Brehm Foundation: Chronology of development
Brehm Foundation: Chronology of development
The Swiss lawyer and entrepreneur Adolf Brehm transferred his collection of valuable books, maps and art objects into a charitable foundation together with the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg. Here is an overview of the milestones in the development of the Brehm Foundation - from its beginnings to the present day.
Milestones
First contact between Adolf Brehm and District Administrator Dr Welteke
The founder, Adolf Brehm, wanted to transfer his private library on German cultural and intellectual history into a foundation so that it could be shared with interested people. To this end, he was looking for a location in Germany. Through a conversation with another collector at an antiquarian bookseller in Frankfurt, he came into contact with the Waldeck-Frankenberg district.
Evaluation of Brehm's book collection by Prof. Dr. Anselm Maler of the Gesamthochschule Kassel
Mr. Brehm's private library was packed in 400 standard cartons. The Kassel Germanist and literary scholar Prof. Dr. Anselm Maler was asked to check whether the packing lists and the contents of the boxes matched by means of a random evaluation.
Commission to determine the value of Brehm's book collection
Experts estimated the material value of the book collection at "at least 8 million D-marks".
Resolution of the District Council on the accession of the Domanialverwaltung to the Brehm Foundation, which is still in the process of being established.
By a resolution of the district council, the Waldeck domanial administration was commissioned to act as co-founder of Brehm's Library Foundation, which was yet to be established, and to provide DM 1 million as share capital for the foundation.
Signature of the statutes of the Brehm Foundation by the two founders Adolf Brehm and the district authority
On 3 February 1990, the founder Adolf Brehm and the then Director of the Waldeck Domanialverwaltung Werner Friedrich signed the foundation deed. The establishment of the foundation could thus begin. In the following years, the rooms provided in the west wing of the Arolsen Residence Palace were expanded to meet the requirements of the library.
Foundation of the "Friends of the Brehm Library Foundation
As the valuable book collection was gradually added to the library and thus became visible, a Friends of the Library Brehm Foundation was founded. The main purpose was the acquisition of financial means for further expansion of the library.
Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to Secure the Future of the Library Brehm Foundation
In an agreement between the founder Adolf Brehm and the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg, it was stipulated that the district should provide a subsidy in the coming years in order to maintain the Foundation's ability to act. In return, Mr Brehm agreed to transfer valuable books still in his private possession to the ownership of the Foundation.
Submission of a solution proposal by Mr. Brehm for the future financing of the Brehm Foundation
Due to the massive drop in interest rates in the years before, the foundation was no longer financially capable of acting, as the share capital practically no longer yielded any income. Third-party support was necessary to preserve the valuable inventory.
Resolution of the District Council on the conclusion of an agreement to secure the future of the Library Brehm Foundation
In its meeting on 11 May 2015, the District Council decides to provide the Brehm Library Foundation with an annual amount of 128,000 euros from 2015 up to and including 2024.
Signing of the agreement to secure the future of the Brehm Library Foundation
The contract to "secure the future of the Brehm Library Foundation" will be signed during a small ceremony on 18 June 2015 on the premises of the Foundation. District Administrator Dr. Reinhard Kubat and District Councillor Hannelore Behle, who is responsible for cultural affairs, signed the contract on behalf of the district as co-founder and donor. Adolf Brehm, Chairman of the Board, and Kerstin Braun, Managing Director, signed on behalf of the Foundation.
Death of the founder Adolf Brehm at the age of almost 95 years
By testamentary disposition, the founder transferred all books, maps, furniture and works of art still in his private possession to the Foundation as his sole heir. Thus, Mr. Brehm's life's work as a whole is secured in perpetuity.
Discussions on the future direction of the Brehm Foundation Library
Representatives of the district, the city and the Museum Bad Arolsen as well as other cultural institutions discuss the future orientation of the foundation. It should eventually become an independent and self-sufficient element of the Bad Arolsen museum landscape and sharpen the city's profile as a cultural tourism destination.