550 linear metres 
16th — 21st century
The section private archives of individuals (N) includes approximately 100 collections of persons who were of outstanding significance for the history of Berne or Switzerland. Among these are the archives of polymath Albrecht von Haller (1708–1777), writer and pastor Jeremias Gotthelf (1797–1854), painter Rudolf Münger (1862–1929), Federal Councillor Eduard von Steiger (1881–1962), teacher and children’s book author Elisabeth Müller (1885–1977) and film-maker Franz Schnyder (1910–1993), who adapted the works of Gotthelf and Müller, amongst others.

These documents date mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries; some archives go back to the 17th century. About one-tenth of the collections are the private archives of women. Various sources, including sketchbooks, manuscripts, notebooks, diaries, letters, photo albums and personal documents, give insight into the professional, political or artistic work of these individuals. In addition to their professional activities, they often volunteered for service on commissions, foundations, associations or political entities.

Besides biographical details, the individual private archives contain valuable insights into cultural history, social history and the history of science. A further 100 private archives, some dating as far back as the 15th century, are part of the Manuscripta historica helvetica collection. Examples include the private archives of painter, poet and statesman Niklaus Manuel Deutsch (1484–1530) and the sketchbooks of architect Horace Edouard Davinet (1839–1922).