Die alten Badnerinnen und Badner

The Badner Bruno Zumofen has written a unique book: A history of Leukerbad based on the stories and experiences of its residents. "Die Alten Badner" has become both a book of stories and a history book.

Using parish records, census forms, and other documents that Bruno Zumofen has gathered over years from state and municipal archives, he was able to reconstruct a chronicle of the families of Leukerbad.

Starting from the fifteen founding ancestors of the long-established families of Leukerbad, dating back to the sixteenth century, a kaleidoscope of family trees has emerged, allowing anyone today to trace their lineage back to the founding ancestors without gaps.

Which ancestors lost their lives in the war against the French? Who died during the great avalanches? Was one of the ancestors a Kastlan, village head, or bailiff? Did people live in the village, on the street, on the hill, in the Kehr, near the goat stable, in the courtyard, on the Biel, along the field road, at the Birche, or at the Goppen? What house inscriptions testify to which family and village events? Who was compensated for which work and when? Which Badnerinnen and Badner emigrated, and to where?

In addition to statistics on baptisms, marriages, and death entries since 1650, the book includes information on the censuses of 1829 and 1880. The nomadic life between Leukerbad and Getwing is just as worthy of exploration as a large number of small stories that help illuminate who the Badnerinnen and Badner are and where they come from.

With the Zurich graphic designer and book designer Simone Fennel, we were able to enlist one of the best in her field for the graphic and typographic implementation of this extensive body of material. Establishing the grid that can be formed from the immense numerical data and giving it a graphic face required an extraordinary engagement.