Gustav Klemm

Gustav Friedrich Klemm ( born November 12, 1802 in Chemnitz, † August 26, 1867 in Dresden ) was a German art historian and librarian.

Life

Gustav Friedrich Klemm ( often just called Gustav Klemm ) was the son of the royal Saxon General ACCIS top Einnehmers Johann Heinrich Gottlob Klemm. His education he received in Freiberg and Chemnitz. From 1821 he was enrolled at the University of Leipzig. Although for him was actually provided the law, he devoted himself to historical studies and the study of cultural history. His dissertation about librarianship he handed 1825 at the University of Jena.

In 1825 he moved to Dresden. Here authored or he finished some historical writings and also tried his hand as a poet. In 1830 he was the editor of the newspaper " Peace and War Courier" in Nuremberg. After a year he accepted a position as second secretary at the Dresden Royal Public Library (now the Saxon State Library ) in. In 1833 he received the supervision of the Royal Porcelain Collection in addition to office. In 1834 he was appointed librarian.

In 1838 he traveled through the former Saxon Prince Johann Italy. He rated the journey from literary. In 1852 he gave up the management of the Dresden porcelain collection and became head of the Royal Public Library. By then, his major work, 10 volumes General history of civilization of mankind, was published.

Gustav Friedrich Klemm was one of the first scientists to recognize that the production of tools and the use of fire are the essential characteristics that separate man from the animal kingdom. However, it took a theory of the inequality of the human races, which he regarded as an essential engine of world history. Völkische circles made ​​his views later partly own.

A great passion Klemm was collecting ethnological cultural and historical objects, where it benefited from its numerous and far-reaching personal relationships. As he himself barely made ​​trips, he opened up the knowledge about foreign cultures and peoples in part on the collection objects. His ethnographic collection comprised last about 15,000 exhibits, of which he exhibited a part in a private home decorated in a Dresden museum in five rooms.

After it had in 1861 affected an eye condition that ended with total blindness, he put 1864 his offices.

After his death, a group called the Leipzig citizens at a fundraiser for the purchase of the terminal 's collection. With this purchase, the collection could be preserved as a whole. The University, however, could not be persuaded to take over the collection, although a report from the professor of historical auxiliary sciences Heinrich Wuttke this collection attested to a very high scientific value. They formed the basis for the Museum of Ethnology in Leipzig, which is now housed in the complex of the Grassi Museum.

Gustav Klemm was from 1831 married to Amalie Friederike, born forester, the daughter of a tax collector. Her son Gustav Johannes ( * 1832) was a mining engineer.

Honors

Works (selection)

  • My life and my views on some parts of the library system, Diss Jena 1825
  • Attila according to the history, legend and legend, Leipzig 1827
  • Herfest. Six Songs, Zerbst 1829
  • The Royal porcelain collection, Dresden 1834
  • Manual of Germanic antiquities, Dresden 1836 (Google - digitized )
  • Chronicle of the Royal Saxon royal capital of Dresden, 3 vols, Dresden 1837
  • History of the Collections of Science and Art in Germany, Zerbst 1837
  • Italica; Journey through Italy, Dresden 1839
  • General history of civilization of mankind, 10 vols, Leipzig 1843-1852
  • The spread of activen human races across the globe, Dresden 1845
  • General Culturwissenschaft, Leipzig 1854-1855
  • The women: Culturgeschichtliche descriptions of the condition and influence of women in the different zones and ages, 6 vols, Dresden 1859
  • 50 years ago. Culturgeschichtliche letters, Stuttgart 1865
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