Manuscripts
The manuscript collection of the Theodor Fontane Archive is available for research projects within the framework of the user services. For the purpose of preservation, the manuscripts are completely digitized. We are gradually making the digital copies of the manuscripts available in our Digital Collection of Manuscripts.
Our manuscript collection originated from the estate of Theodor Fontane, as far as it could be acquired by the »Brandenburgische Provinzialverwaltung« (Brandenburg Provincial Administration) in 1935. The collection includes manuscripts of works, records as well as life testimonies, such as diaries and household account books or apothecary records. The letter collection is of outstanding importance, containing the world’s most extensive collection of letters by and to Fontane. In addition, our collection contains about 12,000 sheets of transcripts and copies of Fontane’s manuscripts, some of whose originals have disappeared.
The collection is continually being expanded through acquisitions and donations.
Since the manuscripts in our archive predominantly date from the second half of the 19th century, the need for restoration is high. We counteract the decay of the acidic paper with comprehensive conservation and targeted restoration measures. In addition, the entire collection was digitized in 2002 in a bid to preserve the collection which is routinely continued with new acquisitions. In 2009, the entire »Sammlung Christian Andree« (Christian Andree Collection) as well as particularly endangered parts of Fontane’s manuscripts were restored.
In addition to several collections, the archival holdings include pre-mortem and posthumous bequests, permanent loans from the library of the Humboldt University and the Central and State Library of Berlin, among others, as well as deposits from private owners. In addition, the archive owns a collection of approximately 1,500 pictorial documents (photographs, paintings, prints) as well as a collection of film and audio documents.
Image: TFADigital Collection of Fontane’s Manuscripts
The Theodor Fontane Archive has digitized all of its manuscripts and digitial copies are available for use on site. In the Digital Collection of Manuscripts, we are successively putting these holdings online.
Archive’s Collection
In addition to the part of Friedrich Fontane’s publishing archive relating to Theodor Fontane, we preserve, among other things, the majority of Fontane’s surviving reference library, a collection of news clippings resulting from Friedrich Fontane’s collecting activity, the »Fontane Collection Christian Andree« and other archival collections.
Picture and Media Collection
The archive has a collection of about 2,200 pictorial documents (photographs, paintings, prints), for example portraits of Fontane at different ages and of his family members. We also possess a collection of film and audio documents.
Permanent Loans, Estates, Missing Holdings
Image: TFATerms of use
The manuscript collection of the Theodor Fontane Archive is open to all scholars, students, teachers, high school students, but also to the interested public by appointment. For reasons of preservation, we make the manuscripts available in digital form at computer workstations in our reading room. Please register your visit with us in good time by E-mail or telephone. In addition, selected items can be accessed in our Digital Collection of Manuscripts - this digital collection is being successively expanded.
We are happy to answer any questions you may have about the manuscript holdings and the individual collections.
