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Official and Unofficial Programme Guides on the Munich Oktoberfest 1810-1936

Founded in 1855 by King Maximilian II, the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (Bavarian National Museum) ranks among the most significant museums of art and cultural history in Europe. The core stock of artifacts originates in the art collection of the Wittelsbach dynasty. Planned and erected by Gabriel von Seidl in the style of historism, this building with its unique historical interiors is one of the most inventive and significant museums built in the years around 1900.

The Generaldirektion der Staatlichen Archive Bayerns (Directorate General of the Bavarian State Archives) was established in 1970 as a middle-level state office with statewide authority. Subordinated authorities are the Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv (Bavarian Main State Archive) and regional state archives. Duties of the Generaldirektion include the centralized administrative and functional supervision of the Bavarian state archives as well as the evaluation, acquisition, classification and cataloguing of archive items according to consistent standards.

The Staatliche Antikensammlungen und die Glyptothek (State Collections of Antiquities and Sculpture Gallery) belong to the internationally leading museums for ancient art. Greek, Roman and Etruscan masterworks are presented in an architectural framework initiated by the Bavarian king Ludwig I (1786–1868, r. 1825–1848). During the years 1816 to 1830, Leo von Klenze (1784–1864) created on the northern side of the Munich Königsplatz the Glyptothek with its front-hall resting on Ionian columns. South of the square, Georg Friedrich Ziebland (1800–1873) constructed between 1838 and 1848 the building with its Corinthian façade, in which the present Antikensammlungen is housed. The ensemble was finally complemented by the Propylaea to the West of the square, which Klenze erected in the Doric order between 1846 and 1860 in accordance with the model of the classical gateway to the Athenian Acropolis (fifth century).

The Bayerisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege (Bavarian State Office for Historic Preservation) is the Free State of Bavaria's authority for the protection and preservation of Bavaria's cultural heritage. This includes the preservation of all buildings, monuments, objects and sites of historic interest as well as recording and studying them. The State Department for Non-governmental Museums is also subordinated to the Bavarian State Office for Historic Preservation.

The Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv (Bavarian Main State Archive) was formed in 1921 by merging three key archives which had been founded in Munich in 1799 - namely the General Imperial Archive (Allgemeines Reichsarchiv), the Secret State Archive (Geheimes Staatsarchiv), and the Secret Family Archive (Geheimes Hausarchiv) - and the former District Archive of Munich (today’s Munich State Archive). After the end of World War II the records of the War Archive maintaining the heritage of the Bavarian army were affiliated to the Bavarian Main State Archive. The administrative decree on the structure of State Archives in Bavaria issued on May 28, 1990 (GVBl, p. 175) states that the Bavarian Main State Archive is responsible for “maintaining the records of state authorities concerned with state wide affairs.” The Bavarian Main State Archive is the centralized archive for the Duchy, Electorate, Kingdom, and Free State of Bavaria.

The Staatsarchiv Amberg (Amberg State Archive) is the government authority for all matters related to archive studies in the administrative district of the Upper Palatinate. It dates back to the archives and registries of the government authority of Amberg of the Principality of the Upper Palatinate, up to 1621 territory of the Elector Palatine until it was ceded together with the electoral title to the Duke of Bavaria in 1621/28.

The Staatsarchiv Augsburg (Augsburg State Archive) is the government authority for all matters related to archive studies in the administrative district of Swabia. It is the successor institution for the former Staatsarchiv Neuburg an der Donau (State Archive of Neuburg on the Danube), which was transferred into the Swabian capital in autumn of 1989.

The Staatsarchiv Bamberg (Bamberg State Archive) is the government authority for all matters related to archive studies in the administrative district of Upper Franconia (except the town and district of Coburg). It dates back to the archives of the former Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg – ceded to Bavaria in 1802/03 –, to which were added the archives of Bayreuth and Plassenburg that were transferred to Bamberg between 1813 and 1818. In 1841 it was raised to the status of an archive conservatory and in 1875 it was renamed "Kreisarchiv" (District Archive) together with all the other regional state archives, until in 1921 it became the "Staatsarchiv Bamberg".

The Staatsarchiv Coburg (Coburg State Archive) is the government authority for all matters related to archive studies in the town and district of Coburg. It opened in 1939 as the successor of the Bamberg State Archive’s department of state registries at Ehrenburg Palace, which had been established in 1924. In 1973, it also assumed responsibility for the Landesarchive (District Archive) of Coburg, formerly the Staats- und Hausarchiv (State and Home Archive) of Saxe-Coburg, which was integrated as an independent stock.

The Staatsarchiv Landshut (Landshut State Archive) is the government authority for all matters related to archive studies in the administrative district of Lower Bavaria. Already under the Dukes of the dynasty that assumed regency after the line of Bavaria-Landshut had split in 1392, there are records of archives ("letter vaults") on Trausnitz Castle and in the secondary residence at Burghausen that date back to the fifteenth century. These also maintained the written material of the partial Duchy of Bavaria-Ingolstadt that was transferred from Ingolstadt and Neuburg on the Danube, when it came under the rule of Bavaria-Landshut in 1447. In the nineteenth century, the stock of various special registries was turned into a comprehensive "invoicing archive" and registry on Trausnitz Castle. This was raised to the status of an archive conservatory in 1812, and in 1875 it was renamed "Kreisarchiv" (District Archive) together with all the other regional state archives, until in 1921 it became the "Staatsarchiv Landshut".

