The Zoological and Botanical Collections in the “Long” Nineteenth Century
Following the acquisition of the first natural history cabinets at the end of the 18th century, the zoological and botanical collections of the University of Heidelberg grew steadily, particularly over the course of the following century. In addition to purchases, donations and exchanges, students, staff and regional collectors actively contributed to the growth of the scientific collections. This research project - in collaboration with the University Archives and the University Library - examines the collections and collecting practices of University of Heidelberg in its local, regional and global contexts during the “long” 19th century. The documents from the University Archives, which have received little attention in this context to date, form a particularly rich and detailed empirical basis. In addition to the historical documentation of the different collections, the research project aims to make the collections visible and accessible through targeted transfer and networking programmes. The research project is funded by the university's research profile Field of Focus III Cultural Dynamics in Globalised Worlds.
Research Blog
The blog posts deal with the provenance of individual objects, the genesis of certain collections and individual actors who contributed to the removal and (re-)construction as well as the sale or decay of scientific objects and collections. Based on the digitized administrative files on the zoological collections, the multifaceted history of the university's collections can thus be made visible. The blog posts were created by undergraduate students as part of an introductory course on historical sources and their use in historical research in the summer semester of 2025 under the supervision of Susann Liebich and Christian Stenz.
Links
Archival Documents
As part of the research project, a substantial part of the historical documents from the nineteenth century relating to the zoological and botanical collections were digitized and are accessible via the university library. The administrative, which have received little attention to date, allow a detailed analysis of the genesis of the collections, in which not only the directors of the institutes but also a large number of actors - from (former) students to hunters to conservators - become visible.