Collection of manuscript documents, engravings, and other pictorial material chiefly from the 17th century relating to the activities and membership of the Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft, the earliest German learned society, founded in 1617.

A particularly important aspect of the German Baroque period was the emergence of social structures which promoted literacy and the humanistics arts and sciences. Learned societies were established throughout Europe to bring scholars and writers together. One such society was the Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft (Fruitbearing Society), known also as the Palmenorden (Order of the Palms) because its emblem was the then-exotic coconut palm tree. Founded in 1617, it played a major role in encouraging the use of written German, and in establishing linguistic and stylistic norms for the language. This collection represents the early years of its activity during the 17th and early 18th centuries.

308 manuscript documents; 312 copperplate engravings, and other graphic material.

Publication Rights Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Access Collection is open for research.