Genealogical Research in Bavaria
by Friedrich R. Wollmershäuser, 2000
Extension of Bavaria:
- 1648-1803 Electorate of Bavaria includes Oberbayern, Niederbayern, Oberpfalz, from 1777 onwards also the Electoral Palatinate, the Dutchies of Jülich and Berg, etc.
- 1803-1815 Acquisition of many small and large territories.
- 1815-1945 Provinces of Oberbayern, Niederbayern, Schwaben, Oberpfalz, Oberfranken, Mittelfanken, Unterfranken (1819), Pfalz.
State vital registration (Standesamt)
Established in 1798 (Pfalz) and 1876 (rest of Bavaria). The access to entries after 1875 is limited. The original entries are more detailed than certificates issued by the offices. Preserved at the local vital registration office (Standesamt).
The parish registers
Protestant and catholic church: Partially at the local parishes, partially at central archives.
The land registers (Kataster)
Covering about 1805 to 1920, preserved at the State Archive of the pertinent province.
Real estate transactions
One series of books (usually 4 volumes per year and court district) preserved at the State Archives up to 1862 ("Briefprotokolle"). From 1862 onwards, loose contracts made up by the local notary-public, also prepared at the State Archives.
Military conscription lists
Covering birth years roughly 1790 to 1850, but very incomplete. Preserved at the State Archives (except for Schwaben province).
Marriage licenses (Ansässigmachung und Verehelichung)
Covering roughly 1810 to 1900. Very detailed if available. Preserved at the State Archives, but many files have not been preserved.
Probate records
Preserved at the State Archives, but very incomplete.
Records prior to 1800
Types and extent depends on the territory of the Ancien Regime:
- Land registers, tax registers (Urbare, Steuerbücher).
- Real estate purchase proceedings (Briefprotokolle).
- Annual accounts (Rechnungen).
- Court proceedings (Gerichtsprotokolle).
- Many other types of records.
Opening hours of the reading rooms at the Bavarian state archives
München Hauptstaatsarchiv Monday 8:00 - 18:00
089-28638596 Tuesday 8:00 - 18:00
Wednesday 8:00 - 18:00
Tuesday 8:00 - 18:00
Friday 8:00 - 13:30
München Staatsarchiv Mo-Thu 8:00 - 18:00
089-28638525 Friday 8:00 - 13:30
Amberg Staatsarchiv Monday 8:00 - 16:00
09621-307270 Tuesday 8:00 - 18:00
Wednesday 8:00 - 18:00
Thursday 8:00 - 16:00
Friday 8:00 - 13:30
Augsburg Staatsarchiv Monday 8:00 - 16:00
0821-5750 Tuesday 8:00 - 19:00
Wednesday 8:00 - 16:00
Thursday 8:00 - 16:00
Friday 8:00 - 13:30
Bamberg Staatsarchiv Monday 8:00 - 16:00
0951-986220 Tuesday 8:00 - 16:00
Wednesday 8:00 - 20:00
Thursday 8:00 - 16:00
Friday 8:00 - 13:30
Coburg Staatsarchiv Mo-Thu 8:00 - 16:00
09561-92833 Friday 8:00 - 13:30
Landshut Staatsarchiv Mo-Thu 8:00 - 16:00
0871-923280 Friday 8:00 - 13:30
Nürnberg Staatsarchiv Monday 8:00 - 16:00
0911-935190 Tuesday 8:00 - 16:00
Wednesday 8:00 - 20:00
Thursday 8:00 - 16:00
Friday 8:00 - 13:30
Würzburg Staatsarchiv Monday 8:00 - 16:00
0931-355290 Tuesday 8:00 - 16:00
Wednesday 8:00 - 16:00
Thursday 8:00 - 20:00
Friday 8:00 - 13:30
Addresses of major ecclesiastical archives in former Bavaria
Protestant (Lutheran) church:
Evanglische Kirche der Pfalz, Zentralarchiv, Domplatz 6, 67346 Speyer phone 06232-109-180, fax -246.
Has many protestant parish registers of the Pfalz (the rest is in the Speyer State Archives).
Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Bayern, Kirchenbucharchiv, Am Olberg 2, 93047 Regensburg, phone 0941-52061.
Has protestant some parish registers of the rest of Bavaria (most of these books are still at the parishes).
Archives of Catholic bishoprics:
The archives of the bishoprics in Bavaria collect parish registers prior to 1876. The archives at Regensburg, Bamberg, and Würzburg have gathered all or almost all books of these dioceses.
Archiv des Bistums Augsburg, Hafnerberg 2, 86152 Augsburg, phone 0821-3166-411, fax -495.
Archiv des Erzbistums Bamberg, Domplatz 3, 96049 Bamberg, phone 0951-502411.
Archiv des Bistums Eichstätt, Luitpoldstr. 1, 85072 Eichstätt, phone 08421-50-411.
Archiv des Erzbistums München und Freising, Karmeliterstr. 1, 80333 München, phone 089-2137-1346.
Archiv des Bistums Passau, Luragogasse 4, 94032 Passau, phone 0851-2137-1346.
Bischöfliche Zentralbibliothek Regensburg, St. Petersweg 11-13, D-93047 Regensburg, Tel. 0941/59532-2513; Fax: 0941/59532-2521, Proskesche Musikabteilung, Dr. Raymond Dittrich, Tel.: 0941/59532-2510, rdittrich.biblio@bistum-regensburg.de
Archiv des Bistums Speyer, Kleine Pfaffengasse 16, 67346 Speyer, phone 06232-102256, fax -102300.
Diözesanarchiv Würzburg, Bruderhof 1a, 97070 Würzburg, phone 0931-386352. Currently closed.
