At the end of last year, Dieter Jerusalem sold his extensive private collection of documents on Idar-Oberstein's history and in particular the jewelry and gemstone industry to the city. The purchase price was financed by numerous donors, most of whom have a connection to the town's economic history and are interested in preserving this knowledge for posterity. The collection consists of around 500 Leitz folders, containing original sources as well as copies from newspapers, official gazettes and more. Lord Mayor Frank Frühauf has now been informed about the scope and content of the collection at a joint meeting. Frühauf thanked Dieter Jerusalem for handing over the collection, as well as the donors for their financial support, stating that "Dieter Jerusalem's documents not only supplement the archive and thus the important memory of the city, but also enhance it". Dieter Jerusalem's collection represents an enormous enrichment for the city archive, it offers a broader source base, which improves the user service.
Part of the collection consists of original documents that document the post-war period, the French occupation and the "denazification" in Idar-Oberstein and are therefore of great historical value. Dieter Jerusalem has collected these documents through acquisitions and donations. The documents contain comprehensive information on almost all companies in the town that were active in the field of gemstone and jewelry processing.
The acquisition of Dieter Jerusalem's collection greatly expands the range of information available to users, particularly with newspaper reports and photos on economic history. In addition, many of the original documents help to close gaps in the collection, enabling new or in-depth research projects. For specific inquiries, the thematic structure simplifies the search for users and employees immensely.
Dieter Jerusalem is delighted that "the collection he has amassed over decades - his life's work, so to speak - is now housed in the city archive and that the valuable information will be preserved for future generations".
- The city archive is located at Nahe-Center 13-14 and is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. Contact by e-mail stadtarchiv@idar-oberstein.de or phone 06781-64 5250.