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Home | History of Emigration from the Valais

History of Emigration from the Valais

You like history and are interested in the Valais emigration? You would like to know the circumstances under which your ancestors lived and understand the reasons for their departure? You would like to know which sources and books contain information about the issues related to emigration from the Valais? Here, you will find all the tips you need to guide your research.
You like history and are interested in the Valais emigration? You would like to know the circumstances under which your ancestors lived and understand the reasons for their departure? You would like to know which sources and books contain information about the issues related to emigration from the Valais? Here, you will find all the tips you need to guide your research.
Collections of the State of Valais

The most important collection is that of the Département de l’Intérieur (AEV, DI), which contains many files on emigration from the Valais in the 19th century, including the Register of Emigrants (cf. Register of Emigrants above). Among the many files in the collection, the following are worth citing:

AEV, DI, 194-195

Contains files on emigration from 1817 to 1869, especially to Algeria, the U.S.A., Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

1817-1869

AEV, DI, 356.25

Printed material relative to emigration; in particular a project of cantonal and federal legislation on emigration.

1852-1888

AEV, DI, 356.27

Summary tables of emigration from the Valais according to district and township.

1850-1874

AEV, DI, 357.1

Lists of emigration agencies and their sub-agents recognized by the Federal Council.

1881-1897

AEV, DI, 357.3.1

Federal organisation of emigration: legislation, information on activity concerning this sector, etc.

1879-1897

AEV, DI, 358

Registry of emigrants. List of the names of the emigrants by district and township, mentioning their filiation, year of birth, profession, origins, last domicile, date of departure and destination.

1849-1879

 

Township collections

Township files are also a very interesting, often under-estimated source for emigration from the Valais. For example, among the many township files (fonds de communes), we can mention two in which one or more significant documents for Valais emigration appear:

AC Sembrancher, P 841 Cantonal census of families and persons emigrated abroad from the beginnings of the emigration until 31 December 1871; new place of residence […] 1872.

AP Hérémence Suppl. 2, R 16 Family register of the parish of Hérémence, with mention of filiations: much genealogical information, births, marriages, deaths, emigration, etc. […] 1930-2006.

Private collections

Private files, whether from associations, private individuals or families should not be neglected: they contain valuable information on the history of emigration, according to whether the associations or families had connections with the Valais emigration. Here are some examples:

Associations collections:

The Vieux-Monthey collection

This collection contains interesting documents on emigration from the Valais in the township of Monthey, such as no. 3393: this is a draft version by Louis Borgeaud […] for the 1954 Annales Valaisannes on emigration to America in 1861.

The Valaisans du Monde Collection:

The association Valaisans du Monde / Walliser in aller Welt was created on 18 May 1992, as a consequence of the reunions of 1991, which were held to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation. The purpose of these reunions was to permit encounters between Valaisans and the descendants of emigrants from the Valais living mainly in North and South America, and in Argentina in particular. Contacts had already been made in the 1980s and materialized in 1991, when many descendants from 19th-century emigrants came to the Valais.  

At present, Valaisans du Monde (http://valaisans.com/fr/) has relations with 44 committees or associations throughout the world and 450 members (individuals, associations, townships), including 100 abroad.

NOTE: permission from the president of the association is necessary for consultation of this collection.

The San José Colony collection:

This small collection contains documents commemorating the 100th and 115th anniversary of the creation of the San José colony (colonie San José) in Argentina.

The Family collection:

Interesting documents to help understand emigration from the Valais can also be found in the occasional private collection. We would mention, for example, the Mettaz collection, 2013/27, 1, which contains historical accounts (the emigration to Brazil of Florentin Ançay, from Fully; Swiss colonies in Brazil) and excerpts from the civil registry (Margarida Ançay Warchelski, Pascoa Maria Ançai), 1951-2008.

The Klaus Anderegg collection, which is in the process of being deposited at the Valais State Archives, contains many documents, letters, photographs, audiotapes, etc., which are of major importance for the study of Valais emigration.
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Musées Cantonaux, 4350 2016/3 2/7
Musées Cantonaux, 4350 2016/3 2/7
Musées Cantonaux, 4350 2016/3 2/7
Département de l’Intérieur 356.26
Département de l’Intérieur 194.4.1
Musées Cantonaux, 4350 2016/3 2/7
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