Monasterium.net - Virtual Archives of Central and Eastern European Monasteries

Author: Aigner Thomas,  Institute for the Research on Ecclesiastical Sources (IEEkQ) / St. Pölten Diocese Archives, Austria

Co-author: Karl Heinz, Institute for the Research on Ecclesiastical Sources (IEEkQ)

Fulltexts

Abstract

The purpose of the project is to digitize medieval church archives and to provide via the internet the medieval sources from Central Europe to the public. The objective is to provide an easy access to the rare primary sources from the Middle Ages, to be used for historical research and didactical purposes (e.g.: history classes at schools, seminar projects of students on history). The project activities comprise content management as well as dissemination including linking the databases to the schools.

The objects to be digitized and published via the web (in original images, in text summaries and in supporting texts/scientific documentation) are historical documents (especially charters) from the 12th to the 16th century safeguarded in the monastery archives of the area.

Objectives of the project are:

• to provide an state-of-the-art access to the medieval heritage which is hidden in the archives of churches and monasteries
• to provide a free and user-friendly access to the public
• to provide complete information on this heritage on the primary (2D-images of the authentic documents) and secondary level (text summaries of the content, scientific description, glossary)
• to connect historical information via glossaries
• to present the service to the academic community, to the schools and also to local target groups (e.g. visitors of a monastery)

About the author

Thomas Aigner, Dr.phil, MAS

1991-1994 University of Vienna (History, Sciences of Archives, Paleogrephy etc.), since 1995 director of St. Pölten Diocese Archives, since 2002 president of the Institute for the Research on Ecclesiastical Sources, chair of the Association of Austrian Diocese Archives, since 2002 head of the project "Monasterium.Net", since 2004 member of the steering committee of the Section Religious Archives in the International Council of Archives.