Published on 1 January 2026

Photo archive Walter Rutishauser

The Library Am Guisanplatz (BiG) houses the photo archive of press and agency photographer Walter Rutishauser. The archive contains a wide range of images of people and subjects spanning the period from 1960 to 2000.

Niklaus Meienberg, 1979 — Swiss journalist and author — © Library Am Guisanplatz, Rutishauser portrait collection

Friedrich Traugott Wahlen, 1965 — Wahlen was a member of the Federal Council from 1959 until 1965, but is best known for the ‘Wahlen Plan’, a programme to ensure Switzerland’s food security during the Second World War. — © Library Am Guisanplatz, Rutishauser portrait collection

Ruth Dreifuss, Christiane Brunner, 8 March 1993 — The photo was taken shortly before Ruth Dreifuss was elected to the Federal Council. Christiane Brunner, the official SP candidate, was not elected. — © Library Am Guisanplatz, Rutishauser portrait collection

Willi Ritschard, 1983 — The SP politician sat on the Federal Council from 1974 to 1983. — © Library Am Guisanplatz, Rutishauser portrait collection

Rudolf Gnägi, 1979 — Gnägi sat on the Federal Council for the Farmers’, Trades’ and Citizens’ Party (BGB) from 1966 to 1979 — © Library Am Guisanplatz, Rutishauser portrait collection

Yasir Arafat, 1994 — Arafat, Peres and Rabin received the Nobel Peace Prize in the same year for their contribution to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. — © Library Am Guisanplatz, Rutishauser portrait collection

Ernst Sieber, 1994 — The pastor from Zurich was a member of the National Council for the Evangelical People’s Party from 1991 to 1995. — © Library Am Guisanplatz, Rutishauser portrait collection

Federal Councillor Kurt Furgler in the chamber of the National Council, 1980 — © Library Am Guisanplatz, Rutishauser portrait collection

Elisabeth Kopp was the first woman to be elected to the Federal Council. Inauguration, 1984 — © Library Am Guisanplatz, Rutishauser portrait collection

National Councillor Christoph Blocher, 1993 — © Library Am Guisanplatz, Rutishauser portrait collection

Councillors of State Josi J. Meier and Esther Bührer, 1987 — © Library Am Guisanplatz, Rutishauser portrait collection

Which politicians shaped Swiss politics from the 1970s to the turn of the millennium? What social issues were Swiss people facing during this period?

The photo archive of press and agency photographer Walter Rutishauser provides answers to these questions and offers an in-depth insight into the workings of the federal government and political life. The Library Am Guisanplatz acquired around 10,000 of Rutishauser’s photographic prints in 2000 and his entire photo archive in 2013.

Walter Rutishauser

Walter Rutishauser (1940–2017) spent his whole life working as a photographer. From 1960 onwards, he worked for various publishers and agencies, joining the Keystone agency in 1969 and then the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper, where he was primarily responsible for covering political events in the federal city of Bern. He photographed members of the Federal Council, National Council and Council of States, captured politicians in discussion and documented press conferences and public events.

Photo archive and access

Walter Rutishauser’s photo archive comprises an estimated 150,000 to 300,000 photographs from the years 1960 to 2000, mainly in the form of black-and-white negatives. The BiG has archived and catalogued this extensive collection as part of a project lasting several years.

The images in the photo archive have been fully digitised and can be accessed online via the research portal Alexandria.

Note on usage: The BiG holds the right of use for these images. They may be used freely for scientific, private and commercial purposes, provided the recommended citation is given (in compliance with personality and trademark protection rights).

Recommended citation: Library Am Guisanplatz, Walter Rutishauser photo archive

Further information

Contact BiG

Library Am Guisanplatz BiG
Papiermühlestrasse 21a
CH - 3003 Bern