As a central operating unit of Heinrich Heine University (HHU), University and State Library (ULB) organises the supply of literature and information for the entire university and focuses on the needs of its more than 50,000 patrons in all associated information services. With the Central Library and six other locations, it forms the central learning and meeting place on campus. A wide range of advising and training services are available both at the library and online.

Against the background of its 250-year tradition, ULB Düsseldorf preserves the cultural legacy of the city and region and, as a state library, collects physical and digital publications published in North Rhine-Westphalia together with ULB Bonn and ULB Münster. Within the scope of various projects and cooperations, it also digitalises, indexes and presents historical book collections, making it a supplier of data for research in the field of digital humanities. It is committed to facilitating the dialogue between science and society, hosting exhibitions and events that fulfil HHU’s role as a citizens’ university.

The project ”Provenance research at Düsseldorf University and State Library – the era Dr. Hermann Reuter (1928–1950)“, funded by the German Lost Art Foundation (Deutsches Zentrum Kulturgutverluste) and the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen MKW), investigates whether any of the objects of Düsseldorf University and State Library (ULB), which were purchased, gifted or donated during the National Socialist era (1933–1945), are Nazi-looted cultural property. The holdings originate from a predecessor institution, the former State and City Library (Landes- und Stadtbibliothek Düsseldorf). Director of the library was Dr. Hermann Reuter (1880–1970), who was able to almost double the library’s holdings from 130.000 to about 250.000 volumes between 1933 and 1944. 68 percent of these volumes were acquired as gifts or by exchange.

The aim of the project is to explore the institutional history including the network of relationships of the former State and City Library as well as a systematic examination and review of the objects acquired between 1933 and 1945 for Nazi-confiscated property. Should Nazi-looted objects be identified, fair and just solutions should be found with owners or their heirs and legal successors. Provenance markings will be included in the library catalogue and the database Looted Cultural Assets. Found objects will be reported to the Lost Art Database. The project’s findings will be presented to the public through a website respectively with a (virtual) exhibition.

Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf
Universitätsstr. 1
40225 Düsseldorf

https://www.ulb.hhu.de/en/about-the-library/profile/projects/provenance

E-Mail: provenienzforschung@ulb.hhu.de

Phone: +49 211 81-15921