The German Radio Archive is a non-profit-making foundation under civil law and a joint institution of the ARD (association of TV and radio stations). Founded in 1952 as "Sound Archive of German Radio", its functions were extended in 1962 by the documentation of TV productions and in 1993 by the management of the archives of the radio and television of the GDR.
The Archive collects, files and records sound, picture and written documents on behalf of the broadcasting stations and for a public concerned with culture, art, science, research, upbringing and education. As joint institution of the ARD, it works closely with the public broadcasting stations for the utilization of its material and cooperates with numerous cultural institutions, within the scope of its activities for science and research under the objectives of its foundation purpose.