I. About the Digital Manuscript Collection
As part of the preservation process of the holdings, all manuscripts in the Theodor Fontane Archive have been digitized since the early 2000s, and new acquisitions are also regularly digitized. The archive has also had electronic indexing systems since the 1990s. Previously, these digital tools and resources could only be used in the archive’s reading room. With the Digital Manuscript Collection, the archive has been gradually making the manuscripts and indexing data available online since March 2019. The aim is to publish the more than 15,000 data sets, some of which contain hundreds of digital copies, in full online. A small selection is currently available for use, with more items to follow gradually.
II. Three ways to get started
Accessing individual manuscripts usually involves three steps: first, you select an entry point to the collection, which takes you to a list view from which you can access an individual view.
The Digital Manuscript Collection offers three options to start your exploration (cf. the graphic on the right):
- The option Show all manuscripts on the start page of the Digital Collection of Manuscripts takes you to a results list (What is the results list?) with all the entries that have been put online so far, which you can narrow down further, e.g. using the filters in the left-hand column of the results list.
By entering a search term in the search slot on the start page of the Digital Collection of Manuscripts or by using the detailed search, you can make specific search queries and have the corresponding results displayed in the results view (What is the results list?).
- Using the historically developed structure of the Fontane Archive’s collection of manuscripts, which you can find at the bottom of the start page of the Digital Collection of Manuscripts, you can display the manuscripts in a specific grouping in the results list (What is the results list?).
III. Option 1: Show all manuscripts
This function shows you all the manuscripts published in the digital collection to date.
IV. Option 2: Search
You have two search options:
- Using the search slot offered to you by default, you can perform a search on all data fields of the Digital Collection of Manuscripts. The word or sequence of words you enter will therefore be searched for in the title, the people, the corporations, the place, the shelfmark, the annotations, etc.
- You can use the detailed search to search specifically in one or more data fields of the entries. To call up the detailed search, click on the cross to the right of the word »Detailed search«. A series of additional search slots will open, which you can use to search specifically in the corresponding data fields.
V. Option 3: The structure of our holdings
The holdings of the Theodor Fontane Archive are divided into a historically evolved structure of inventory groups, which are subdivided on the first level into the groups ›Family Memorabilia / Pictures‹, ›Correspondence‹, ›Life Documents and Records‹, ›Manuscripts‹, ›Bequests and Collections‹ and ›Permanent Loans‹. They are based on the rules for indexing estates and autographs (RNA). Each of these groups is further subdivided.
You can call up information on the collection group or subgroup via the letter i to the right of the title of the collection group (see graphic below, on the left). Clicking on the plus + to the right takes you to a view that shows you the sub-inventory groups (see graphic below, on the right). The arrow > next to an inventory group takes you to the manuscripts from this group that have been published so far.
VI. The results (list)
Each of the three options takes you to a results list with general information on the manuscripts you searched for.
You can further filter and sort this list in various ways. You can also go from here to the single view (What is the single view?) of a manuscript with detailed information. The result consists of four areas (cf. the graphic on the right):
- At the top you will again find the search field, which you can use to perform a new search query. Below the search slot, you will see your current search selection and an indication of the number of results.
- There is a navigation bar below the search field. Here you can either (left) return to the hierarchical view, i.e. the structure of the holdings or you can change the sorting of the entries in the hit list: For example, you can sort by ›Author‹, ›Shelfmark‹ or ›Date‹.
- The lower area is divided into the sidebar on the left and the results list on the right. In the sidebar, you have the option of further filtering your result set (which is currently displayed in the hit list): The options available here include filtering by type, by author, by place and date of origin, etc.
- At the bottom right you will find the results list. All entries that match your search query or belong to the holding (sub)group are displayed here with brief information in a list view. Clicking on an entry takes you to the individual view (What is the individual view?) with detailed information.
VII. Single view
This takes you to the individual view (cf. the graphic on the right). This is made up of
- the view of the handwriting, the so-called Viewer on the left. Using the controls at the top right of the Viewer, you can, for example, zoom (plus + or minus -), scroll, rotate, and you can enlarge the viewer to full screen mode using the symbol in the far right corner.
- the indexing datafor the manuscript, on the right. The blue-colored text there is linked, i.e. it takes you back to the results list, where all entries by the respective person or similar are listed.
- a preview of all sheets or pages belonging to this manuscript.
You can use the »Copy link to this page« field to copy a short link to the entry to your computer’s clipboard and then paste it into another program.
VIII. Further information
Here we collect further hints, tips and tricks for the Digital Collection of Manuscripts.
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