Jewish Archival Holdings in the Five New States of Germany: Creating an Inventory

Abstract

The Leo Baeck Institute, New York, is creating a database registering the Jewish archival holdings of repositories in the five new states of Germany. The Colloquium about Problems and Issues in Jewish Archives and Historiography in the Five New States of Germany, led to the shaping of a project utilizing the lnstitute's experience in computer-based cataloging, its expertise in the formulation and expansion of a German-language version of Library of Congress subject headings, and the ground-breaking research surveys of Helmut Eschwege. The project, funded by the German Interior Ministry, Section for Religious Affairs, is administered through the Historische Kornmission zu Berlin, under the academic guidance of Prof. Reinhard Rürup, chairman of the LBl's Academic Council in Germany. Further cooperative projects to refine the cataloging of Jewish holdings are in the process of development with the state and local archives in the new states. This interim report comes near the halfway point in a two-year funded project. Planning and technical aspects are described. Preliminary reports of findings illustrate the value of the work.