Dissident and Pioneer

ISSN 2413-4600

2/2019

Archives and people in the digital age

Archives of the University of Zagreb | Vlatka Lemić Dissident and pioneer

Community | MEMORJA project It´s all about the people!

ICARUS4all | The new ones are here! The new ICARUS4all team content editorial

Dear colleagues, Ladstätter Markus © 3 cover story This year we have been celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. Dissident, pioneer, ambassador “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” – these were the by Saskia Blatakes famous words spoken by astronaut Neil Armstrong when he first set foot on the moon on July 21, 1969. All over the world the media and scientists have been put- 6 community ting special focus on the significance of this “step” this year. It´s all about the people! What was then the moon for the people who lived 50 years ago could in the fu- by Charles J. Farrugia ture well be the mass digitisation of historical documents. For many, this seems unimaginable, almost like a look upon the stars; for ICARUS, it is the next logical 7 projects step that is just around the corner. In this year’s month of May, the Time Machine The challenging implications of Organisation was founded, also known by its abbreviation TMO. The organisation inconsistent data headquartered in Vienna aims at making the European archives accessible across by Alban Frei the continent to everyone. Two months after its foundation, TMO already has 400 members from all over Europe. 8 members This edition presents some of the pioneers from the world of archives who have ac- How to set up an archive companied TMO right since the beginning. Look forward to Vlatka Lemić who is cur- from scratch rently setting up the new archive of the University of Zagreb as well as to the three by Armin Bernauer people behind ICARUS4all, Elisabeth Kultscher, Christina Eggeling and Otto Amon. And who knows – maybe we will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first 10 ICARUS4all moon landing side by side with the 50th anniversary of TMO in the year 2069! The new ICARUS4all team by Christina Eggeling, Elisabeth I wish you pleasant reading! Kultscher and Otto Amon

Dagmar Weidinger ICARUS press and public relations

Legal notice

Publishing and distribution: ICARUS – International Centre for Archival Research, Erdberger Lände 6/7, 1030 Vienna Email: [email protected] · Place of publishing: Vienna · Art direction: ICARUS | Kerstin Muff · Printing: SAXOPRINT GmbH, Dresden · Editor-in-chief: Kerstin Muff · Translations: Gabi Rudinger · Cover photograph © Damir Humski · Re-orders: [email protected]

insights provides information about the international archival community today, including archival institutions as well as the related user groups.

ISSN 2413-4600

“The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.“ cover story 2/2019

insights insights

Portrait: Vlatka Lemić | Archives of the University of Zagreb Dissident, pioneer, ambassador

As head of the Croatian State Archives, Vlatka Lemić started a fight with the government and lost her position. Now she is setting up the archives of the University of Zagreb. An interview with a woman of conviction.

by Saskia Blatakes Fotos: Damir Humski

© ICARUS Vlatka Lemić and ICARUS share many successes. At her instigation, Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako and Father Michael Najeeb from Iraq came to the ICARUS Convention in St. Pölten in 2015. The subsequently founded Chaldean Heritage Taskforce conti- nues to support Father Najeeb in his digitisation activities of Christian-Chaldean manuscripts in Iraq.

