Wilhelm Kobelt

Wilhelm Kobelt ( born February 20, 1840 in Alsfeld, † March 16 1916 in Swan Home ) was a German doctor, professor, local historian, author and zoologist, especially malacologist ( Molluskenkundler ). Kobelt was co-founder of the German Society Malakozoologischen in the Senckenberg Nature Research Society, whose honor he was a member in 1868.

Life and work

Wilhelm Kobelt studied at the Liebig University in Giessen medicine and graduated there in 1862 with a thesis on cardiology. During his studies he had dealt with biological and zoological studies. His work as a practicing physician, he took the state exam after initially in Nassau Biedenkopf. With 29 years Kobelt moved in 1869 into previously also Nassau Swan Home, a village southwest of Frankfurt am Main with about 2000 inhabitants. In the same year he joined the Frankfurt-based Senckenberg Nature Research Society. In Swan 's home was Kobelt - as a contract physician for the medical association (local sickness insurance fund) - the first resident doctor. Here he received for his commitment to the rights of the working class the nickname " Red Doctor " or " the red Kobelt ". In Swan home he founded, among others, a worker training club and a Committee of Public Lectures; Kobelt was also co-founder and Chairman of the Rhine - Mainischen Association of National Education.

Since not filled him the medical profession, William Kobelt was in 1880 at the age of 40 years, his medical practice on. He worked on it more and more with science studies and the history of Swan home. In 1888, Kobelt was the editor of the first chronicle of the village of Swan 's home; He also is the author of numerous socio-political and local politics essays that were published in newspapers and magazines.

William Kobelt was also awarded to a leading member of the Frankfurt Senckenberg Nature Research Society, and in 1905 he was recognized for its scientific merits the title of professor. By using Kobelts for the Frankfurt Senckenberg Museum, this could build a mollusc collection of international standing to the early 20th century. Wilhelm Kobelt died on 16 March 1916 at the age of 76 at his home in Swan home. His collected on international research expeditions animal and plant collections he bequeathed the Senckenberg Society.

Kobel chest and Kobelt Zoo

Since the end of the 19th century Wilhelm Kobelt his commitment to the establishment of a public forest Recreation Center at the Schwanheimer meadows - a vast grazing lands in the forest south of the village Swan home. In the summer of 1908, the rights of the meadow Schwanheimer meadows was established a Forest Recreation Center for convalescents and invalids at the suggestion Kobelts on the northern edge. This was followed by the widespread since the beginning of the 20th century practice of the establishment of settlement -related " health resorts " at which convalescents by a doctor could stop the fresh air. For the institution was from September 1908 eV the Schwanheimer Ambulance Association The system consisted of an open shelter with benches and deck chairs, a water - pumping wells and several flower beds and was used all year round. With the outbreak of World War I, the company was set.

After the death of Amalie and Wilhelm Kobelt a forest - resting place was set up to commemorate their work at the site of the former Forest Recreation Center in Frankfurt's city forest on the Schwanheimer meadows, Kobel chest. The complex is erected as a memorial in 1921 boulder, is remembered on the with an inscription to the couple Kobelt; Information boards tell of the work Kobelts and of the history of the place.

In the year of death of Wilhelm Kobelt the club Biological Society Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Kobelt was founded by its employees and friends, which is registered in the register since 1954. From the club went from 1920, the Frankfurt- Schwanheimer Kobelt Zoo forth, situated on the edge of the forest in the south of the town Swan home. Broke on 20 December 2011 at Kobelt Zoo from a fire, died at the more than 100 birds.

Other honors

To commemorate Wilhelm Kobelt and his commitment to public education and local history was the former school building Old Swan home, which was built from 1827 to 1835 and now houses the Schwanheimer Heritage Museum, Wilhelm Kobelt - house named. In addition, the road bears in the Swan home district, stood at the Kobelts House, his name ( Wilhelm Kobelt - road).

Works (selection)

Malacology

• The genus Crassatella, Bauer & Raspe, Nuremberg 1886
• The Bullidae family, Bauer & Raspe, Nuremberg 1896
• The Columbelliden family, Bauer & Raspe, Nuremberg 1897
• The genus Turritella, Bauer & Raspe, Nuremberg 1897
• Catalog of the currently known Pneumonopomen alive together with Otto Franz of Möllensdorf, Separately impression from the news journal of the German Society Malakozoologischen (reprint ), ( ed.): Hartmann publisher / Swan Home, 1899 Online
• Cyclophoridae, Friedlander, Berlin 1902
• The genus Paludina, Bauer & Raspe, Nuremberg 1909
• The distribution of wildlife, Tauchnitz, Leipzig 1920
• Carlo von Erlanger: 1872-1904, towpath -Verlag, Ingelheim 1997, ISBN 3-9805837-0-8

Local history

• Chronicle of the village Swan Wertheim am Main, 1888
• Landwirthschaftliche questions and answers, on behalf of the further education and civil society in Schwanheim M. - Publisher of Max Stephani, Biedenkopf, Hesse -Nassau in 1888
• The Won, corridor, and ways behalf of the district Swan Home ( Main). Annals of the Association of Nassau Archaeology and Historical Research, Volume 39, 1909 Online
• History and home work. Rhine river Main Association of National Education, 1912
• The Schwanheimer forest. 43rd and 44th report of the Senckenberg Nature Research Society, 1912/1913
• Contributions to the history of the village of Swan home. Nassauische Annals, Volume 42, 1913