Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919): Letter edition

Ernst Haeckel propagated and disseminated Charles Darwin's theory of evolution like hardly anyone else outside England. From the 1870s onwards, he also played a key role in shaping the modern popularisation of science. Around 1900, Haeckel became involved in the debates surrounding Social Darwinism and eugenics in Germany, thus forming a precursor to Nazi racial theory. His aesthetics of nature in turn had a direct, immediate and comprehensive effect on the formal language of Art Nouveau and equally influenced the newly emerging image of nature in literature at the turn of the century.

The archive of the Haeckel House houses almost the entire personal and scientific estate of Ernst Haeckel, including correspondence, manuscripts, lecture notes and drawings. These holdings document Haeckel's scientific, cultural and ideological impact in a unique way. The correspondence includes statements on Haeckel's publications, reflections on his research work and material on his travels and the network of his scientific, cultural, journalistic and political contacts.

The hybrid edition has two aims. The 25 historical-critical print volumes bring together and comment on selected correspondence between Haeckel and his family and friends, his publishers and scientific colleagues, as well as his correspondence on artistic and philosophical topics. The digital edition aims to make the entire correspondence available in a complete and sustainable form. In addition to Haeckel's biographical and scientific involvement, the edition of the correspondence is intended to make his significance for the professional, social and cultural consolidation of the natural sciences in Europe and beyond tangible.

The edition project was applied for by Prof Dr Dr Olaf Breidbach ML † and Dr Thomas Bach at the Akademienunion and is being carried out at the Ernst Haeckel House, Institute for the History of Medicine, Natural Sciences and Technology at the University of Jena.