Handschriften
Item
Country
DE
Name of institution (English)
University Library Freiburg
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
deu
Contact information: postal address
Postfach 1629, 79016 Freiburg
Contact information: phone number
0049 7612033918
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
info@ub.uni-freiburg.de
Reference number
Hs.
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Manuscripts
Title (official language of the state)
Handschriften
Language of title
deu
Creator / accumulator
University Library Freiburg
Date note
7th century/20th century
Language(s)
deu
fra
lat
Extent
1479 manuscripts
Type of material
Textual Material
Graphic Material
Scope and content
The Handschriften collection comprises manuscripts kept at Universitätsbibliothek Freiburg. The collection is divided into different sub-collections: Medieval Latin manuscripts, Medieval German manuscripts, Medieval Greek and French manuscripts, Music manuscripts, Modern manuscripts, Oriental manuscripts, Illuminated manuscripts, The Leuchte Collection, Regional History, and Papyri.
The manuscripts are mostly theological and canonical manuscripts, liturgical books, bibles and collections of sermons, but also codices with law, philosophical, humanistic, medical, and scientific texts.
It is part of this collection a Hebrew manuscript copied by Jacob b. Meir ha-Kohen in Segovia in 1491 (Hs. 413). This is one of the manuscripts identified by Michael Riegler as produced in Segovia yeshivah in the 15th century, before the expulsion of Jews from Spain (Riegler 1997, 383-387).
A digital copy is available online.
The manuscripts are mostly theological and canonical manuscripts, liturgical books, bibles and collections of sermons, but also codices with law, philosophical, humanistic, medical, and scientific texts.
It is part of this collection a Hebrew manuscript copied by Jacob b. Meir ha-Kohen in Segovia in 1491 (Hs. 413). This is one of the manuscripts identified by Michael Riegler as produced in Segovia yeshivah in the 15th century, before the expulsion of Jews from Spain (Riegler 1997, 383-387).
A digital copy is available online.
Archival history
Parts of the historical collections of the Universitätsbibliothek Freiburg come from book collections created in the university environment in the Early Modern period. Around 1500, the university and, in particular, the Artistenfakultät (Faculty of Arts), became an important European reference in the Humanities field. In this context, numerous manuscripts from Latin authors of Antiquity and the Middle Ages, neo-Latinians, and Italian humanists were acquired by the library, greatly increasing its value.
After a period of decline at the end of the 16th century, the university was finally restructured when the Jesuits entered the teaching staff in 1620. The university remained under Jesuit sponsorship until the order was abolished in 1773. The Jesuits built up their own collection of books in their college, separating it from the main library. The library of the Jesuit college finally amounted to 5,800 works in 1773.
The university reform under Empress Maria Theresia (1717-1780) significantly affected the library organisation within the university. In 1755, the faculty libraries were merged and a unified university library was created. In about 1759, the new library hall in the college building of the university on Franziskanerplatz was completed.
The process of secularization contributed to increasing the University Library holdings, through the incorporation of book and manuscript holdings from church institutions. In 1782, the dissolution of monasteries by Emperor Joseph II (1765–1790) brought volumes from the charterhouses in Freiburg and Basel, monasteries in Breisgau, Waldsee monastery, etc. to the Freiburg University Library. In particular, the holdings from Waldsee expanded the range of school literature, Latin and Greek texts, and humanist literature. The last wave of secularization in 1806 was once again of decisive importance for the history of the Freiburg University Library.
In the meanwhile, the university also acquired many scholarly libraries. In 1778, the library of canon lawyer Joseph Anton Riegger (1742-1795) was incorporated, including an important collection of theology, history, and law works. The same applied to the acquisition of books from constitutional and canon law expert Hermann v. Greiffenegg (1737-1807) and the dogmatist Engelbert Klüpfel (1733-1811). The purchase of books belonging to scientist and botanist Karl Julius Perleb (1794-1845) became an important contribution to increasing the area of the Natural Sciences.
In the following decades and, until the present, the library has been enriching its own collection, both by donation or acquisition of important manuscripts.
After a period of decline at the end of the 16th century, the university was finally restructured when the Jesuits entered the teaching staff in 1620. The university remained under Jesuit sponsorship until the order was abolished in 1773. The Jesuits built up their own collection of books in their college, separating it from the main library. The library of the Jesuit college finally amounted to 5,800 works in 1773.
The university reform under Empress Maria Theresia (1717-1780) significantly affected the library organisation within the university. In 1755, the faculty libraries were merged and a unified university library was created. In about 1759, the new library hall in the college building of the university on Franziskanerplatz was completed.
