The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
The ICRC Archives document the history of humanity through the prism of humanitarian action during warfare from 1863 until today. It consists of some 18,000 linear metres of textual records and thousands of photos, films, videos, and sound recordings.
The main inventories are:
Access policy: The "Rules Governing Access to the Archives of the International Committee of the Red Cross" adopted in 2017 states that "archives may be consulted after a closure period of 50 years, except for documents containing information whose disclosure would violate the protection of personal data or jeopardize the safety and dignity of the individuals and communities concerned or the integrity of the ICRC's work". The ICRC Agency archives are opened to the public 70 years after the date on which the ICRC's action ended.
Consultation: General archives, consisting of institutional, operational, and diplomatic files documenting the history of the ICRC since 1863 are open up to 1975. They can be consulted in the ICRC Archives Reading Room. Contact.
The origins of the ICRC and the development of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (1863-1914)
ACICR, A PV, Procès-verbaux du Comité, 1863-1914.
Chronological classification.
Critical edition available in one volume (revised by Jean-François Pitteloud).
ACICR, A AF, Archives known as the "Ancien Fonds", 1863-1914.
Structured by country and subject (no detailed inventory).
ACICR, P GM, Archives Gustave Moynier, founding member of the ICRC, general, private and miscellaneous correspondence (no inventory).
ACICR, C AB FRPR, Agence de Bâle, Guerre franco-prussienne, 1870-1871 (summary inventory not available on this search portal).
ACICR, C AT RUTU, Agence de Trieste – Guerre russo-turque, 1877-1878 (summary inventory not available on this search portal).
The Great War and its aftermath (1914-1918)
ACICR, A PV and A PV A AIPG, Procès-verbaux du CICR et de l'Agence internationale des prisonniers de guerre (AIPG), 1863-1919
Chronologically arranged.
Critical editions with commentary by Daniel Palmieri available online: Volume 1 & Volume 2
ACICR, C G1 A, C G1 B, and C G1 C, Première Guerre mondiale : Agence internationale des prisonniers de guerre, 1914-1922
Operational aspects directly related to the humanitarian mandate.
ACICR C G1, Première Guerre mondiale : research on a particular individual (prisoner of war or other ICRC beneficiary) : Grandeguerre
ACICR, A CS, Comité-Secrétariat, 1912-1923
Political, diplomatic, and institutional issues outside the scope and responsibilities of the AIPG, dealt with directly by the Committee.
The inter-war period (1919-1939)
ACICR, A PV, Procès-verbaux des séances des organes décisionnels et leurs Commissions, 1919-1939
Chronological classification.
ACICR, A CL, Dossiers confidentiels, 1925-1975
Documents formerly classified as strictly confidential (all subjects).
ACICR, B CR, Croix-Rouge, 1918-1950
Operational, political, legal and administrative issues covering the interwar period (summary inventory except for series B CR 110, 123, 163 and 212).
ACICR B CR 00, Sociétés nationales de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge, 1916-1951.
ACICR, B MIS, Missions, 1918-1950 (summary inventory).
ACICR, B MIS CR 087, Russian refugees, 1919-1938
ACICR, B MIS MSB, Mission in Siberia, 1919-1931
ACICR, C ESCI, Guerre d'Espagne, 1936-1939
Service Agence, individual and personal data, including working procedures.
ACICR, C SRI, Service de recherches et cas individuels, 1921-1953
ACICR, O CP, Organismes de coordination humanitaire, 1929-1950 (no inventory).
ACICR, P UIS, Union internationale de secours, 1927-1975
The Second World War and its aftermath (1939-1950)
ACICR, A PV, Procès-verbaux des séances des organes décisionnels et leurs Commissions, 1939-1950
Chronological classification.
ACICR, A CL, Dossiers confidentiels, 1925-1975
Documents formerly classified as strictly confidential (all subjects).
ACICR, B G, Généralités opérationnelles, 1939-1950.
Main sub-fonds from 1939, covering all operational, legal and administrative matters.
ACICR, B SEC DAS, Special Relief Division, 1940-1963.
ACICR, C G2 FR, Service français, 1939-1993 (surtout 1939-1946).
ACICR, C G2 IB, Service ibérique, 1939-1982.
ACICR, C G2 PA, Service « Immigration en Palestine » (IMPA), 1942-1983.
ACICR, C PALE, Palestine, 1948-1950 (first Israeli-Arab War).
ACICR, D, Délégations, 1921-1975
Archives of delegations transferred to Geneva, organised by continent/country.
ACICR, O CMS, Commission mixte de secours, 1941-1946 (joint body of the ICRC and the League of Red Cross Societies).
The second post-war period (1950-1975)
ACICR, A PV, Procès-verbaux des séances des organes décisionnels et leurs Commissions, 1951-1975.
Chronological classification.
ACICR, B AG, Archives générales, 1951-1975
Main sub-fonds from 1951, covering all operational, legal and administrative matters.
ACICR, A CL, Dossiers confidentiels, 1925-1985
ACICR, A BI, Bulletin interne, 1951-1975
ACICR, D, Delegations, 1921-1975
Archives of delegations transferred to Geneva, organised by continent/country.
ACICR, B OP NBIA, Activités générales du CICR au Nigéria-Biafra (cellule), 1967-1970
ACICR, A VM, Versements des membres, 1854-1975
ICRC's audiovisual collections
The film collection covers the period from 1921 to the present day, largely accessible online.
The photo collection (originals or reproductions) ranges from the 19th century to the present day.
The collection of recorded sounds dates from the late 1940s to the present day.
The Cross-file Blog is an interesting and useful resource to explore the ICRC archives.
Alongside the ICRC’s archives, the ICRC’s Library represents the essential documentary reference on our organisation and international humanitarian law. For literature and secondary studies on the ICRC, its history, humanitarian mandate and activities, consult the ICRC library catalog.
Some official documents are available at the ICRC Library:
The following resources might be useful to complete your research: