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New community archive in Illschwang: History finds a new place
The move of the Illschwang community archive to the old town hall improves the use of the archive. Local caretaker Richard Koller reports on challenges and progress.
New community archive in Illschwang: History finds a new place
The municipality of Illschwang recently took a significant step in the management of its historical documents. The community archive was moved from the elementary school to the old town hall, opening up new opportunities for use and access to the archive holdings. Richard Koller, the local community manager, has taken responsibility for this move and reports on the progress and challenges associated with it.
Richard Koller, a 62-year-old native of Illschwang, has been interested in the history of his home community since his youth. He has been a member of the local council since 2004 and agreed to take over the office of local community supervisor in 2014 when no other candidate was available. This decision proved to be valuable because Koller approached the work with a lot of commitment.
The move and the challenges
The archive had to be moved because the previous premises in the primary school were no longer sufficient and the documents were in a chaotic state. Mayor Dehling recognized the urgency of the situation and encouraged Koller to take care of the archive. After careful consideration, Koller agreed and began looking for suitable premises.
Fortunately, the old town hall, which was empty after extensive renovation, became the archive's new home. The project was unanimously approved at a local council meeting in September 2021. Koller immediately began viewing and transporting the historical documents to the new rooms, which posed a major logistical challenge.
In the new archive there are now special areas for the former old communities of Illschwang, Augsberg and Angfeld. The documents date back to 1818 and include important official communications from various historical periods, including the Bavarian Kingdom and the Weimar Republic. A particular challenge for Koller was reading the old German writings that can be found in the archives.
Another important aspect is digital archiving, which Koller considers time-consuming but necessary. He hopes that citizens who have old materials or images will make them available for the archive or have copies made. Anyone interested can contact the town hall or Koller directly.
In addition to archive matters, there is news about the use of the ground floor in the old town hall. From September, the Illbirgis Klimperkiste will have its new location there to hold music lessons and choir rehearsals. This has become necessary because the primary school needs more space due to an increase in the number of pupils.
The restructuring of the community archives and the simultaneous use of the old town hall show how the community of Illschwang can better manage its historical resources while meeting the needs of its citizens.