ooking back from where she is chives, where she had been working “The system was modernised on pa- ltoday, she calls herself a dissident since 1998, at the beginning of 2019. per, but practice remains the same as and “enemy number 1” of the offi- Since then, some time has passed. it was”, she says and adds with some cial establishment. In 2013, Vlatka But the situation between herself bitterness: “There is no professional Lemić became head of the Croatian and the Ministry of Culture has not organisation on the national level.” State Archives and was faced with yet been sorted out. Meeting for a Experiences like these could make the situation that archival work was talk with Vlatka Lemić now – even somebody depressed or even give outsourced to ten private compa- if the talk is only a virtual meeting up. With Vlatka Lemić it is quite the nies. She involved auditors who con- on video chat – does not show that contrary, she seems to draw stub- firmed irregularities of this practice. there have been any hard feelings. born strength from what she has The Ministry of Culture subse- She seems relaxed and agile while been going through. She will cer- quently ruled that the outsourcing saying sarcastically: “I have learned tainly need it while facing her new was unlawful. She therefore cancel- to make the best of it. Things go challenge: Setting up the University led the contracts with these compa- their own way. After all it is a fact archives in Zagreb. nies – who threatened to sue her. that in my country, there is a conflict The situation was tricky because one between public and private inte- The archives that do not yet exist of the companies was connected to rests. And archives are no exception In January 2019, the 47-year-old was the brother of the Prime Minister of in this matter.” appointed head of the University Of- that time (in Austria, the daily news- Even some changes to regulations in fice for archives. But there is one detail paper Der Standard reported on the recent years as well as new archival that might make her new job a little bit story). But nothing happened. Except laws that took effect in 2018 couldn´t harder: The archives do not even exist for the fact that Vlatka Lemić was re- resolve the issues of outsourcing to yet. Unlike other European countries, moved from her position in 2016 and private companies in general and Croatia has so far not had any speci- that she had to leave the State Ar- have not made much of a change. alised archives but only a network of 3 My connection with ICARUS: Three thingsIloveaboutarchives: My “favouriteobject“atthearchive: I amgoodat… I amimpressed with… Coffee ortea? When Iamaloneatthearchive … my professional life: My favourite memoriesfrom First name,last name: 4 activities ...Invaluable. ships, newideasandinnovative support with outstanding friend- Ten years of collaboration and tothepeople. mation andbeingof service A multitude of stories, a wealth of infor and relevant atalltimes. history.University’s They are inspiring made byrectors inthecourseof the The seriesof inaugural speeches ging torealise inpractice. often makes plannedactivitieschallen- many ideasatthesametime, which doing toomanythingsandhaving people inallspheres of life. dicated professionals andenthusiastic good ideasandengagedassociates, de Coffee at work, teaathome. new information onarchives ingeneral. material toupdatedataandsearch for checkonline descriptions andpublishing, I gothrough archival documents, work on people andideas. projects thatbringtogethergood vering archives as well ascollaborative Feedback from people who are disco- Vlatka Lemić Collection: UniversityArchives dean, rector, president andof the of Maticahrvatska Yugoslav Academy of SciencesandArts. in 1913 toprofessor This document records thefirst doctorate honorary attheUniversityof Zagreb. It was awarded cover story cover Tadija Smičiklas , historian, distinguished public,official andfull professor, - - portrait

– archivists as well asscientists of from countries cametoCroatia 23 peninsula of Istria. 200 participants March 2019, thistimeinPulaonthe in time fifth forthe place took which proud of the“ICARUSDaysCroatia” work. Sheistherefore particularly the most important inspiration inher tion. International collaboration is highly appreciative of theassocia- its Vice Presidents since2008 andis of one been has Lemić Vlatka vour. framework for herambitiousendea- In ICARUSshehasfound theperfect great tosetupsomethingnew.” something good.Anditfeels about tobecreated here, work: “Something big is lenge of thispioneering chal the enjoys Lemić But been listed. culties which havenoteven kilometres of documents from 35fa- University archivists will befacing and hire employees. Next, the new to needs funding obtain location, right the find first she that means this erefore start from scratch. Inpractice, th- must Lemić Vlatka archives. State highlighting their specificexpertise andhow synergies can be achieved. understanding how archivists differ from historians and digital humanists, vists thatprimarily focus onpractical archival issues. Sheguidesthem into chival routine. Inher work Vlatka reaches outtoagreat numberof archi- are ar particularly getstested noticeable inday-to-day whenever theory Zagreb): Tamara Štefanac (Archivist in at the National and University Library European cultural initiatives. has beenamajorforce inensuringthatCroatia isanintegral player in energy. Bytakingthelead inthedevelopment of ICARUSHRVATSKA she California “ Los Angeles | UCLA): lization intheDepartment of Information Studies attheUniversityof Anne Gilliland(Professor andDirector of the Archival Studies specia- proud of her work which shepursues with dedication. creates anetwork andfacilitates communicationandcooperation. Sheis sheknows how toengage with therighther mindonsomething, people, of thesea,transport andinfrastructure):Ministry “ Zlatko Draganović (Head of Sector for legal, international and EU affairs, From theteam´spoint of view “Vlatka's efforts“Vlatka's in teaching at the faculty of philosophy in Zagreb - ” “It feels good to set up something new.”

