Archive of the Town of Rakovník

Collection

Scope and content:: The fonds comprises documents created by the Rakovník municipal office, deeds, official books, file material, accounting material, and documentation. Information on Jews can be found in the section Self-governing period (1850–1945) - group: The municipality and its administration (there are a lot of registration cards and residence cards from the first half of the 20th century, alphabetically ordered) and group - Register matters and the German and Jewish population. Both groups were kept separately at the office. The files concerning the Jewish population also included files related to their property. Trade issues, inv. no. 1341-1344 and the agenda of residence and registration of citizens, are also relevant. Explicit mentions of Jews can be found in inv. no. 826 Jewish affairs (Jewish inhabitants and their property, Jewish community, Jewish cemetery) 1782-1850; inv. no. 900 Jewish business affairs 1789-1850; inv. no. 941 Jewish population and property (1850-1942); inv. no. 990 Extension of the Jewish cemetery (purchase of land from the municipality) 1886-1888; inv. no. 1076 Synagogue, passage through the synagogue 1854-1940; inv. no. 844 Synagogue 1792-1848; from the earlier period - inv. no. 812 Matters of the Jewish population (1637-1784).

Archival history:: The archive material was stored in various buildings in the town. Part of the material was destroyed by moving and an unprofessional appraisal. In 1995, the fonds was moved to a new building of the district archives. In 2000, it was organised and an inventory was created for it.

Administrative/biographical history:: Rakovník first appeared in sources in 1252. The town was subject to Křivoklát and the manorial authority was exercised by the Křivoklát burgrave or governor. Rakovník became the seat of the sub-regional office, later the district governor's office, the district court, and the tax office. In September 1850, a municipal council (committee) was elected with 18 members, headed by the mayor. After the 1938 Munich Agreement, Rakovník turned into a border town and was struggling with an influx of refugees from the territory annexed by Nazi Germany. In September 1941, the first Jews were transported to the Terezín concentration camp. From 1945, the town was administered by the national committee.

Subject terms:: Cemeteries; Jewish community; Residency issues of Jews; Synagogues; Trade and commerce

System of arrangement:: The fonds is arranged as follows: I. Deeds; II. Official books (pre-municipal and municipal periods; self-governing period); III. File material (registry finding aids; files); IV. Accounting material (pre-municipal and municipal periods; self-governing period); V. Documentation.

Finding aids:: Černý, Jan: Archiv mešta Rakovník, 1319-1948 (1962). Inventory, 2010, 240p., Inv. No. 865.