[8][9][10] Thanks to its extensive collection of thematic materials and numerous scholarly events held under its auspices, the Foundation has established itself as one of the leading European centers for the study of the biography and creative heritage of the classic of modernist literature.

[11] The Foundation was created on May 9, 1985, based on an idea by Renée Wolf in collaboration with Robert Holzach [de], then chairman of the Board of Directors of Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS).

[7] At present, the Foundation does not simply position itself as a museum or library, but actively promotes the work of James Joyce through exhibitions, thematic events, seminars, symposia and publications.

The core of the collection is the thematic library, which has about 250 meters of bookshelves and contains about 7,000 book titles, including editiones principes of Joyce's works from different years, numerous illustrated and collector's editions.

In addition, there are nearly 200 autographs (nearly half of which are Joyce's own), nearly 600 sound recordings, 50 video and DVDs, 100 volumes of photographic newsreels, hundreds of posters and other visual materials, and thousands of individual exhibits.