Vlatka hasanunbelievable amount of don’t sleep much”, shelaughs.And succeed inachievingallof this?“I schools topromote it.How doesshe travelling through Croatia she visits dicated tothetopotheque. While Even duringher vacation, sheisde into their classrooms. for theproject who will now bringit successful in teachers winning history highly been has Lemić twenty.Vlatka the numberof collections reached many academicinstitutions. In2019, schools,museumsand are primary with other institutions, participants chival digitisationproject. Sidebyside sciences attheUniversityof Zagreb archival teaching also is Lemić Vlatka A workaholic, evenon vacation and cultural institutions. ployees of Universities, museums other academicdisciplinesandem- topotheque isCroatia’s largest ar and iscurrently writing her second book. Furthermore, second book.Furthermore, she supportstheICARUSpro- jects Time Machine and the topotheque. She particularly topotheque. Sheparticularly cares for thelatterproject as itincludes thepublic. The Once Vlatka hasset ” ” - - - them tothepublic.” and particularly to present of me torestore objects, ned a strong desire inside yed documents awake books andthosedestro- ropean history. Seeingthoseburnt show that we were apart of theEu- to mepresent ouridentity andto in-between. It seemed important “We were a young state, something many documents were lost forever. War had just endedin Croatia, and This was inthe1990s. The Homeland Burnt books ishere, inthisplace.”try of mycoun- document onthehistory would guideher singleway: “Every Secession, andherthoughts that sive building inthestyle of Croatian awe shehadonentering theimpres- She still remembers the feeling of Archives inthecourseof alecture. State the visited she Kolanović Josip sciences. Together with herprofessor andarchival later onmuseology and archaeology studied first Lemić In herhometown of Zagreb, Vlatka experience shemadeasastudent: tireless commitment isbased onan Maybe thestrength sheneedsfor her ambassador for archival matters. through Croatia andEurope asan or her vocation, or when shetravels she turns night into dayfor herjob ping her with hertwo children when further hobbies.Herparents are hel apart from herdogLeo, shehasno Collection: UniversityArchives programmes coveringtheperiod1874-1918. of registeredAlphabetical directory listeners of University -

“Collabora- tion gives a clearer view on your own work.“ - inspired: “Collaboration givesacle –she the contrary wants toremain not gothere topreach. Quiteto they are soimportant. Shedoes archives are functioningand why linguistics toexplaintirelessly how or arts fine as such disciplines mic tends conferences of otheracade until today. This is why shealsoat been extremely important toher collaboration haveterdisciplinary periences, international andin- Not least becauseof herown ex was still astudent. her for theStateArchives while she sed hertalent andpassion andhired model. He was theone who recogni - Her former mentor isstill herrole an excellent international network. chives, was progressive very and had Kolanović, the former head of the ar better inthe1990s thanitistoday. In acertain way, thesituation was incredibly rewarding.” mething important tosociety. Itis feeling of havingcontributed so- known. This gives me the strong something new which theyhadnot zement thatIhadjust told them aring mystudents say with ama- most beautifulmoments are “he In hercapacity asaprofessor,her arer view on your own work.areron your view It alsoshows methedirec- tion I want totake. Igainso many goodideasfrom my colleagues from othercoun- tries. We allhelpeachother in termsof resources.” ------

