Archive Material, Book and Graphic

The main focus is on the production, properties and special characteristics of paper, parchment and papyrus as the media for writing and images.

As a student, you will deal with book illustration, writing and printing techniques as well as with drawings and art on paper. You will study historical construction features and binding materials on medieval books of the Hildesheim Cathedral Library. In the university's own workshop, you will learn basic methods of condition analysis and documentation as well as damage prevention, conservation and restoration and test them in close collaboration with the teachers on books and documents in the Hildesheim City Archives.

In the fourth semester, you will practice special techniques of paper restoration in the Academic Workshop of the Duchess Anna Amalia Library in Weimar-Legefeld and support the restoration of the ash books.

The topics of the final theses always involve current conservation tasks, which you can develop together with us and our co-operation partners in archives, libraries and museums.

… communicate the necessary specialist knowledge to enable you to recognise historical materials and working techniques, to investigate and interpret the condition of an aged or damaged object.

The lectures teach you the scientific basics of the preservation and use of cultural assets as well as materials and methods of conservation and restoration and explain their (long-term) effects. External lecturers support the close connection between theory and practice.