Papers, Pictures and Payments. Interconnections of the residential town of Stuttgart and its environs: collating local records

• Applicant: Dr. Jürgen Lotterer
• Subject Area: General and Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies ; Early Modern History ; Art History ; Modern and Contemporary History
• Term: from 2018 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 392592233

“Papers, Pictures and Payments”: In response to the DFG’s call for proposals “Digitisation of Archival Sources”, the Stuttgart City Archives chose one group of records originating from the city’s administration and two archival collections for its project. Each of these have distinct characteristics and, when viewed together, reflect the development and vibrancy of the capital and residence city of Württemberg.The so called Bürgermeisterrechnungen, which are the last remaining record group dating from early modern Stuttgart, represent the records of the predecessor of today’s municipal finance department. They cover 240 accounting years from 1508 onwards and consist mainly of financial reporting, bills and receipts. They offer a rare glimpse into the procedures of the city’s financial administration in premodern times. The collection of autographs comprises 10100 pieces, mainly dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. They mirror the intellectual and artistic life of both Stuttgart and Württemberg. Concerning the collection of graphics and prints, 3500 pieces of art were selected, all of which were made between the 16th century and the foundation of the German Reich in 1871. These are either portraits or pictures showing topographical subjects or historic events. Such collections are very seldom found in municipal archives; at least in such quantity, quality and variety. Both collections are directly connected to the city of Stuttgart and especially to its role as residence of the princly family. Still, they often place the city and its inhabitants in the much broader context of the premodern German-speaking world. Together the records offer a panorama of Stuttgart’s urban society prior to 1900 as well as a basis for comparative research on urban history. The court of the dukes (and later kings) of Württemberg, which moved to Stuttgart in 1495, thereby played a significant role as a catalyst for the city’s development.Despite their potential for researchers, these record groups were hitherto not often taken into account; most likely due to difficulties concerning their accessibility, inherent to the material itself. The material’s digitisation, its coupling with standard data (GND), as well as its embedding to different research portals, will enhance the document’s visibility and allow its exploitation independently of location. This improvement of infrastructure will surely increase research on the material. Digital accessibility also offers the possibility to bring together scattered collections and personal papers by virtual means. Additionally, it offers all features necessary for up-to-date research projects according to the methods of the Digital Humanities.

• DFG Programme: Cataloguing and Digitisation (Scientific Library Services and Information Systems)