list, presenter andeditor. works asafreelance journa- for Advanced Studies. She of Vienna andtheInstitute tical ScienceattheUniversity Saskia Blatakes studied Poli - look ahead. archivist who looks back inorder to do for thenewly installed University this year,versary there is enough to of Zagreb celebrating its350thanni- ting for her. And with theUniversity and thesetup of thearchives are wai - But now hernewjobattheUniversity version of “insights”. also launched “@rhivi”, a Croatian and founded “ICARUSHrvatska”. She sentations, submittedproposals – them onherown authority, held pre also stopped. Butshecontinued duties, herbilateral projects were ves as well asanyotherprofessional Archi- State the of leader the as fice When she was removed from herof On herown authority Most loyal visitors of thereading room: archivalOdest object/best-known item: Oldest collection: Web address: Name of theinstitution: U schedules andotherinformation. fessors, faculties, courses,lectures of Zagreb. Itcontains alist of pro- the modernperiodof theUniversity 1874/1875, denotingthebeginningof T (1866 -...) University of Zagreb fond www.unizig.hr Archives of theUniversityof Zagreb academic researchers he UniversityAnnualCalendar niversity professors and cover story cover

- -

insights 2/2019 fact sheet community

One of the protago- nists of the interviews It´s all about with bus drivers, Mi- chael Cutajar known as ‘iż-Żinnu’, interviewed the people! in front of his bus.

One of the main projects of the National Archives of Malta is called MEMORJA. It aims at recording Malta’s “private” history – the personal stories of the people, those that cannot be found in public records. © private

tarting in January 2017, a team of Protecting the bus drivers’ feelings ments. We have received all kinds of sfive took the first steps towards cre- The available oral testimonies − of artefacts, from knifes to medals and ating MEMORJA. The main objective which there is still a substantial num- artefacts of clothing. Even though we of the project has been to employ ber − strive to preserve daily experien- have been restricting the amount and innovative research methodologies, ces as felt by the people. Whether it is typology of artefacts (as they bring theoretical and archival approaches the war veterans, fishermen, fireworks about new challenges of storage) we and techniques to record, transcribe, enthusiasts, bell ringers or hawkers are still departing from the traditio- preserve and make available all depo- − they are all providing individual nal focus on public records. There is sited material detailing the history of narrative experiences that are often a need to discuss these new realities the Maltese islands. In doing so, the overlooked in official documentation. and build bridges to other professions archives have fundamentally changed A case in point is the history of the in order to rise to the challenge of a their role − from a memory-capturing Maltese buses. Whoever visited Malta more pro-active approach − from the institution whose traditional task has in the past got an idea of its unique old passive archivist to the archivist as a been to preserve government records buses − all extremely colourful (both creator of records. This is also what we to one that now creates its own, new literally and metaphorically!). These are doing at conferences and through records in the form of oral history in- days they are no longer around! A re- journals and other publications. terviews, personal photographs, do- form carried out eight years ago led to cuments and other ephemera. a change of buses, which caused the If you have similar experiences At the beginning of the project, one bus drivers a lot of pain. Historically, to share, feel free to contact the colleagues from Malta at of the main intellectual challenges their passion for their job was com- info was to select a certain number of pletely overlooked − until today. With [email protected] precise research themes. The follo- MEMORJA, their perspective is making wing five topics seemed particularly its way into the public records, side by Links: relevant: Maltese emigration; Expe- side with the official version already riencing war: survival, shelter and archived, filling a gap in the nation’s nationalarchives.gov.mt food; British expatriates in Malta; Pu- collective memory. facebook.com/NationalArchi- blic administration; and Bell ringing/ The incoming material is very diverse vesMalta campanalian culture. and not restricted to traditional docu-

Ms Teresa Cachia Zammit, one of the interviewees, pictured with her 'ancestors', July 2017.

Charles J. Farrugia is chairperson of EURBICA, Malta’s national archivist and serves on the executive board of ACARM. Farru- gia is a lecturer in Archives and Records Management at the Department of Library Information & Archive Sciences at the Faculty of Media & Knowledge Sciences, University of Malta.

