Online database of the files of the Berlin restitution offices (B Rep. 025) for provenance research
The aim of the project was to create an online database of the files of the Berlin restitution offices (B Rep. 025) held by the Landesarchiv Berlin (Berlin State Archive).
The purpose of the online database was to enable provenance researchers worldwide to research archival sources on reparation procedures at any time and from anywhere. The intention was to provide interested parties with good quality information on the files as quickly as possible. This would enable them to obtain initial information about individuals and assets and thus be in a better position to judge the amount of research involved and the usefulness of the archive sources for their specific research project and also the need for travel. Overall, the intention was to make provenance research much easier to plan with the aid of the database.
The case files of the Berlin restitution offices held by the Landesarchiv Berlin are one of the most important sources of information for transnational provenance research. Hundreds of thousands of entitled parties from all over the world had made claims based on the statutory provisions relating to reparations for Nazi injustice and provided detailed evidence to support these claims. In many of the case files of the Berlin restitution offices, both libraries and collections are specifically named and described, as are drawings, paintings, works of fine art, antique furniture, sheet music, musical instruments and other objects.
Previously, this information could only be accessed using an internal archival card index from the 1950s, which was extremely inconsistent and variable in terms of quality, and an archive database based on this card index.
In the course of the project, the aim was to carry out a content-related and editorial check of the data records and make amendments where required.
Where there were indications of file content that could be relevant for provenance research, the respective case files were to be looked at and additional information extracted on cultural goods such as art collections, libraries and antiques.
More than 480,000 data records in the Landesarchiv Berlins internal archival database needed to be checked and qualified.
Several thousand case files have been directly evaluated as part of this process, with extensive reference being made to the restitution offices old card file and large quantities of personal data reconciled.
The project was launched on September 1, 2012 and publicized on the Landesarchivs website.
In fall 2012, announcements were put on H-Soz-Kult, www.lootedart.com and the AFP portal to ensure academics and researchers were informed promptly about the project.
Because of its exceptional importance in terms of both quality and quantity, the project has been presented many times at symposia and conferences in recent years:
- The project and the website were introduced at the meeting of the Arbeitskreis Provenienzforschung on April 9, 2013 in Berlin.
- Together with the Landesarchiv Berlins other sources for provenance research, the website was presented in London on May 8, 2013 at the meeting of the International Research Portal, where it was also linked within the portal.
- The project was presented at the conference The West Versus The East or the United Europe?, held on October 89, 2013 in Podebrady, Czechia. The English-language contribution to the talk has been published in a collection volume.
In addition, an article was published in the Landesarchiv Berlins yearbook in 2014.
(c) Landesarchiv Berlin