The Beder Chronicle

The Beder Chronicle encompasses records of the history of the Zurich suburb of Enge and the city of Zurich, as well as the surrounding areas, over a period of approximately 150 years. Started around 1620 by Bartli Beder, an immigrant from southern Germany, the chronicle tradition was continued over three generations. The work is preserved as a clean copy by the fourth and last chronicler, Heinrich Beder. Alongside autobiographical notes, price information for staple foods runs like a common thread throughout the chronicle. The selection of other topics followed the personal interests of the four chroniclers and reflects the rise of the Beder family from the artisan class to the village elite in the community of Enge. The source value of the records lies in the consistently up-to-date observations and comments on nature and climate, as well as on hunger and disease.