Non-University Partners
... provide a practice-oriented educational experience and challenge students to undertake independent and creative research and publication projects.
Bautzen Archival Network
Tim Deubel, M.A., Dr. Alexander Kästner (Summer Semester 2010)
The Bautzen City Archives preserve in its manuscript collection U III a four-volume compilation of various chronicle sections and elements—the so-called Klahre-Wahren Chronicle. This chronicle recounts global, regional, and local historical events spanning approximately 800 years, as well as legends, myths, and travel accounts.
Using this example, the course will first introduce students to the challenges associated with the chronicle genre as a source type. Furthermore, participants will explore the principles of editing and publishing early modern manuscripts, discuss them, and apply them in practice. The goal of the course is to produce initial, text-critically annotated transcriptions of selected passages from this chronicle collection. For this work, prior knowledge of paleography or a willingness to self-study early modern manuscripts is essential.
Gerd Schwerhoff, Silke Kosbab, and Mation Völker (Winter Semester 2001/02)
As part of the preparations for a legal history exhibition marking the 1,000th anniversary of the city of Bautzen at the city archives, a group of students from TU Dresden (about 25 people) examined relevant sources from the city archives. Thanks to their efforts, the materials for the exhibition were prepared in time. At the same time, the students were able to gain experience working with manuscript sources—an opportunity not typically available in the regular curriculum. During the seminar, the idea arose to compile a small publication based on these sources. Over the past few months, this idea has been brought to fruition with enthusiasm and a high level of commitment that goes far beyond what is typically expected in an academic setting.
The book is designed as a sourcebook and reader on the history of Bautzen as well as on urban history in general. Each contribution focuses on a specific source, which is reproduced in its original form and—where necessary—also translated. The aim is to give readers a direct sense of historical texts. A detailed introductory commentary explains the source text and provides insight into the historical context in which it is situated. References to further reading also make the texts suitable for scholarly use. The individual chapters can be read independently of one another, as “building blocks,” so to speak, and invite readers to flip through and browse. Taken together, they provide a good insight into early modern urban history.
Gerd Schwerhoff/Silke Kosbab/Mation Völker (eds.): Eide, Statuten und Prozesse. Ein Quellen- und Lesebuch zur Stadtgeschichte von Bautzen (14.-19. Jahrhundert). Bautzen 2002.
Dresden City Archives
Dr. Alexander Kästner (Summer Semester 2016)
This isn’t a class for writing papers just to file away! The goal of this practical seminar is not only to discuss—in theory—some of the challenges that trained historians may face after graduation, but also to tackle them in practice. We will not merely simulate the balancing act between the hard, painstaking work in the archives on the one hand and ensuring the widest possible reception of research findings on the other.
To successfully navigate this balance, we will first work in the archives with specific source material on Dresden’s urban history during the Sattelzeit and the long 19th century. In addition, we explore other career paths for historians in Dresden. Finally, we work together on texts that will ultimately be published as historical weekend supplements in daily newspapers, based on strict editorial guidelines.
Dr. Alexander Kästner (Winter Semester 2014–15)
At the archive, we’ll explore collections and sources together, gain insights into the professional practices of archivists and historians, and learn about current projects involving the digitization of archival materials. The goal of the course is for all participants to develop their own project in which they conduct research on a topic using archival materials and present this project in a poster presentation.
Dresden State Archives
Dr. Alexander Kästner and Prof. Dr. Dagmar Ellerbrock (Winter Semester 2015–16)
How do historians find the sources they use to support their arguments and substantiate their theses? What distinguishes an archive from a library? How do you read a file, and how do you interpret archival sources?
Using the example of insults and protests in Dresden and Saxony between 1700 and 1960, this seminar introduces students to the critical analysis of archival materials. In collaboration with the Dresden State Main Archives and the Dresden City Archives, students will work on a specific historical research question that they will formulate themselves. The ability to read manuscripts is not a prerequisite but will be taught in a separate paleographic section. The results of each student’s source-based research will be presented in both poster presentations and term papers and discussed collectively. These papers can serve as a foundation for future theses (BA, MA, or StEx).
Link to the results / Press release from the Dresden State Archives
SLUB Dresden
Oliver Kruk (Winter Semester 2026/27)
In collaboration with the SLUB Dresden, the seminar “Dreams in the Early Modern Period” is designing a pop-up exhibition for the 2026/27 winter semester, which will be on display during the Long Night of Libraries on April 23, 2027. More information will follow shortly.