Research on mosque archives in Germany last update: 6.11.2020
An introductory note
These pages are dedicated to the research of mosque archives in Germany. Using the Ahmadiyya-Anjuman-Lahore (AAL) mosque archive in the National Archive of Berlin as a primary source of research, it also identifies, and makes ethnographic surveys of, mosque archives in a range of mosques in Germany.
According to the Law on Archival Matters, our search exclusively pertains to materials which pre-date the year 2000. We are looking for files, documents and photographs that are not in use any more, but illuminate the story of Muslim life in Germany in the twentieth Century from an inside perspective. It is hoped that the research will enhance our understanding of Muslim life in Germany as part of German history.
Approaches
1. Sounding out the AAL archive
This step helps to understand the functioning of a mosque archive and to formulate questions
See: The AAL mosque archive
2. Searching for new partners
This step helps to identify mosque archives across Germany, learn about different material and administrative cultures and perspectives on the past
See: Administrative cultures
3. Tracing trajectories of longue durée
This step follows the ups and downs of a religious community through time.
Our focus is on marriage & divorce acts, sermons, and patterns of communication
See: Red threads
The research is financially supported by the German Research Community (DFG)
An introductory note
These pages are dedicated to the research of mosque archives in Germany. Using the Ahmadiyya-Anjuman-Lahore (AAL) mosque archive in the National Archive of Berlin as a primary source of research, it also identifies, and makes ethnographic surveys of, mosque archives in a range of mosques in Germany.
According to the Law on Archival Matters, our search exclusively pertains to materials which pre-date the year 2000. We are looking for files, documents and photographs that are not in use any more, but illuminate the story of Muslim life in Germany in the twentieth Century from an inside perspective. It is hoped that the research will enhance our understanding of Muslim life in Germany as part of German history.
Approaches
1. Sounding out the AAL archive
This step helps to understand the functioning of a mosque archive and to formulate questions
See: The AAL mosque archive
2. Searching for new partners
This step helps to identify mosque archives across Germany, learn about different material and administrative cultures and perspectives on the past
See: Administrative cultures
3. Tracing trajectories of longue durée
This step follows the ups and downs of a religious community through time.
Our focus is on marriage & divorce acts, sermons, and patterns of communication
See: Red threads
The research is financially supported by the German Research Community (DFG)