6 projects

The challenging implications of inconsistent data aiming at higher efficiency in the digital search of historical persons and places, the Swiss project histHub is working on the linking and standardising of data to comple- ment existing infrastructures and services in the area of digital humanities.

n the 14th and 15th centuries, the ting information to the maximum Switzerland, the tools, data models idynasty of the counts of Werden- extent would therefore make it pos- and ontologies developed by histHub berg-Sargans was very influential sible to compare data across sup- are certainly of interest to the inter- in today’s Canton of Graubünden. pliers as well as increase the visibility national community. In 1388, for example, Hartmann IV of the databases. was elected Bishop of Chur. While histHub is currently working on a so- histHub is a cooperation project the date of his election is clearly lution which allows to uniquely assign carried out by Diplomatic Docu- documented, the conditions sur- and link data. The platform thereby ments of Switzerland, the His- rounding it are not. Hartmann IV’s pursues two strategies complemen- torical Dictionary of Switzer- info year of birth is also ambiguous, his ting each other. On the one hand, the land, the ortsnamen.ch project day of death, however, is considered portal supplies standard data on his- of the Swiss idioticon as well as verified to be September 6, 1416. It is torical persons, places, organisations the Law Sources Foundation of quite typical for historical persons and concepts. This is achieved on the the Swiss Lawyers Society. Ad- from the late Middle Ages or the basis of typologies and controlled ditional financing is provided by early Modern Period to show a mix vocabularies. The entities are model- swissuniviersities. of clearly documented and unclear led in a way as to make it possible to or even contradictory dates side by enter even the slightest historical dif- side. A variety of different spellings, ferences with their respective sources. Link: bynames, surnames and names of Permanent IDs ensure that the data is histhub.ch places or functions is also charac- unique for IT processing. dodis.ch teristically coexisting. Hartmann IV von Werdenberg-Sargans is for From Switzerland into the world hls-dhs-dss.ch example also known as Hartmann The second strategy pursued by hist- idiotikon.ch de Sanegans or, making the danger Hub is aimed at linking existing data- of confusion significantly higher, as bases in an automatic or semi-auto- ortsnamen.ch Hartmann II von Chur. matic way. Concordances are stored, ssrq-sds-fds.ch making it possible to link “like with Unique and linked like”. All the while, data sovereignty Alban Frei is a historian and research mana- This example highlights a problem remains entirely with the supplier. ger. He acquired a doctorate from ETH Zurich that typically arises within the con- By using innovative technologies, and has been Managing Director of histHub text of historical data on persons: It histHub can search and link a large since 2017. is frequently very difficult to make number of data from third parties. a unique identification. In addition, The histHub linking tool for place in- many persons have been entered into dications for example currently gene- various different databases. Multi- rates links from more than ten inter- ple existences of database entries national suppliers for “Sargans”. Even equally concern data on places, orga- though the project currently focuses

nisations or keywords. Linking exis- on data pertaining to the history of © private members

