Archives

As the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is still a young organisation, its archives include only a small number of THL documents. THL's predecessor bodies, the National Public Health Institute (KTL) and the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES) both had their own archives, which are now in the possession of THL. THL also houses documents of several other former social and health care agencies, each of these separately within the THL archives.

Predecessor archives now housed by THL

National Public Health Institute (1911-31 Dec 2008)

The history of the National Public Health Institute (KTL) goes back to 1911 and the establishment of a provisional state serum laboratory under the National Board of Health. KTL started operations in 1982 and was abolished on 31 December 2008. THL has in its possession the archives of

• the provisional state serum laboratory (1911-1914),
• the State Serum Laboratory (1915-1946),
• the State Serum Institute (1947-1969),
• the Public Health Laboratory (1970-1981) and
• the National Public Health Institute (1982-2008).

STAKES (1 Dec 1992-31 Dec 2008)

The National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES) started operating on 1 December 1992 and was abolished on 31 December 2008. The archives contain documents from the entire period of operation of STAKES.

National Agency for Welfare and Health, 1 March 1991 - 1 December 1992

The National Agency for Welfare and Health was established on 1 March 1991 to replace the National Board of Health and the National Board of Social Welfare. As early as 1 December 1992 the agency was again restructured and, to better reflect the new functions, was renamed as the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health. Some of the functions of the Agency were transferred to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, some to the National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs (in 1992; now the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira)) and some to the National Agency for Medicines (in 1993). The THL archives contain documents from the whole period of operation of the National Agency for Welfare and Health.

National Board of Health 1811-1991

The National Board of Health started operating in 1811. It was abolished in the 1991 administrative reform. THL has in its possession documents of the National Board of Health beginning from the 1830s up to the Board's abolishment. Most of the documents archived at THL are from the years 1950-1991. If you need documents from an earlier date, please first contact the National Archives Service:
National Archives Website or tel. +358 9 228 521

National Board of Social Welfare and Ministry of Social Affairs

The National Board of Social Welfare was established in 1917 and abolished in 1923. After the abolishment of the Board, the Ministry of Social Affairs (1917-1967) took on its functions. In 1968, the National Board of Social Welfare was re-established. It was abolished in 1991.

The THL archives contain documents of the National Board of Social Welfare from the years 1968-1991 and documents of the Ministry of Social Affairs from the years 1923-1967. The Ministry's documents concern the functions that the second National Board of Social Welfare inherited from it in 1968.