Riksarkivets

Riksarkivet, or the National Archives of Sweden, is the government agency responsible for preserving and providing access to the official records of the state and other public authorities. It serves as Sweden’s central archive, safeguarding records from government agencies, courts, Parliament, and other public institutions that span many centuries. The agency’s mandate covers both physical and digital material, and it works to ensure long-term preservation, accurate cataloging, and coherent metadata for future accessibility.

Riksarkivet carries out activities including archival appraisal, accessioning, and the preparation of finding aids and inventories that help researchers locate materials. It develops and implements standards for archival practice and digital preservation, supports digitization projects, and maintains online catalogs and digital services that enable access to holdings. The archive also provides guidance to public authorities on records management and bearing in mind accessibility for the public, it facilitates research, education, and cultural understanding through exhibitions and collaborative projects.

Governance and context: Riksarkivet operates under the Swedish government and is connected to the cultural policy framework of the country, with oversight by the Ministry of Culture. Its work aligns with legal frameworks governing public records, privacy, and access to information, balancing openness with protection of sensitive material. The institution also collaborates with universities, museums, and other archival institutions domestically and internationally to promote preservation standards and scholarly work.