Gleimhaus

Located in the heart of Halberstadt, Saxony-Anhalt, the Gleimhaus stands as one of Germany's oldest literary museums. Established in 1862, this half-timbered house was once the residence of the renowned poet and collector Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim (1719–1803). The museum not only offers a glimpse into the life and times of Gleim but also showcases an extensive collection of portraits, manuscripts, and books that illuminate the literary and social culture of the 18th century.

Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim

Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim was a celebrated poet of his time, known for his diverse body of work that included humorous songs, romances, war songs, and fables. His Versuch in Scherzhaften Liedern (1744/1745) is considered a significant early document of German Anacreontic poetry. His romances influenced the ballad poetry of the Sturm und Drang generation, and his Preußischen Kriegslieder (1757/1758) marked a milestone in incorporating folk elements into German poetry. Despite being somewhat overshadowed by later literary developments, Gleim remains an important figure as a patron, collector, and proponent of the friendship cult of his era.

Gleim moved to Halberstadt in 1747 to become the Domsekretär or administrator of the cathedral chapter. Driven by a socially ethical idea of friendship, he created a network of literary communication, turning Halberstadt into a literary hub. His collections, characterized by a unique combination of portraits, books, and letters, served to bring his absent friends to life through their images, works, and correspondence.

The Collections

The Gleimhaus boasts an impressive array of collections that reflect Gleim's passion for literature and his friendships. The museum houses around 130 portrait paintings of 18th and early 19th-century personalities, including luminaries like Ewald von Kleist, Karl Wilhelm Ramler, Johann Joachim Winckelmann, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, Anna Louisa Karsch, Sophie von La Roche, and Jean Paul. These portraits, created by some of the most notable artists of the time such as Anton Graff and Jens Juel, offer a visual representation of the intellectual and cultural milieu of the period.

Gleim's extensive correspondence archive is another highlight of the museum. The collection includes around 10,000 letters from over 500 correspondences, featuring exchanges with prominent figures like Lessing, Klopstock, Wieland, Herder, and Anna Louisa Karsch. This archive provides invaluable insights into the scholarly, social, and literary interactions of the 18th century.

Additionally, the Gleimhaus preserves one of the largest private libraries of the 18th century, containing approximately 12,000 volumes. The collection spans a wide range of subjects, with a particular focus on European literature from the second half of the 18th century. It includes over 50 incunabula, around 800 titles from the 16th century, and approximately 1,200 from the 17th century. The library also holds numerous dedication copies, further enriching its historical value.

History of the Museum

After Gleim's death, his collections were managed by his grandnephew Friedrich Wilhelm Körte, who stored them in his own residence near the Halberstadt Cathedral and published works from them. Following Körte's death, the collections were stored at the cathedral gymnasium until the Gleim Family Foundation purchased Gleim's former house in 1861. The collections were then made publicly accessible in 1862 under the name Gleimhaus, making it one of Germany's oldest literary museums.

In the late 19th century, the museum's holdings were expanded with the addition of graphic, book, and manuscript collections from the Halberstadt Oberdomprediger Christian Friedrich Bernhard Augustin. The museum also developed its own collection of prints and drawings, which now includes around 12,000 sheets spanning from the late 15th century to the present, with a focus on portrait graphics from the 18th and 19th centuries.

In 1898, the Gleim Family Foundation sold the house and collections to the city of Halberstadt, which managed the museum until the end of 1994. During World War II, a significant portion of the historical book collection and some manuscripts and paintings were lost or destroyed. However, the museum reopened in August 1946 and has continued to grow and evolve since then.

In 1994, a museum expansion was completed, providing additional storage, reading rooms, event spaces, and a paper restoration workshop. This expansion enabled the Gleimhaus to fulfill its dual role as a museum and research center. Since 1995, the museum has been operated by the Förderkreis Gleimhaus e. V., a support association, while the city of Halberstadt retains ownership of the house and collections.

Today, the Gleimhaus regularly hosts special exhibitions featuring its own and external collections. The most extensive exhibition to date, The Century of Friendship: Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim and His Contemporaries, was held in 2004. The museum continues to acquire new materials for its library, manuscript, and graphic collections, often with the support of private donors and the state of Saxony-Anhalt.

Visiting the Gleimhaus offers a unique opportunity to explore the life and legacy of Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim, as well as the rich literary and cultural history of the 18th century. Whether you're a literature enthusiast, history buff, or simply curious, the Gleimhaus is a must-see destination in Halberstadt.