German colonial archives constitute an irreplaceable source for Aneho's history. Although scattered across institutions in Germany, Italy and Togo, they offer unique insight into the protectorate period (1884-1914). Here is a detailed inventory of the main collections available to researchers and genealogists.
The Bundesarchiv in Berlin
The German federal archives hold the bulk of the administrative documentation from Togoland. The Reichskolonialamt collection contains correspondence between the local governor and Berlin, annual reports, censuses and tax records. Documents are in German, sometimes French or English. This collection is particularly rich for Aneho due to its status as capital of Togoland between 1886 and 1897. Researchers can consult the online inventory, but the documents themselves are not digitized.
The SVD mission archives in Rome
The Society of the Divine Word preserved its missionaries' reports from Aneho, notably those of Father Jakob Muller. These documents, written in German, cover 1892-1914 and offer a unique look at daily life, relations between missionaries and local populations, and tensions with the colonial administration. The baptism, marriage and death registers are often the only written record of Aneho's inhabitants from that period — invaluable for genealogists.
The National Archives of Togo in Lome
The German collection of the National Archives of Togo holds duplicates of certain colonial documents and locally produced materials: notarized deeds, court judgments, correspondence with traditional chiefs. These archives are more easily accessible to local researchers.
How to consult
Most collections are not digitized. Consultation is on-site, by appointment. Knowledge of German is essential for the Berlin and Rome collections. Contact institutions several weeks in advance with a precise list of desired documents. Some collections have access restrictions for conservation reasons.