The Staatsarchiv München (Munich State Archive) is the government authority for all matters related to archive studies in the government district of Upper Bavaria. It dates back to the registry of the Bavarian Electorate’s Court Chamber, which was taken over by the General State Administration (Generallandesdirektion) in 1799 and subsequently by the "State Administration of Bavaria" ("Landesdirektion von Baiern") in 1803. The written material was expanded by documents from dissoluted authorities. Later on, this archive turned into an archive conservatory, was renamed "Kreisarchiv" (District Archive) and "Staatsarchiv für Oberbayern" (State Archive of Upper Bavaria), until in 1971 it became an independent authority by the name of "Staatsarchiv München" and was separated from the central authority of the Bavarian State Archives.

The Staatsarchiv Nürnberg (Nuremberg State Archive) is the government authority for all matters related to archive studies in the administrative district of Middle Franconia. It dates back to the archives of the Imperial City of Nuremberg, to which was added the heritage of other mediatized and secularized administrators and institutions. The Nuremberg Archive was raised to the status of an archive conservatory in 1852 and in 1875 it was renamed "Kreisarchiv" (District Archive) together with all the other regional state archives, until in 1921 it became the "Staatsarchiv Nürnberg".

The Staatsarchiv Würzburg (Würzburg State Archive) is the government authority for all matters related to archive studies in the government district of Lower Franconia. It dates back to the archives of the Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg, a religious state that became part of the Bavarian electorate's archives in 1802/03 due to the political changes which secularization had brought along. In 1806 it became a branch of the archives of the Grand Duke of Würzburg and after 1814 it was once again a branch of the – now royal – Bavarian archives. The archive soon occupied most of the Northern wing of the Residence. It was raised to the status of an "archive conservatory" in 1852 and in 1875 it was renamed "Kreisarchiv" (District Archive) together with all the other regional state archives, until in 1921 it became the "Staatsarchiv Würzburg".

The Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library), which was founded in 1558, is one of the most important European universal libraries and enjoys worldwide renown as international research library. Today, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek acts as treasure trove of cultural heritage, as provider of academic multimedia information and as innovator in the field of digital services and it is one of the foremost national and international ports of call for researchers, for students as well as for all those in general who are seeking information.

The Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser, Gärten und Seen (Bavarian Department of State-owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes), also known as the Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung (Bavarian Palace Department), is one of the oldest administrative departments in the Free State of Bavaria with a long-standing tradition. Created as part of the court administration of electors and kings, it is today the largest public authority for museums in Germany. It is also responsible for a very special historical heritage: the variety of magnificent court gardens, palace parks, gardens and lakes. The unique ensembles of European architecture with their sumptuous artistic interiors attract over five million visitors each year from all over the world.

The Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte (Centre of Bavarian History) was established in 1978 in Augsburg and has been a branch of the Bayerische Staatsministerium für Bildung und Kultus, Wissenschaft und Kunst (Bavarian State Ministry of Education, Science and the Arts) since 1998. The duties of the Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte mainly include providing access to the historical and cultural diversity of Bavaria in all parts of Bavaria as well as enhancing and maintaining the historical awareness in general.

Bavarian Surveying Administration regards itself as a modern service provider with the legal mandate to provide geodata on a national area of approx. 70,000 km² and to make it available to users in the desired form in an up-to-date and cost-effective manner. In addition, the Landesamt für Digitalisierung, Breitband und Vermessung (Agency for Digitisation, High-Speed Internet and Surveying) owns the world's largest archive of lithographic stones with over 26,000 limestone printing plates, which were used until well into the twentieth century for the reproduction and continuation of plans and maps.

The Münchner Stadtmuseum (Munich City Museum) opened in 1888 following an initiative of city archivist Ernst von Destouches (1843–1916). The Munich City Museum is Germany's largest municipal museum, not only due to its spaciousness, but also to the extent of its collections. The fields of the collections range from graphic art, posters and paintings – mostly with motives connected to Munich –, to fashion, textile and objects of ethnological interest to statuary art and artisan craftwork as well as a substantial collection of furniture, including the period of Art Nouveau. The department of music provides access to a comprehensive collection of musical instruments spanning all continents.

The Universitätsbibliothek Regensburg (University Library of Regensburg) is a central facility of the University of Regensburg and at the same time the largest academic library in the region. It is financially supported by the Free State of Bavaria.

The Archäologische Staatssammlung München (Archaeological Collection of the Bavarian State) was founded in 1885. With its five departments (Prehistoric, Roman Period, Middle Ages, the Mediterranean, Numismatics), its permanent exhibition, conservation studios and depots it forms the central state museum. Its rich holdings of archaeological finds provide comprehensive insights into the diversity of early human existence.

Karl Bosl (1908-1993), probably Bavaria’s best-known regional historian, wrote numerous works on the history of Bavaria as well as the "Bayerische Biographie", which provides a quick overview of the biographical data and life stories of individual personalities in Bavarian history from the fields of economics, politics, society, science and art with lexical entries.

Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof – the collection offers a photographic insight into the most beautiful and famous castles and palaces in Bavaria. It shows views of the buildings, gardens and interiors, including furniture and fittings.

The Haus der bayerischen Geschichte (Centre of Bavarian History) picture archive portrays the history of agriculture in Bavaria, the development of farming methods as well as rural customs, popular festivities and leisure activities.