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Building
Archiv hlavniho mesta Prahy
(Prague City Archives)
Archivni 6, 149 00 Praha 4 (Prague 4)

Phone: +420-23600 1111
Phone Registry: +420-23600 4017
Phone Reading Room: +420-23600 4012
Fax: +420-23600 7100

Capital City of Prague

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Reading Room

Introduction

The Prague City Archives is open to all who are interested in history. Loaning records in the Reading Room is a public service and is free of charge. When you visit our Reading Room, you will be asked to present your passport and fill in a Form of Research, in which it is necessary to state your topic of interest. By signing the form you also commit to keeping the Research Guidelines (Regulation No. 645/2004 Coll., Appendix No. 3) which can be found on the notice board in the Reading Room.

Research Guidelines

Searching for records

We highly recommend checking the information on Czech archival collections and holdings in the database Archive Groups in the Czech Republic before your visit. The database contains information on where the required records are located and whether they are open to the public. If the records are located in the Prague City Archives, you can search for detailed information about them or their digital reproductions in Archivní katalog. (It is also possible to use printed finding aids of accessible archive groups in the Reading Room.)
A wide range of documents have been digitised and are accessible free of charge online at Archivní katalog. Among other records you can view the Prague Parish and Civil Registers, Prague Population Register (1830-1910), Population Census, Collection of Photograhs, manuscipts, maps, and paper and parchment documents.

Research guide – further information about searching for records in the Prague City Archives.

Ordering records

Once you have identified the records in the Archivní katalog, complete the form of Request for Archival Records (see Sample) and email it to badatelna@praha.eu. In case of uncertainties send us the permalink of the records´ catalogue description to avoid any mistakes. The records ordered by you will be made available within 3 working days.
Not all the records are acccesible to public. Access will be denied if the documents contain sensitive informations about people who may still be alive. Some of the records are currently being catalogued, and for this reason cannot be ordered. However in some cases it is possible to request an exception. If a digital copy of the document is available, you will not be able to order the original record.

The Reading Room capacity and equipment:

  • 12 places at tables
  • 4 microfilm readers
  • 2 desktops
  • 2 places for reading larger materials such as maps and plans
  • electrical sockets for charging
  • wi-fi
Request for Archival Records
Sample of the Request

Research

The records are available for use only in the Reading Room and it is prohibited to take them outside of the Reading Room. During your research it is necessary to protect the records against damage, e.g. it is compulsory to use foam stands for the manuscripts. You are only allowed to use a pencil or your laptop for taking excerpts from the records. The records ordered by you will be reserved for you for 30 days after your last visit. After that they will be returned to the depository.

Making copies of records and other services

Many services provided in the Reading Room are free of charge. The exception to this is making copies of records and provision of a single-use copyright. The charge for these two services is stated in the Price list. If the nature and condition of the records permit, you can order their photocopy (xerox copy) or digital copy. You can also use your own reproduction equipment  (e.g. a camera or a portable scanner) provided the rules of the Reading Room are kept.

Important notice

Before you visit our Reading Room, please contact us via e-mail to book a place, consult us regarding your inquires and pre-order the requested documents so that they are ready for you when you arrive. 

Phone number: +420-236 004 012
Email: badatelna@praha.eu

Opening times

 

 

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