How to set up an archive from scratch

The documents held by the Secular Franciscan Order (Ordo Franciscanus Sae- sible if we succeed in establishing cularis, O.F.S.) have so far been stored in five different regions in Austria and the necessary conservatory require- South Tyrol. This is about to change with the foundation of a dedicated archive ments. While the entire archival ma- at the Franciscan monastery of Pupping in Upper Austria. A brief look at an terial will be described on the basis archive’s genesis. of the archival standard ISAD(G), ar- chivis pro will be used as the archival information system. he idea to set up a central archive Scattered documents tfor OFS Österreich, the Austrian Our first task consisted of drawing Scientific work and branch of the Secular Franciscan Or- up a list of all the places that were public presentations der (Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis), holding analogous or digital archival In 2021, the archive will be particu- was born in 2017. Such an archive had material in order to be able to bring larly brought to the attention of never existed before. It was therefore everything together. Given the fact the public as that year will mark the necessary to start from scratch, since that OFS does not have any dedica- 800th anniversary of the Order’s first neither a concept nor the necessary ted monastic homes, the archival rule (1221, “Memoriale Propositi”). infrastructure or the required budget material is moving around together To that purpose and going beyond, were there. with the ministers of the regional new publications on the history of This was to change in December 2017 and local fraternities. In addition, orders in Austria will be released and when I was officially appointed the some material is held by the Austrian events on specific topics will be held. first archivist, when the rules of usage diocesan archives and the diocesan Already, a cooperation with Prof. Dr. were decided and financial support for archive of Bolzano-Brixen, the Aust- Ines Weber, Institute of Church His- the years 2018 and 2019 was supplied rian provincial archives, the Austrian tory at the Catholic Private University from the current budget. The most State Archives, several monastery Linz, has been established. The new important tasks could now be started. and parish archives, municipal ar- archive is an exciting assignment, and In the future, financing will have to be chives as well as by the provincial or its story is about to be written! met on the basis of donations and house archives of the Minorites, the sponsorships which have yet to be ob- Franciscans or the Capuchins. tained. P. Fritz Wenigwieser, Vicar Pro- In a first step, only the archival ma- vincial and Guardian of the Franciscan terial that is available digitally will Link: monastery of Pupping, provided us therefore be consolidated. Moving archivofsat.hypotheses.org

with our first archive room and also the analogous OFS archival mate- info supplied us with further infrastructure rial from those other archives to the ofs-oesterreich.at in the form of cabinets and tables. central OFS archive will only be pos-

Behind the cloistered skylight in the middle lies Armin Bernauer (Br. Johannes, OFS) is living the new OFS Central Archive. in Eferding, Upper Austria, and works among others at the monastery archives of the Sisters of the Cross in Linz. He is currently doing two master’s studies in parallel and is also very interested in archival matters, history, music, theatre, swimming and museums. © Br. Johannes OFS © Br. Loimayr © Manfred

8 We support you to simplify the access to digitisation

Why is it important to capture documents in good Therefore we have developed guidelines to quality? capture, control and ensure image quality. By using these This topic is important at the moment when the paper based guidelines, documents are captured with the best possible documents are very old and the quality of the print, the printing quality for every situation. ink and the paper are getting worse and worse every decade. It is necessary to scan these documents in the best possible way to Spigraph – Who Are We? archive it for the future. Image Quality is also important if there is no Spigraph is the leading provider of intelligent scanning, capture and need of a physical archive and the documents can be destroyed after document process solutions in EMEA. Our robust portfolio includes digitisation. The captured and digitised document is the only existing document scanners from the world’s leading manufacturers, best-of- one and if the quality is not good enough it is not possible to check breed capture software and comprehensive services to capture all the document on paper again. kind of documents in the best possible way.

Jeroen Kant, Vice President Business Development Phone: +32 10 390 764, Email: [email protected] www.spigraph.com

Advert_SPI_Icarus_148x210mm_print.indd 2 20.07.2018 15:56:21

After 25 years and 30 million pages of online documents we are proud to offer you our advanced problem solving skills, innovative, market-leading devices and software environment.

Project planning, digitization, database building, publishing and content services all in one hand. Digitizing is our work, vocation, passion.

arcanum.hu icarus4all

Attention! Something is going on at ICARUS4all!

