Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft Collection: Manuscript and Pictorial Material, bulk circa 1600-circa 1700

Summary

Creators:

Bircher, Martin

Abstract:

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.

Extent:

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

Language:

English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection has been extensively described in German in a printed catalog of its contents, Im Garten der Palme, by Martin Bircher, published in 2 volumes by Harrassowitz Verlag at Wiesbaden in 1998.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:

Acquired jointly by the Bancroft Library and the Main Library, University of California, Berkeley, in 1996, from the noted Swiss bibliophile and German Baroque scholar, Prof. Martin Bircher of Geneva, Switzerland.

Physical location:

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Location of this collection:

UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library

Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US

Contact:

510-642-6481

bancref-library@berkeley.edu

Website