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Archival description
Stadtarchiv Worms, 189 · Fonds
Part of City Archive Worms (Archivtektonik)

Description of the holdings: Abt. 189 Heylsches Landgut Pfauenmoos Size: 77 AK and one running metre oversized formats (incl. 189_F = 307 VE) = 7.5 running metres Duration: 1857 - 2007 1st prehistory and takeover of the documents in May 2012 After the death of Ludwig C. v. Heyl zu Herrnsheim (1920-2010), who had handed over extensive private and company documents to the archive since 1997, which were intensively recorded in the city archives (Abt. 185), his two sons Dr. Ludwig v. Heyl (Landgut Nonnenhof, Bobenheim-Roxheim south of Worms) and Dr. Johannes v. Heyl (Freidorf/Kanton Thurgau, CH) approached the City Archives with the question of whether a takeover of further supplementary family documents that were already stored and indexed (cf. Dept. 186) in the archives would be possible. These were located on the castle or country estate Pfauenmoos (canton St. Gallen, municipality Berg SG, Switzerland) acquired by the family in 1848/49, since 1923 a foundation according to Swiss law. Mainly due to the close personal ties of Ludwig C. v. Heyl ('Lu') to Pfauenmoos, in which he had lived regularly and for a longer period of time almost to the end of his life together with his wife Gisela (1923-2011, née Greiser, married since 1945), there were numerous private and family papers there which would await inspection and development. The project was also agreed with Ludwig v. Heyl's younger brother Gebhard v. Heyl (born 1930, resident in Munich). A takeover of family papers was also envisaged in view of the incipient planning for renovation work on the property. In view of the expected significance of the family documents for the history of the city and its closely connected von Heyl family, and against the background of the close and trusting cooperation with their relatives over many years, the archive gladly took up this suggestion and agreed in advance with the art historian and publisher Dr. Ferdinand Werner, who in 2010 as co-editor of the extensive anthology on the family and its buildings had already dealt with Pfauenmoos as an outstanding cultural monument. After the necessary organisational clarifications in 2011/12, the archive manager Dr. Gerold Bönnen, the archive employee Margit Rinker-Olbrisch (Dipl.-Arch. FH) and the aforementioned Dr. Ferdinand Werner travelled to Switzerland from 23-25 May 2012. On-site support was provided by Dr. Johannes v. Heyl, with whom all questions that arose were discussed before and after the event. The archives were mostly located in a climatically suitable room on the 2nd floor, the condition and important working steps were documented photographically. Close cooperation with the Cantonal Archives in St. Gallen was important to the City Archives, as the archives relating to the Foundation and the site itself were of course to remain on site. Through this collegial cooperation (discussion on site with Mrs. Regula Zürcher, who is responsible for private records) and due to the willingness of the family and the family foundation, it was possible to clarify that the parts of the archive that directly concern the property and the house or the family foundation should be deposited in the cantonal archives and recorded there, an exchange of the finding aids was agreed. The portion earmarked for the cantonal archives (approx. 13 running metres) comprises correspondence from the administration of the foundation, the Pfauenmoos Castle Association, estate management (from approx. 1890) and forestry, official books (cash books, accounting, bank documents, etc.), files, contracts relating to acquisition, leasing and construction matters, inventories (also at the time of the transfer of ownership in 1848/49) as well as a measuring certificate (1849). There are also some documents from Lederhandels-AG (Switzerland). The share taken over from the municipal archives of Worms and transferred to Worms on 25.5.2012 had approximately the same extent (approx. 12-13 running metres). For some of the documents, it was agreed that they would be digitised and the originals returned to the family (Chronicle of Pfauenmoos, collection of plans, photographs). Dr. Werner's stay on site was also used by Dr. Werner for a comprehensive photographic documentation of the highly interesting art-historical property with many references to Worms. A monograph on the history of the listed building is currently being planned. Following the trip, Dr. Werner and Claus Reisinger (Wernersche Verlagsgesellschaft) voluntarily documented approx. 30 family photographs from Pfauenmoos, which were hung there and have since been returned, in high quality for the photo department of the city archive (80 illustrations = 1.93 GB). 2. indexing and special features The indexing of the holdings (new archive department 189) was carried out between June 2012 and January 2013 by the archive manager with the help of a student trainee. A donation contract with the city was already concluded with Dr. Johannes v. Heyl in August 2012. A cassation took place only in very small extent; only 18 files from the very extensive correspondence series of Ludwig v. Heyl in the years 1977 to 2000 (approx. 