The process of secularization contributed to increasing the University Library holdings, through the incorporation of book and manuscript holdings from church institutions. In 1782, the dissolution of monasteries by Emperor Joseph II (1765–1790) brought volumes from the charterhouses in Freiburg and Basel, monasteries in Breisgau, Waldsee monastery, etc. to the Freiburg University Library. In particular, the holdings from Waldsee expanded the range of school literature, Latin and Greek texts, and humanist literature. The last wave of secularization in 1806 was once again of decisive importance for the history of the Freiburg University Library.
In the meanwhile, the university also acquired many scholarly libraries. In 1778, the library of canon lawyer Joseph Anton Riegger (1742-1795) was incorporated, including an important collection of theology, history, and law works. The same applied to the acquisition of books from constitutional and canon law expert Hermann v. Greiffenegg (1737-1807) and the dogmatist Engelbert Klüpfel (1733-1811). The purchase of books belonging to scientist and botanist Karl Julius Perleb (1794-1845) became an important contribution to increasing the area of the Natural Sciences.
In the following decades and, until the present, the library has been enriching its own collection, both by donation or acquisition of important manuscripts.
Administrative / Biographical history
Freiburg University was founded in 1457 in the so-called Neuen Rathaus (New Town Hall), a complex of late medieval and early modern buildings that went through multiple additions and conversions over the centuries. The Neuen Rathaus served as the main building for the university until 1774, when it became the seat of the Anatomy department and, from 1868, the polyclinic. Until 1895, the Neuen Rathaus was used by Freiburg University.
In the first half of the 18th century, the decision to build a new library room was taken, which was completed around 1759.
The history of the university and library was closely linked to the work of the Society of Jesus in Freiburg in the 17th and 18th centuries. Between 1683 and 1729, a new building was erected on Bertholdstraße to serve as a Jesuit college, currently known as the Alte Universität (Old University). The Jesuits' library was also accommodated in this building. After the extinction of the Jesuit order in 1773, the college eventually became the headquarters of the University until 1911.
The University Library also moved to a large hall on the first floor of the former Jesuit college in 1776. Due to the growth of its collection after the secularization processes, the library hall soon became insufficient to accommodate the whole holdings. Thus, the library moved to the former Jesuit grammar school in 1783 and remained there until 1902. In 1895, architect Carl Schäfer (1844-1908) drew up the first plans for a new library building. From 1903 to 1978, this new building served as the University library. It was partially destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt after 1950 with an increase in usable space. At present, the so-called Carl-Schäfer-Bau is a representative of turn-of-the-century Neo-Gothic and a building of invaluable art-historical significance.
In 1978, the Freiburg University Library moved to a new building specifically constructed to respond to the needs of the users and give appropriate accommodation for the library's historical collections. Already in the 2000s, the building needed extensive renovation works. For this reason, the University Library has been housed in two alternative buildings since the autumn of 2008.
In the first half of the 18th century, the decision to build a new library room was taken, which was completed around 1759.
The history of the university and library was closely linked to the work of the Society of Jesus in Freiburg in the 17th and 18th centuries. Between 1683 and 1729, a new building was erected on Bertholdstraße to serve as a Jesuit college, currently known as the Alte Universität (Old University). The Jesuits' library was also accommodated in this building. After the extinction of the Jesuit order in 1773, the college eventually became the headquarters of the University until 1911.
The University Library also moved to a large hall on the first floor of the former Jesuit college in 1776. Due to the growth of its collection after the secularization processes, the library hall soon became insufficient to accommodate the whole holdings. Thus, the library moved to the former Jesuit grammar school in 1783 and remained there until 1902. In 1895, architect Carl Schäfer (1844-1908) drew up the first plans for a new library building. From 1903 to 1978, this new building served as the University library. It was partially destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt after 1950 with an increase in usable space. At present, the so-called Carl-Schäfer-Bau is a representative of turn-of-the-century Neo-Gothic and a building of invaluable art-historical significance.
In 1978, the Freiburg University Library moved to a new building specifically constructed to respond to the needs of the users and give appropriate accommodation for the library's historical collections. Already in the 2000s, the building needed extensive renovation works. For this reason, the University Library has been housed in two alternative buildings since the autumn of 2008.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The collection is organised under the general rules of libraries
Access, restrictions
Manuscripts can only be used in the special reading room upon presentation of an identity card or passport (for guests).
All of the UB's manuscripts written up to 1600 have been filmed (microfilms). For reasons of conservation, the film is usually offered first for the use of these manuscripts.
Documentation available online:
Documentation available online:
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares 2022
Linked resources
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