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ICRC PUBLIC ARCHIVES HOLDINGS

The Archives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) document the history and activities of the organization since its creation in 1863. They are governed by the current institution’s access rules and available for consultation at the ICRC’s headquarters in Geneva upon request.
To guide researchers through the multiple and varied holdings of the public archives, we have listed below a selection of main sources. This list is non-exhaustive.
For the majority of public sub-fonds and series, there is a complete ISAD-G description, followed by a detailed inventory. If this is not yet available, please contact the ICRC Archives.
Good reading abilities of French are required to consult public holdings.
Important: when searching by reference, do not enter ACICR.
For further guidance on how to use the archives catalogue, please find two tutorial videos below:
- This video explains how to explore the fonds, and how to order documents.
- This video explains how to read a reference (also called call number) and quote a document from the archives.

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).
    https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/BIB/BIB_00009.pdf
  • 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 https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DOC/icrc-4512-001.pdf
    Volume 2 https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DOC/icrc-4220-001.pdf
  • 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, organized 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, organized 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

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