Press events, Research projects

Books in libraries can sometimes tell far more than what was written by their authors. Their condition, handwritten marginalia, or a bookplate on the flyleaf can provide insights into the biography of the books themselves—the intensity with which they were studied, their previous owners, or their original proprietors. The latter information is of particular interest to provenance researchers at libraries. One such researcher is Daniel Dudde, who, together with his colleague Darleen Pappelau, is searching the Frankfurt University Library for potential Nazi-looted material. Daniel Dudde will discuss the methodology of provenance research and the questions that guide it

on Wednesday, November 25, at 12:15 p.m.
in Room I.414 of the IG Farben House at Campus Westend

together with PD Dr. Verena Steller from the Department of History at Goethe University, who also coordinates the Forum for University History. The Forum bundles projects focused on researching the history of the university and its collections, making their findings accessible to the general public. Provenance research at the University Library is also part of this network.
Using selected books from the University Library's historical holdings, the methods and potential insights of provenance research will be presented and discussed from a historical-scientific perspective. Afterward, members of the audience will have the opportunity to examine the books themselves and trace the clues contained within them together with the researchers.

The discussion is part of the series Au•t•op•sien, hosted by the University Library's collections in collaboration with the Research Center for Historical Humanities. The word autopsy derives from the Greek "autopsía" (αὐτοψία), which literally means "seeing with one's own eyes." Established in the 2024/25 winter semester, the series focuses on the public viewing and contextualization of rare, often unique objects from the UL collections—provided this is conservationally responsible. The lecture pairings link humanities research questions with manuscripts, special books, or other objects held at the library.
The Johann Christian Senckenberg University Library (UB Frankfurt), with its extensive holdings and collections, is one of the most significant academic libraries in Germany. It combines the functions of a university library with numerous state responsibilities, serving as a scholarly library for the city of Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region, as well as a specialized library within the supra-regional literature and information network. https://www.ub.uni-frankfurt.de

Upcoming Event:
Wednesday, January 20, 2027, 12:15 p.m.
Peep-show Pictures: A Popular 18th-Century Medium in the University Library Collections
Bernhard Wirth and Henrike Weyer (both UB) in conversation with Prof. Mechthild Fend (Art History) and Prof. Xenia von Tippelskirch (Department of History).

Profile Area: Universality and Diversity

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Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Dr. Volker Michel
Subject Librarian for German Studies (UB Frankfurt)
Tel: +49 69 798-39786
E-Mail: v.michel@ub.uni-frankfurt.de

Nathan Taylor, PhD
Director, Research Center for Historical Humanities
Goethe University Frankfurt
Tel: +49 69 798-32113
E-Mail: n.taylor@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Homepage: https://fzhg.org/
Bluesky: @goetheuni.bsky.social
LinkedIn: @Goethe-Universität Frankfurt