2 running meters): Congratulations 1986-90, Christmas cards and greetings 1975-1981, 1991, 1994, 1998; General Corresp. 1975-77; 60th Birthday 1980; General Correspondence Switzerland and International 1990-99) were not accepted due to the redundancy of the documents. Special arrangements were made for the Pfauenmoos Chronicle (Hauschronik, No. 001), which was digitised in the City Archives and returned to Switzerland, the plans returning after its partial digitisation (Nov. 2012, Digitisation Centre City Archives Mannheim) and some of the older photographs. For reasons of conservation, the oldest framed photos dating back to 1845 (Daguerro type!) remain in the collection, while the archive takes care of the professional treatment and guarantees, among other things, optimal air conditioning. As mentioned, the vast majority of framed hanging older family photos have been digitized and have already returned to Pfauenmoos in their original form. To supplement the collection, Dr. Werner has made available to the archive digitally drafts of the architect Bluntschli's plans for the conversion of Pfauenmoos from the period around 1880/90, which he had obtained from the ETH Zurich archives. 3. content emphases The holdings represent such a pleasing extension of the other Heyl estates because there are many cross-references to other parts of the family records. Ludwig v. Heyl jun. (1920-2010) in particular had stored a large amount of personal papers (e.g. correspondence from the 1930s until his death, also older family photos including daguerrotypes back to 1845) at his place of residence in Switzerland, which can now be used together with the documents already recorded (Dept. 185, 186, 1801/1). The links with other family archive holdings are close. The classification tries to take into account the different components. The focus is on the correspondence between the two owners Ludwig v. Heyl (senior, 1886-1962) and above all his son Ludwig v. Heyl (jun., 'Lu') from the period between the 1920s and shortly after 2000. The content of the collection reflects numerous family and company aspects of the von Heyl family, as Pfauenmoo contained documents of great thematic diversity, an illustration of which is the classification developed. According to Ludwig v. Heyls (sen., 1886-1962), correspondence between the 1920s and his death, including correspondence with Swiss personalities such as the temporary Federal President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Thomas Holenstein, is particularly noteworthy. In addition, there are documents on the charitable-ecclesiastical Swiss aid activated for Worms after 1946 (e.g. corr. with Rev. Buff) as well as internal family and company-related correspondence. The extensive correspondence of his son Ludwig v. Heyl (jun, 1920-2010), including the correspondence from the war years, family correspondence, plant-related letters (Heyl-Liebenau company until its liquidation in 1974) and materials, documents on his strong ties with the Bayreuth Festival after 1951 and his social activities in associations such as Rotary Clubs, lobbies of the leather industry, traditional associations (Militaria), etc. In all these fields, there is close interaction with the documents already existing in Dept. 185, which is why both holdings should be used in parallel when dealing with these topics. In addition there are older documents about Pfauenmoos from the time since ca. 1880, a collection of plans, photos and mixed material as well as personal documents of Gisela von Heyl, above all family correspondence from the time between ca. 1970 and 2000 (closed for use, see below). The photographs were recorded in a separate sub-collection 189_F comprising 36 units of description. Among these, in addition to the family pictures dating back to 1845, slide series from the 1970s on the demolition of the Majorshof and the Liebenau work should also be highlighted. 4. use and legal questions Notwithstanding the fact that the documents became the property of the City of Worms after the conclusion of the donation contract, blocking periods for use were set for a good 20 units of registration, as private and personal interests of Ludwig v. Heyls and his wife Gisela are particularly affected there. Apart from this, there are no restrictions on use. 5 Literature (on the building) - Ferdinand Werner, Von Wohnhäusern, Landsitzen und Villen, in: The Worms Industrial Family from Heyl. Public and private work between the middle classes and the nobility, edited by Gerold Bönnen and Ferdinand Werner, Worms 2010, pp. 187-311 (register entries pp. 533) - History of Pfauenmoos and the municipality of Berg, the Steinerburg and the municipality of Steinach, dedicated to the guests on the 80th birthday of S. Excellency Baron v. Heyl [1923], published in 15 pp. Worms, January 2013 Dr. Gerold Bönnen, Head of the Worms City Archive