Denmark Archives and Libraries

Back to Denmark Portal Page►

Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations, such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm. This section describes the major repositories of genealogical and historical records and sources for Denmark. When one of these institutions is referred to elsewhere in this outline, return to this section to obtain the address.

If you plan to visit one of these repositories, contact the organization and ask for information about their hours, services, and fees. When writing to an archive in Denmark, you may write in English.

Although the records you need may be in an archive or library in Denmark, the Family History Library may have a microfilm copy of them. The library has copies of many records from the Danish archives.

In Denmark there are several types of genealogical repositories:


 * National archives and libraries
 * Regional archives
 * Military archives
 * Church parish offices
 * University and public libraries
 * Historical and genealogical
 * Societies

National Archives
The Danish government collects records relating to Danish history, culture, and people. Original records of genealogical value at the National Archives include census and emigration records. Photocopies of census records from 1850 on are available to search. The copies are indexed by parish. The National Archives also has microfilm copies of all the church records for the whole country. Microfilm copies of the military records are also available at the National Archives.

The National Archives of Denmark is open to the public. Microfilm copies of many records at the National Archives are available at the Family History Library, other major archives and libraries, and branches of the National Archives. The address of the National Archives is:

Rigsarkivet Rigsdagsgården 9 DK-1218 København K. Denmark Internet: http://www.math.ku.dk/ths/sys/lib/dklib.htm#DKStateArch http://www.sa.dk/content/us/about_us/danish_national_archives

Regional Archives
In Denmark there are four regional archives: one each for the islands of Sjælland and Fyn and two for the peninsula of Jylland. Each county deposits its church records at the respective regional archive when the records are over 100 years old. Records of genealogical value at regional archives include church (birth, marriage, and death), census, and land records. The regional archives of Denmark are open to the public.

The following archive serves the counties of Bornholm, Frederiksborg, Holbæk, Maribo, København and København City, Præstø, and Sorø:

Landsarkivet for Sjælland m.m. Jagtvej 10 DK-2200 København N Denmark Telephone: 35 24 82 00 Internet: http://www.sa.dk/content/dk/om_statens_arkiver/organisation/landsarkiverne/landsarkivet_for_sjalland_lolland-falster_og_bornholm

For records of Bornholm, also see "Libaries," below.

The following archive serves the counties of Odense and Svendborg:

Landsarkivet for Fyn Jernbanegade 36 DK-5000 Odense Denmark Telephone: 66 12 58 85

Internet: http://www.sa.dk/content/dk/om_statens_arkiver/organisation/landsarkiverne/landsarkivet_for_fyn

The following archive serves the counties of Ålborg, Århus, Hjørring, Randers, Ribe, Ringkøbing, Skanderborg, Thisted, Viborg, and Vejle:

Landsarkivet for Nørrejylland Ll. Sct. Hansgade 5 DK-8800 Viborg Denmark Telephone: 86 62 17 88

The Danish Immigrant Museum, Family History &amp; Genealogy Center (Library &amp; museum of Danish Immigrants to the United States:

4210 Main Street, PO Box 249

Elk Horn, IA (Iowa) 51531-0249 USA

www.danishmuseum.org

 Internet: http://www.sa.dk/content/dk/om_statens_arkiver/organisation/landsarkiverne/landsarkivet_for_norrejylland

The following archive serves the counties of Åbenrå, Sønderborg, Haderslev, and Tønder:

Landsarkivet in Åbenrå Haderslevvej 45 DK-6200 Åbenrå Denmark Internet: http://www.sa.dk/laa/aabtid/UK-intro.htm

The Military Archives
The Danish Military Archive is now a division of the National Archives. If you write for information, you may write to the address below. If you visit Copenhagen and want to search the military records, you may do so at the National Archives. The records of the Danish army and navy, including regimental records, levy rolls, sea rolls, and so forth, are housed at the Military Archive. This address of the Military Archive is:

Hærens Arkiv Slotsholmgade 4 DK-1216 København K Denmark Internet: http://forsvaret.dk/LG/Om+Livgarden/Historisk+Samling/

Copenhagen City Archive
Copenhagen's city archive has records that deal primarily with the city's population. The city archive address is:

Københavns Stadsarkiv Rådhuset DK 1599 København V Denmark Telephone: 33 66 13 74

Church Parish Offices
All parishes of the Lutheran church have their records that are less than 50 years old. You can write to the local parishes for information. When writing to a local parish, it is best to make your request minimal and specific. Do not send money at first. If there is a charge, you will be billed. The addresses for Danish parishes is:

Kordegns kontor (Name of the parish) Sogn (Name of the parish) Denmark

It is courteous to included a self-addressed envelope and two international postage coupons with your request. Allow four to six weeks for a response.

