City Archives

The City Archives preserves and provides access to the records of the authorities of the City of Hämeenlinna. The material is intended for the use of residents, researchers and other information seekers. The archival collection is extensive: approximately three kilometres shelfs in total.

Materials and their preservation

The City Archives preserves the records of the various operational units of Hämeenlinna. The archives include both permanently retained records and those retained for more than ten years. In addition, the City Archives holds the archives of committees, offices, services and commissions whose operations have ended.

The records are mainly public, and anyone may use them. However, some material is classified as confidential, for example to protect privacy. In such cases, use is restricted by legislation and document-specific provisions.

The City Archives also preserves some locally significant private archives. The use of these materials is always based on the terms agreed upon at the time of transfer, which may differ from the practices for official records.

Submit an information request online

You can request documents and information from the City Archives easily using the electronic information request form.

Using the forms is secure, and the information is transmitted via a protected connection. When you submit a request using the form, we receive all the necessary information at once and can process your request more quickly.

Three different information request forms are available:

Building permit documents and drawings (in Finnish)

School and study certificates and student cards (in Finnish)

Other City Archives documents (in Finnish)

We ask that information requests are submitted primarily by using these forms. The staff of the City of Hämeenlinna have their own forms on the intranet.

We process information requests in order of arrival and without undue delay. You will generally receive a response within two weeks of submitting the request, in accordance with the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.

Public documents are available to everyone. Accessing documents on-site is free of charge, and disclosure of information is also generally free. We charge a fee only for demanding information retrieval and document copies according to the current rates. We invoice any fees retrospectively. We do not accept cash payments.

You can see the prices for building permit documents and drawings directly on the information request form. Copies larger than A3 size are produced at a copy shop. Customers may not make copies themselves.

City Archives documents

The City Archives primarily preserves the records of the authorities of Hämeenlinna. The archives serve you when you need information about the city’s decision-making, administration or operations.

However, not all frequently requested documents are preserved in the City Archives. Below are examples of materials not available in the City Archives, along with information on where to enquire about them.

Documents not held by the City Archives

Health records, school health records and maternity clinic records. Request information from the well-being services county of Kanta-Häme.
Matriculation examination certificates. Contact the Matriculation Examination Board.
Primary school certificates. Request certificates directly from the schools. The City Archives holds student cards of those who completed basic education in Hämeenlinna, which may also contain primary school grade information.
State authority documents. Request documents from the relevant agency or the National Archives.
Estate inventories and poll tax registers. These are preserved in the National Archives of Finland.
Photographs. The City Museum has a separate photograph archive.
Structural and HVAC drawings. Contact Building Control.
Electrical drawings. The city does not hold these documents.

Documents preserved in the City Archives

For further information on materials preserved in the City Archives, see the records creator lists below or contact the City Archives.

Records creators 1

Regional Emergency Response Centre 1981–1995
Vocational Course Centre (Adult Education Centre) 1971–2003
Vocational Apprentice Board 1924–1960
Architecture Department 1909–2000
Housing Board, Housing Office 1977–1999
Settlement Board 1936–1970 (Agricultural Board from 1971 onwards)
Food Board 1916–1921
Energy Board 1978–1995
Mother and Child Home and Small Child Home 1951–1965
Procurement Body, Procurement Committee, Procurement Board 1953–1988
Hauho Municipality 1869–2008
District Registrar 1878–1946
Personnel Board, Personnel Department 1977–2001
Historical Museum 1913–1992
Guardianship Board 1868–1999
Holstila Rehabilitation Unit 1972–1995
Welfare Board 1937–1951 (see also Poor Relief Board, Social Welfare Board, Basic Services Board)
Rent Control Board 1918–1958
Hämeenlinna special education
elementary school period 1947–1976
comprehensive school period 1976–1984
Hämeenlinna Institute of Business and Information Technology (HLTI) 1989–1999
Hämeenlinna Lyseo Upper Secondary School 1973–1985
Hämeenlinna Comprehensive School 1878–1976
Hämeenlinna Comprehensive School’s Upper Secondary School 1976–1997
Häme Substance Abuse Services Joint Municipal Authority (Mainiemi) 1924–2014

Records creators 2

Kalvola Municipality 1870–2008
Elementary School Council 1870–1976
Elementary School Inspector 1871–1970
Elementary schools
- Ainola Elementary School 1957–1968
- Hätilä Elementary School 1908–1976
- Kankaantaka Elementary School 1893–1976
- Kankainen Elementary School 1926–1967
- Hämeenlinna elementary schools/Central Elementary School 1880–1976
- Kauriala Elementary School 1959–1976
- Kirkonkulma Elementary School 1900–1976
- Luolaja Elementary School 1920–1976
- Miemala Elementary School 1889–1976
- Myllymäki Elementary School 1917–1976
- Ojoinen Elementary School 1969–1976
- Puistola Elementary School 1874–1969
- Ruununmylly Elementary School 1905–1976
- Sairio Elementary School 1958–1968
- Tuomela Elmentary School 1949–1976
- Old Elementary School 1909–1976
- Vuorela Elementary School 1901–1966
- Vuorentaka 1948–1976
Civic School 1951–1980
Adult Education Centre 1927–1990
National Supply Board 1939–1954
Child Guidance Clinic 1946–1994 (Family Counselling Centre from 1 February 1987)
- client records transferred to the well-being services county
Detoxification Centre 1975–1994
Commercial College 1900–1989
City Board 1930–2008
City Council 1875–2008
City Planning Committee 1972–1988
City Hospital 1891–1975
Central Election Committee 1925–2011
Property and Survey Office 1850–2004
Property Services Office 1877–1993
Library Board 1956–1988
Household and Consumer Board 1952–1988
School Health Care 1938–1972
School Board 1977–1988
School Planning Committee 1965–1976
Education Board 1989–2008
Culture Board 1981–1988
Culture and Leisure Board 1989–1993
Cultural Centre 1994–2005
Municipal Alcohol Inspector 1968–1991
Crafts School 1842–1949
Midwives and Maternity Clinics 1939–1972
Poor Relief Board 1913–1936 (see also Welfare Board, Social Welfare Board, Basic Services Board)

