Erik-Amburger-Archive about foreigners in Russia
The professor of East European history in Gießen Erik Amburger for decades has systematically collected material about foreigners, especially Germans in pre-revolutionary Russia. He treated this subject in many publications. He left his research archive to Osteuropa-Institut. It consists of the following parts, with are only available in the rooms of the library in “Wissenschaftszentrum Ost- und Südosteuropa:
Card-index of persons and online database
It contains partly very detailed biographical information about around 90.000 foreigners in pre-revolutionary Russia. This information is of great relevance for science as well as for genealogical investigation.
In the 1990s the content of the card index has been recorded nearly completely in a database. This database has been converted in 2006/7 financed by DFG in connection with Virtuellen Fachbibliothek Osteuropa (ViFaOst). Since October 2007 it is available online. Still existing shortcomings are currently removed. The original cards can be used in the library.
Lines of descent of foreigner families in Russia
2960 digitalized lines of descent of families can be studied at the PCs in the reading room of the library. An overview of the family names is available online.
Private research library
The private library of Erik Amburger is separately located in the office of the chief librarian of Osteuropa-Institut. It contains 650 units, many titles are not or rarely available in Germany.
All titles are recorded in the online public access catalogue of the library and can be used in the reading room.
Research archive
Erik Amburger kept a currently updated and distinctly ordered archive for his daily research work. A special focus lies on the history of administration, migration and enterprises. It contains several card-indexes, copies of sources, articles, unprinted manuscripts, photos. The inventory is published online, the material itself can be consulted in the library of “Wissenschaftszentrum Ost- und Südosteuropa”.