Historical newspapers reflect the history of their era in a special way. A real treasure in this respect is a collection of thousands of exhibits on the German and European newspaper history of the last 500 years, which is now being scientifically evaluated and made accessible at the University of Augsburg for the first time. These also include one-of-a-kind items such as subscriber lists from the 17th century. The collection is considered one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
Soon after the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg, the first pamphlets and current communications appeared in Germany. In 1605, the first periodical newspaper was published in Strasbourg, a weekly news sheet that already published national reports. Similar to newspaper articles from past years or decades, such historical newspapers give valuable insights into everyday life and events of bygone times.
Contemporary historical documents from 500 years
It is all the more exciting when scientists have access to a large number of such historical testimonies. That is now the case: the press historian Martin Welke has collected thousands of exhibits on German and European newspaper history over the past 50 years. The collection covers a period of around 500 years – from the beginning of the first periodical newspaper prints to the present day. This collection is considered one of the largest of its kind in Europe and includes numerous unique finds, including subscriber lists of the first printed periodical newspapers from the 17th century.
“As far as I know, this doesn’t exist anywhere else,” says Daniel Bellingradt from the University of Augsburg. Over the next three years, he and his colleagues will for the first time scientifically examine which treasures are still hidden in the collection as part of a project funded by the Free State of Bavaria and the City of Augsburg. For this purpose, the private collection was transferred to a German Newspaper Museum foundation set up by Martin Welke and his wife Sabine. “The items in the collection are to be processed in a targeted manner over the next three years and placed in future-oriented contexts for research, teaching and museum concepts,” explains Bellingradt.
Access for research and the public
For this purpose, the scientists want to get an overview of the collection and its potential in the coming months. “We will then examine particularly outstanding topics and objects in more depth,” says Bellingradt. Important documents and objects are then to be digitized in order to facilitate access for further research. Bellingradt would also like to find out how parts of the collection can be made accessible to the public. “For example, exhibitions on certain thematic focal points are conceivable, such as the dynamics, backgrounds and media effects of fake news: to what extent did it exist before, who created it and how, what consequences do such media manipulations have and did they have,” says the scientist .
There are also plans to experiment with digital exhibition formats. According to Bellingradt, the collection offers the advantage of providing a long-term perspective on phenomena that we are still confronted with today. At the university itself, he therefore wants to use selected exhibits for teacher training in the subject of history. “The specific material reveals issues such as media power or censorship measures, as well as technical factors that played a role in the production of newspapers,” he says. “The pieces make communication history a sensual experience.”
In the medium term, a center for historical press research with Germany-wide appeal could be created at the University of Augsburg. This fits with the important role that the city of Augsburg has played in German and European communications over the centuries. Because as early as the early 16th century, thanks to the extensive trade networks of the Fuggers, Augsburg was one of the most important news centers in Europe, in which first handwritten newspapers and later printed news circulated. Not only Bellingradt would welcome it if this tradition were to be continued with a scholarly chapter.
Source: University of Augsburg