Libraries
Det Kongelige Bibliotek (the Royal Library) of Denmark functions much as the United States Library of Congress. It has copies of most books published in Denmark. They have a large collection of published genealogies, manuscripts, histories, directories, maps, and newspapers. The Royal Library has published catalogs of their genealogy and local history collections. See the "Genealogy" and "History" sections.

Kongelige Bibliotek

Christians Brygge 8 DK-1219 København K Denmark Internet: http://www.kb.dk/en/

Other Libraries
Some of the sources you will want to use are available in major libraries in Denmark and in the United States and other countries. Contact these libraries and ask about their collection, hours, services, and fees.

The Universitetsbiblioteket (University Library) has most of the books published in Denmark.

Universitetsbibliotekets 1 Af (Div.) Fiolstræde 1 DK-1171 København Denmark Internet: http://www.romansk.ku.dk/bib/ariane/tale.html

Universitetsbibliotekets 2 Af (Div.) Nørre Alle 49 DK-2200 København Denmark

The Frederiksberg Kommunebibliotek (Fredriksberg Community Library) has collected many published sources, such as local histories, city directories, maps, newspapers. It also has a large collection of family histories.

Frederiksberg Kommunebibliotek Solbjergvej 25 DK-2000 København Denmark

The Danish Immigrant Museum and Family History &amp; Genealogy Center:

4210 Main Street, PO Box 249

Elk Horn, Iowa (IA) 51531-0249 USA

Internet: [http://www.beyondmarketing.dk/08. Webmanage_cms_system.beyondmarketing.dk/beyond_marketing_webmanage_cms_system.htm http://www.beyondmarketing.dk/08.%20Webmanage_cms_system.beyondmarketing.dk/beyond_marketing_webmanage_cms_system.htm]

Centralbiblioteket (The Central Library) in Rønne city on the island of Bornholm has microfilm copies of all the records of Bornholm needed for genealogical research.

Another useful internet site for Denmark Research is:

http://www.yourfamilyconnection.com/danish.htm

Inventories, Registers, Catalogs
Many archives and libraries have catalogs, inventories, guides, or periodicals that describe their records and how to use them. If possible, study these guides before you visit, or use the records of an archive so that you can use your time more effectively.

The following are helpful guides to the archives and libraries in Denmark:

Henning, Jensen, and Ebba Thorkelin. Arkivhåndbog Nørrejylland (Handbook to the Regional Archive of North Jutland). København: Dansk Historisk Håndbogsforlag, 1980. (FHL book 948.95 A3a.)

Worsøe, Hans H. Landsarkivet for Nørrejylland (The Regional Archive of North Jutland). Vol. 1. Viborg: Rigsarkivet, 1980. (FHL book 948.95 A3l.)

Rasmussen, Poul. Landsarkivet for Nørrejylland (The Regional Archive of North Jutland). Vol 2. Viborg: Rigsarkivet, 1981. (FHL book 948.95 A3l.)

Riising, Anne. Landsarkivet for Fyn (The Regional Archive for Fyn). Odense: Andelsbogtrykkeriet, 1970. (FHL book 948.93 A3r.)

Jørgensen, Harald. Landsarkivet for Sjælland, Lolland-Falster og Bornholm (The Regional Archive for the islands of Sjælland, Lolland-Falster and Bornholm). København and Odense: Andelsbogtrykkeriet, 1966. (FHL book 948.911/K1 A3j.)

Kohl, Carl V. Hærrens Arkiv (The Military Archive). København: Krigsministeriet, 1946. (FHL book 948.911/K1 J5k.)

The Family History Library has copies of some of the published inventories and has other guides, catalogs, directories, and inventories of these and other libraries. These types of records are listed in the catalog under DENMARK - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES. You may also find records under the region (such as Nørrejylland) or county.