August Hermann Francke Study Centre – Archive and Library
Werner Ziegler
Together the Archives and the Library of the Francke Foundations form the August Hermann Francke Study Centre. This centre extends spatially from the Historical Library building (House 22) to the adjacent premises (Houses 23-24).
The Study Centre is a service facility for the preservation and cataloguing of and research into the holdings of the Archives and Library of the Francke Foundations. In recent years it has been able to initiate and carry out comprehensive and innovative cataloguing projects with the financial support of the German Research Foundation. They improve our understanding of the sources and provide a solid basis for new perspectives and research projects.
Online Research and Digital Collections
Use of the Archives and Library
The ground floor of the library building houses a public Reading Room, where the holdings of the Library and the Archive of the Francke Foundations can be looked into. The Reference Library with current scientific literature on church history and cultural history of the early modern period, especially concerning Pietism, contributes to the use of the Archive and Library holdings.
Databases and online catalogues are available for research in the archive and library collections. As not all holdings are available online, conventional search tools and catalogues are also provided in addition to the electronic catalogues.
Upon request introductions to the use of the archive and library holdings will be gladly given. Please contact the Reading Room’s supervisor.
The library will introduce electronic lending in the coming months. The conversion of already existing user accounts and the issuing of new library cards will take place at the counter in reading room Haus 22.
Conservation and Book Adoptions
A further aim of the Study Centre is the preservation of the centuries-old, valuable holdings of the Archive and the Library. This includes books and manuscripts as well as portraits. The holdings are partially extremely endangered due to wear and tear, ink corrosion or mould. An additional problem is the increasing interest in the historical sources, which –albeit welcomed in principle – require preventative conservational measures. We depend on support from sponsors and on donations. You can help in various ways:
- Individual donations or adoption of books and manuscripts: keyword »Book restoration«
- Individual donations to preserve the portrait collection of the Foundations: keyword »Damaged pictures«
Donations account
Friends of the Francke Foundation
Freundeskreis der Franckeschen Stiftungen e.V.
Saalesparkasse Halle
Konto-Nr.: 1894014177
BLZ: 800 537 62,
IBAN: DE92 8005 3762 1894 0141 77
BIC: NOLADE21HAL
Thank you!
Cabinet exhibitions
In order to offer the interested public an insight into the treasures of the library and the archive, the Study Centre organises cabinet exhibitions in the library's former reading room next to the scenery library, which change twice a year. From 25 October 2019 to 13 April 2020, the exhibition is dedicated to the topic of "Forces of nature in old bibles".
