Wolfsegg receives historical annual accounts from 1664 – a treasure for the future!

Wolfsegg receives historical annual accounts from 1664 – a treasure for the future!

On October 30, 2025, the community of Wolfsegg received an important historical loan from the Schmitzer community of heirs. The loan is represented by Mr. Rudolf Schmitzer, who comes from Regensburg. The exhibit that is now kept in the archives of the municipality of Wolfsegg is the “Anno 1664 financial statement of the Hofmark Wolfsegg”. First Mayor Roland Frank expressed his gratitude to the community of heirs and emphasized the importance of this loan in preserving a piece of local history for future generations. This initiative demonstrates the community's commitment to preserving its historic identity and making it accessible to the public.

The loan of the annual accounts is not only a valuable document, but also reflects the community's connection to its past. Historical documents like this are of great importance because they not only provide information about economic and social conditions at the time, but can also serve as sources for historical research. Such documents document the actions of public administration and are prepared for research in archives.

The role of archives in historical research

Archives such as the Hofmark Wolfsegg annual accounts underline the central role of archives in historical research. Archives are responsible for archiving documents from the public sphere and work closely with historical research. However, this collaboration could be affected by digitalization and the associated challenges. In today's world, the question of what information is archived and what is not is crucial. Digitalization can lead to important documents not being adequately documented or even being deleted, which threatens the loss of knowledge.

An article from the specialist literature highlights that the relationship between public administration, public archives and historical research is changing in the course of digitalization. Archivists must adapt and consider new types of sources, such as social media. Access to information has changed and closer cooperation between archives, administrations and historical research is required in order to avoid digital transmission.

The importance of existing archival records depends on the quality of the archives' assessment activities and the type of documents that are accumulated. Historical researchers should therefore be better informed about the areas of responsibility and functionality of archives. The call for active participation of historical researchers in the discussion about the quality of digital records management is intended to address the challenges in archiving and improve access to relevant information.

The loan of the “Annual Accounts of Hofmark Wolfsegg” is not only an important document for the community, but also offers an impetus for reflection on the challenges, especially in the context of digitization and archiving. With this loan, the community of Wolfsegg is setting an example of its efforts to preserve historical values ​​and promote awareness of its own history. Other sources of information include the German Digital Library and publications on current developments in archiving, which shed light on both the importance and the challenges of today.