Falkeisen Collection

The holdings originate from the collection of the pastor Theodor Falkeisen-Bernoulli (1725–1815) and his son Hieronymus Falkeisen (1758–1838). The two wealthy theologians collected manuscripts and printed works in line with their personal interests, with a focus on the history and literature of Basel and Switzerland. Periodicals were of particular importance, while manuscripts played a more minor role.

In 1823, the collection was transferred to the Church Archive, now known as the Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Basel-Stadt. As it comprised not only manuscripts and printed works but also various types of graphic prints and drawings, it was distributed among several institutions: the Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, various museums, and the University Library. In 2025, the collection was donated by the Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Basel-Stadt and became the property of the University Library Basel.