Since the beginning of 2019, ICARUS4all has three new team members who recently took over the task of taking care of the organisational matters of the Friends' Association. All three may be new in their role at ICARUS4all, but in fact all three are well-known faces in the community. Behind the scenes they have been actively involved in the Friends' Association for some time. Now they are the official contact persons for all matters concerning ICARUS4all. But now it´s time to let the three speak for themselves!

uring my first term of studying It is a great honour for me that I am dhistory at the University of Vienna I now also a board member of ICA- already came to know about Monas- RUS4all. Together with Otto Amon terium. Later on, this virtual archive I am responsible for meetings and became a companion I would not events. Our tasks include the or- want to miss in any of my historical ganisation of general assemblies research activities. Until today, my and board meetings as well as the work has focused on topics covering keeping of the meetings’ minutes. the Middle Ages, in particular patron We are also responsible for the pre- saints and relics. Some time later I parations of excursions, visits and met Thomas Aigner at a scientific festivities. Together with the finance conference where I learned about his and member administration team

© private work and came to appreciate it. Out we take care of our activities with a of that emerged an inspiring and fri- lot of enthusiasm, engage in lively Christina Eggeling is a visual artist, art historian and historian. Alongside her work for endly collaboration, in particular at discussions on potential optimisa- the Vienna Instituto Cervantes she is an ho- various conferences for historians and tions and come up with new ideas. norary board member of ICARUS4all and a genealogists. In this way I also gained member of the research team of historians with regard to the former Benedictine mo- new insights into the world of family nastery of Mariazell im Wienerwald. researchers and met with so many nice people! I particularly like to think back to my volunteering at the Late Summer Meeting at the monastery of Geras in Lower Austria in 2015. Since then I have also been a member of the ICARUS4all community.

10 titelgeschichte 2/2019

first learned about Matricula in July And how did I find my way to ICA- of the Past” up to the “Time Ma- i2013 and instantly came to appreci- RUS4all? Out of gratitude! The in- chine”. And I appreciate being able to ate it. This coincided with the death formation I gained from Matricu- somewhat participate in a “missioni- of my father at the age of almost 90. la-online not only enlarged my pe- sing” capacity. insights insights I often told my mother about the digree enormously, it also extended discoveries I had made in the church my circle of friends and family and registers, but she would follow my recently motivated me to study his- father in November of the same year. tory. It is incredible how we all seem Suffering from Alzheimer, she enjo- to be directly or indirectly related yed listening to what I told her but with each other. As an atheist, this could no longer remember anything. gives me a feeling of security despite I have inherited my passion for family the awareness of our transience as research from my parents who both single, short-lived individuals. came from the same village. He was the son of a farmer and became a In 2015 I was offered the opportunity vet, she was the daughter of an inn- of presenting my findings at the Late keeper. They had known most people Summer Meeting at the monastery

from their place for three of four ge- of Geras. From then on, I was invited © private nerations back. My research allowed to participate time and again, most Otto Amon is working as an independent me to “solve” some of the “puzzles” recently by Thomas Aigner asking me IT consultant and is studying history at from the sixth or seventh genera- to join the board. It is very exciting to the University of Vienna. In December tions, but unfortunately, I could no see the cross-country cooperation of 2018 he started to organise regular meetings on the research of the history of his longer tell my parents about them. archives that ranges from “Big Data home town.

originally joined ICARUS4all to I am responsible for member admi- iexpress my enthusiasm and appre- nistration as well as for the ente- ciation for the digitisation of church ring of incoming payments. At the records and documents. My glowing moment we are heavily involved in passion turned into a long and inti- finding the perfect way of managing mate relationship that was deepe- our files in order to organise our ned by the considerable efforts that workflows as easily and efficiently were taken for the members, the ex- as possible. I am honestly happy cursions that were offered, the Late whenever a new member joins ICA- Summer Meetings and the network RUS4all, and it is a pleasure to see that developed. When I was asked the community constantly grow © private whether I would like to actively par- bit by bit. The friendly cooperation Elisabeth Kultscher is the archivist of Wil- ticipate there was only one possible among the “administration team”, helmsburg in Lower Austria and is an ent- answer: Yes, I do! the commitment, the new ideas, husiastic family and local history resear- the nice sharing of thoughts and cher. Besides her work as a board member of ICARUS4all she is also organising the the pleasure of working together are monthly meetings of genealogists from particularly motivating. I am happy the Mostviertel region and is also part of a that I may be a part of it. small team that operates the topotheque of Wilhelmsburg.