Schriftgut

Schriftgut is a term used in archival science to denote written documentary material that forms part of an archive. In German-speaking archival practice, it distinguishes textual records from other media such as Bildgut (images) or Ton- und Filmgut (sound and moving-image materials). Schriftgut encompasses a broad range of materials produced by individuals, organizations, and public institutions, including correspondence, administrative files, minutes, contracts, ledgers, diaries, monographs, and certificates. With the rise of digital records, electronic Schriftgut is included as well, comprising emails, word-processing documents, PDFs, and other digital formats that meet the same evidentiary and historical value as traditional paper records.

Archivists handle Schriftgut through appraisal, arrangement, and description, creating finding aids to facilitate access. Typical activities include accessioning, applying archival metadata, organizing material into fonds and series, and carrying out conservation or climate-control measures when needed. Descriptive standards and cataloging practices support discoverability, provenance, and authenticity, while digital preservation strategies address long-term access to evolving file formats and media.

Schriftgut is a fundamental source for understanding administrative history, personal and organizational lives, and socio-economic development. It covers a wide range of genres and supports research in governance, law, business, culture, and daily life. In modern practice, the concept remains central even as archives integrate electronic records into their holdings, requiring ongoing attention to digitization, metadata, access policies, and preservation planning.