Research and Reference Services

The University Archive’s records are organized by holdings, which result from their origin from the different departments of the university (provenance). This has the advantage that individual files remain intact in the coherent context of their origin after having been submitted to the archive.

For their part, the holdings are then classified into superordinate holdings groups according to the organizational location of the files' author within the departmental structure of the university:

A Central Institutions and Administration

B Faculties and Departments

C Groups

D Associations

E Estates, Individual Document Submissions

F Deposits / Provenances from outside the University Archive’s jurisdiction

S Collections

Deposits, provenances from outside the University Archive’s jurisdiction and collections add to the university’s records in the archive. As an exception, the group “Collections” is organized by thematic resp. formal criteria.

In addition to the classic analog finding aids, you may now use the digital interface to our database: The online module of our archives management software, ACTApro Benutzung, allows public digital research in our holdings.

Start your search by browsing the tree structure and/or using the search mask. The search results, i.e. the indexing data of our holdings, only contain general descriptions. Further information and content as well as visual media such as photos or plans are only available to a limited extent. Important: Digital copies or transcriptions of files are not included.

Following the search, selected results can be saved in the watch list or cart and an order of the requested holdings to access them on-site at the University Archive can be placed. Please note the conditions and further information on the website of the digital research module.

Irrespective of the free search, please mind that if you wish to access your requested holdings that it is mandatory to send a written request prior – either by e-mail to archiv@ruhr-uni-bochum.de or during the order process in the "Freitext" field in the cart – stating the specific research interest. In addition to the system's automated order confirmations, we will always follow up on your order and check the respective legal status (e.g. valid retention periods under the archive law of the state of Northrhine-Westphalia). Reference services are only possible if the legal status grants access!

+++ The reference services of the University Archives are open to all interested parties and access is free of charge, however, we do not offer regular opening hours. Access to our holdings is granted only by prior request and appointment. +++

If a request/order is approved, we will arrange an appointment with you, where you may access the requested holdings on site at the University Archive. Here we will provide you with further information on data protection guidelines and the handling of archive materials. A PC is available for viewing digital holdings and researching our photographic collections. Please note our guidelines on mobility and accessibility on our landing page!

Taking photos and copying of archive materials by users is not permitted. If required, we accept orders for digital reproductions of holdings to a limited extent from users following up to their appointments. The provision and use of digital reproductions, especially in the case of photographs, are generally dependent on the respective copyright situation. It is generally not possible to order reproductions without prior appointment.

We would like to point out that, regardless of the intended use, it is sometimes necessary for archive users to obtain the legal right of use from other copyright holders in addition to permission from the University Archive – which in turn often comes along with usage fees at the users' expense.

Our services are currently free of charge. In future, fees will be charged for some of the services offered, including digital reproductions. Further information on this and the scale of fees will be announced at the beginning of the new year, 2025.