Records creators 3

Lammi Municipality 1868–2008
Children’s and Youth Art School 1982–1988
Children’s Home 1938–1975
Child Welfare Officer 1922–1999
- client records relating to paternity, custody, access and maintenance primarily held by the well-being services county
Lepaa Home Economics and Social Services Institute (payroll records) 1968–1996
Meat Inspection 1914–1942
Traffic Board 1964–1973
Business Accounting Committee 1953
Sports Board 1929–1988
Holiday Board 1974–1988
Agricultural Board 1971–1988 (formerly Settlement Board)
Building drawings transferred from the Magistrate’s archives up to 1978
Milk Inspection 1947–1972
Tourism Committee, Tourism Board 1955–1988
Forestry Office 1920–1994
Music and Culture Board 1945–1988
Myllymäki Library (lending station) 1914–1924
Youth Board 1972–1988
Youth Work Board 1949–1971
Youth Work Committee 1946–1948
Legal Aid Board, Legal Aid Office 1978–1998

Records creators 4

Salary Board, Salary Committee 1945–1977
Fire Department 1979–1994
Fire Board 1936–1988
Fire Committee 1882–1926
Family Counselling Centre 1946–2001 (Child Guidance Clinic until 1 February 1987)
Comprehensive schools
- Katuma Primary School 1986–2007
- Kauriala Primary School 1976–1984
- Central School’s Primary School 1976–1995
- Nummi Primary School 1976–1998
- Ruununmylly Primary School 1976–1990
- Tuomela Primary School 1976–1990
- Old School’s Primary School 1976–1979
- Vuorentaka Primary School 1976–1990
- Hämeenlinna Lyseo Primary School 1976–1997
- Hätilä Primary School 1976–1996
- Kauriala Primary School 1976–2007
- Poltinaho Primary School 1976–1995
Basic Services Board 1989–2008 (see also Poor Relief Board, Welfare Board, Social Welfare Board)
- Patient and client records primarily held by the well-being services county
Poltinaho Secondary and Comprehensive School 1951–1978
Poltinaho Upper Secondary School and Evening School 1961–1984
Fuel Office 1940–1959
Park and Garden Works 1973–1993
Parking Enforcement 1973–1979
Main Library 1861–1997
Treasury Chamber 1876–1929
Finance Office 1871–2005
Abstinence Board 1926–1988
Building Committee 1946–1949
Building Control Office 1978–2011 (building drawings)
Building Office, Building Department 1877–1993
Hospital Board 1899–1972
Sibelius Archive Board 1936–1939
Social Services Institute 1988–1999
Social Welfare Board 1952–1988 (see also Poor Relief Board, Welfare Board, Basic Services Board)
Stichaeus Poorhouse and Workhouse 1883–1910
Sunday School 1842–1949
Höyhensaari Maternity Hospital 1960–1968 (does not include patient records, birth certificates etc.)
Electricity Utility 1900–1981

Records creators 5

Art Museum 1952–2009
Art Museum Board 1952–1988
Taxation Board 1856–1959
Technical School, Technical Institute 1966–1996
Technical Board 1877–2002
Health Care Board 1906–1972
Public Health Nurses and Child Welfare Clinics 1935–1973
Slaughterhouse 1914–1974
Road Board 1967–1976
Auditors 1953–2007
Investigation Board 1924–1959
Tuulos Municipality 1868–2008
Employment Board, Labour Affairs Board 1946–1960
Occupational Safety Committee 1968–1993
Labour Board, Labour Director 1930–1945
Election Committees 1925–2006
Vanaja Municipality 1868–1966
Vanaja Electricity Ltd 1919–1970
Elderly Housing Foundation 1979–1994
Water Utility 1910–1990
Water Board 1962–1986
Voutila Nursing Home 1967–1998
Vuorentaka–Parola Electricity Ltd 1948–1975
Vuorentaka Nursing Home 1910–2006
Cooperation Committee 1979–1993
Cooperation Group 1994–2006
General Vocational School 1930–1950
General Guardianship 1999–2006
Environment Board 1986–1997
Twin City Relations/External Relations 1954–2009

Private records creators

Hämeenlinna City Theatre 1911–1993

You can apply for permission to research City Archives material or to use the material in a thesis online. Complete the electronic research permit application carefully so that processing proceeds as quickly as possible. We process applications without delay.