Historical Collections
Unknown, Portrait of Prof Robert Luther, around 1925 (TU Dresden, Institute of Applied Physics)
Today’s Institute of Applied Physics, originally named the Scientific-Photographic Institute, has a history stretching back more than 100 years. Hermann Krone made efforts to establish a university Chair of Scientific Photography as early as the 19thth century, though his endeavours were initially unsuccessful. It was not until 1907 that an institute focusing on Krone’s field of work was founded at the Technische Hochschule Dresden, thanks also to the initiative of Dresden’s photographic industry, which had become a major factor for the city's economy. Prof Robert Luther was installed as the institute’s founding director.
The history of this institute, its research and staff is documented in documents and images dating back to the Institute's founding years. They comprise around 9,000 historical files, 1,200 theses and an image archive with around 25,000 photographs and films.
Part of the holdings is documented in an internal database.