Where can I find what?
The archiving of a given document is usually the responsibility of the regional department (Rhineland, Westphalia or East Westphalia-Lippe) in whose area the relevant district, authority or institution was/is situated.
- The Rhineland Department in Duisburg contains archived material and civil registry records from the areas covered by today’s districts of Cologne and Düsseldorf as well as documents from the highest North Rhine-Westphalian institutions and state authorities.
- The Westphalia Department contains archived material from the areas covered by today’s districts of Münster and Arnsberg as well as today’s district of Detmold (until 1815).
The East Westphalia-Lippe Department contains archived material from the former state of Lippe as well as documents from the areas covered by today’s district of Detmold (from 1816). It is also responsible for civil registry records from Westphalia-Lippe (the districts of Arnsberg, Detmold and Münster).