Historical materials of the Goethe-Institut are generally not archived centrally, but by various external archives.
The Federal Archives primarily archive non-published documents of central decision-makers and organs of the Goethe-Institut (e.g. minutes of executive committee meetings). The oldest documents in the Federal Archives date back to the 1950s. The holdings are continually being added to. You can search the holdings of the Federal Archives via the invenio research system - even without registering. You can view the documents on-site at the Federal Archives in Koblenz.
The library of the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa) has a special collection of publications published by the Goethe-Institut and academic works about the Goethe-Institut. You can search for these in the ifa library's online catalogue; alternatively, you can go directly to the Goethe-Institut's special collection via the "Special collections" tab. You can view publications on-site or order them via interlibrary loan. In addition, the ifa library archives flyers, programme booklets and posters from Goethe-Institut events worldwide. You can view these on-site at the ifa in Stuttgart by appointment at bibliothek@ifa.de. The oldest documents available at the ifa date back to the 1950s. The holdings are continually being added to.
The yearbooks also provide an overview of the Goethe-Institut's worldwide activities. On our website you will find the current yearbook as well as some issues from previous years. Earlier editions are available in print in many libraries; the German National Library (DNB) makes the yearbooks available as an online resource. The DNB also collects Goethe-Institut publications and archives our website goethe.de. You can search online in the DNB catalogue. Some materials are available as online resources; others can be viewed on-site at the DNB premises in Leipzig or Frankfurt a.M..
Are you interested in the work of the Goethe-Institut at a particular location? Then please also contact the institute in question. Some institutes have their own archives.
If you have any further questions, please contact info@goethe.de.
