research into Brandenburg's territories, authorities, municipalities, estates, and institutions. Its institutional remit changed in 1931, when it was renamed the State Archive for the Province of Brandenburg and the Reich Capital Berlin. The change recognized the altered constitutional and territorial position of Berlin after the formation of Greater Berlin, which became a province-like entity distinct from Brandenburg. Following the Second World War and the reorganization of German administration, the archive was renamed the State Archive of Brandenburg on 21 June 1949. The current Brandenburg state designation was adopted in 1951, although the institution's name and responsibilities continued to be affected by subsequent political changes. When the German Democratic Republic dissolved the Länder in 1952, the State of Brandenburg ceased to exist as a separate state. The archive consequently operated within the GDR's administrative structure. From 1965 to 1991 it was known as the Potsdam State Archive, reflecting its location and the administrative system of the period. With the restoration of Brandenburg as a German Land after reunification, the institution returned to the name Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv. For many years, the archive's records were distributed among several locations because its premises in the Orangery Palace could no longer accommodate the growing collections. A new archive building in Potsdam's Golm district opened to users on 1 March 2016. The consolidation provided more suitable conditions for storage, preservation, administration, and public access. Today, the BLHA serves the Brandenburg state administration and local historical community while also supporting researchers, genealogists, academic historians, public institutions, and members of the public seeking evidence about people, places, property, government, and legal or administrative history. As a public archival institution rather than a commercial brand, its principal value lies in the long-term stewardship and accessibility of Brandenburg's documentary heritage.
History
The Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv is the central state archive for Brandenburg and its historical predecessor territories. Its collections extend back to the tenth century and cover the administrative, political, social, economic, and cultural history of the region. The archive's institutional history reflects repeated changes in German territorial organization and government. The institution was founded in 1883 as the Brandenburgian Provincial Archive. Brandenburg had previously relied on the Prussian Privy State Archives for archival functions because it was the core province of Prussia. Establishing a separate provincial archive gave the region a dedicated body for the custody of provincial records and strengthened the institutional basis for regional historical research. In 1931, the archive became the State Archive for the Province of Brandenburg and the Reich Capital Berlin. This name acknowledged the creation of Greater Berlin as a province-like entity separate from Brandenburg, even though Berlin had formerly been closely connected with Brandenburg in administrative and historical terms. The archive's remit therefore reflected the changing relationship between the province and the capital. After the Second World War, the archive underwent another change. On 21 June 1949, Brandenburg's interior minister Bruno Lentzsch renamed it the State Archive of Brandenburg. Berlin was by then developing separate archival structures in the context of the postwar division. The institution adopted its current Brandenburg state name in 1951. The dissolution of the Länder in East Germany in 1952 removed Brandenburg's status as an autonomous state. As a result, the archive operated within the GDR's new administrative framework. From 1965 to 1991 it was called the Potsdam State Archive. The name emphasized the institution's location in Potsdam rather than a state that no longer formally existed. Following German reunification and the restoration of Brandenburg as a Land, the archive again became the Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv. The archive's physical infrastructure also developed over time. Its former premises in the Orangery Palace were insufficient for the size and management requirements of the holdings, so records were kept at several additional locations. This arrangement ended with the opening of a new building in Potsdam's Golm district on 1 March 2016. The facility brought the holdings and archival operations together under improved conditions and opened its services to users. The BLHA's work includes the preservation, arrangement, description, and provision of records. It functions as a public memory institution for Brandenburg, supporting state administration, historical scholarship, genealogy, local history, and public inquiries. Its collections connect medieval and early modern Brandenburg with the successive Prussian, German, Nazi, East German, and post-reunification periods. The institution's importance therefore extends beyond the custody of documents: it provides evidence for the history and administration of the territory that is now Brandenburg.
- 2016
New Golm building opened
[1]A new archive building in Potsdam's Golm district opened to users on 1 March, consolidating holdings previously distributed across multiple locations.
- 1991
Return to the Brandenburg state archive identity
[1]Following the restoration of Brandenburg after German reunification, the archive again used the Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv name.
- 1965
Renamed Potsdam State Archive
[1]After the dissolution of Brandenburg as an East German Land, the institution operated under the name Potsdam State Archive.
- 1951
Adoption of the Brandenburg state archive name
[1]The archive received the Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv designation used in its modern institutional history.
- 1949
Renamed State Archive of Brandenburg
[1]On 21 June, the institution was renamed the State Archive of Brandenburg during the postwar reorganization of German administration.
- 1931
Renamed to include Berlin
[1]The archive became the State Archive for the Province of Brandenburg and the Reich Capital Berlin, reflecting Greater Berlin's separate province-like status.
- 1883
Foundation as the Brandenburgian Provincial Archive
[1]The institution was established as the Brandenburgian Provincial Archive, giving Brandenburg a dedicated provincial archival body.
Products and positioning
The official central archival institution and documentary memory of the State of Brandenburg, combining long-term preservation with public and scholarly access.
Archival collections
Brandenburg state archival holdings
The BLHA preserves records documenting Brandenburg and its predecessor territories from the tenth century onward. The holdings support research into government, administration, territorial development, social history, property, institutions, and local communities across successive political periods.
Public information service
Research and public access services
The archive makes its records available to users including researchers, genealogists, historians, public authorities, and members of the public. Services include consultation of archival materials and assistance in identifying relevant records and finding aids.
Preservation service
Archival preservation and records management
As Brandenburg's central state archive, the institution manages the long-term preservation, arrangement, description, and custody of historically significant records. This work maintains documentary evidence for both public administration and historical research.
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