Anniversary Exhibition: "100 Objects on the History of KIT"

200 Years of KIT History

In 2025, KIT will celebrate the 200^th anniversary of the founding of the Polytechnische Schule (polytechnic) in Karlsruhe on October 7, 1825. In the latter half of the 19^th century, the Polytechnische Schule, which began small, quickly rose in ranks, became the Technische Hochschule Karlsruhe. With the founding of the Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe (Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Center) in 1956, close ties were quickly forged between the two research institutions. In 2009, the university and the research center merged to form the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

The 200-year anniversary offers a unique opportunity to look back on this development and uncover stories of both man and machine in research, teaching, and innovation.

An Exhibition in the Making

Preparations for a historical exhibition have already begun at the KIT Archives. On the basis of objects, we aim to tell stories about KIT, its predecessor institutions, and the people who participated in its 200-year history. It is also of utmost importance for us to involve the members, alumni, and friends of KIT. Together, we hope to create a dialogue about how a history of KIT can be told and which objects can represent this history.

The question then arises: which objects tell the stories of KIT? Complex machines and apparatuses from experimental research or simplified models of academic teaching? Which objects embody innovations and their industrial application? Which objects actually tell the history of KIT: everyday office objects or building artefacts, works of art, or monuments?

Since, certainly, there are various perspectives through which the selection of objects can be based, the exhibition project relies on a Call for Objects to give the opportunity for participation and to develop diverse views on the history of KIT.

Join Us!

You can help to actively shape the development of this exhibition by proposing an object which, in your opinion, tells the history of KIT. This object does not have to represent 200 years, but should highlight the identity – grown through history – of KIT.

In order to classify your proposal, we request you provide us with a short description of the object's significance, if possible together with a photo. The description should address the following questions on a maximum of one page:

• What kind of object is it (name, dimensions, material, weight)?
• When was it made (approximately)?
• Who owns the object?
• What was or is it used for?
• What stories does the object tell?

Object proposals should be submitted by March 31, 2022. Proposals received after this date are welcome, but can only be considered to a limited extent.

When formulating object proposals, please also consider the selection criteria described below.

1000 Ideas, But Only One Exhibition – The Basics of Object Selection

The objects were selected in spring 2022 by the exhibition curator Dr. Anton F. Guhl and the Head of the KIT Archives, Dr. Klaus Nippert, together with an academic advisory board.

The selection of objects will be made in three steps. First, it will be decided if the object can be considered at all.  For example, factors such as conservation, cost, or size can determine whether or not an object can even be exhibited. 

In the second stage, the historical relevance of the object is examined based on current standards in higher education and academic history. This means that not only successful or "ingenious" objects will be included. Objects from everyday life, from the "invisible hands" in research, teaching, and innovation, or from a time when the standards held high today could not be achieved, are also of historical significance. In addition, we will consider the narrative power of the object – it may hold surprises that are only apparent at second glance.

In the third stage, the objects are evaluated in relation to one another. We do not ask which object is "more exciting" on its own, but with which ensemble of objects the history of KIT can ideally be told. The aim is to depict important periods in the history of KIT and to show KIT in its institutional diversity over 200 years. Finally, it is important to create material diversity – for example, (paper) documents are only suitable in exceptional cases for an exhibition that is intended to appeal to a broad audience.

Project Advisory Board

Prof. Dr. Thomas Hirth

Prof. Dr. Gisela Hürlimann

Prof. Dr. Thorsten Logge

Prof. Dr. Marcus Popplow

Prof. Dr. Dieter Speck

Prof. Dr. Helmuth Trischler

Be Part of the Conversation

The 200-year anniversary is a welcome opportunity to take a closer look at KIT’s history and its predecessor institutions. We therefore appreciate the opportunity to exchange ideas with you. We are also happy to receive general suggestions and to answer any questions you may have regarding our Call for Objects.

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