The project ”Provenance research at Düsseldorf University and State Library – the era Dr. Hermann Reuter (1928–1950)“ investigates whether any of the objects of Düsseldorf University and State Library (ULB), which were purchased, gifted or donated during the National Socialist era (1933–1945), are Nazi-looted cultural property. The holdings originate from a predecessor institution, the former State and City Library (Landes- und Stadtbibliothek Düsseldorf). Director of the library was Dr. Hermann Reuter (1880–1970), who was able to almost double the library’s holdings from 130.000 to about 250.000 volumes between 1933 and 1944. 68 percent of these volumes were acquired as gifts or by exchange.

The aim of the project is to explore the institutional history including the network of relationships of the former State and City Library as well as a systematic examination and review of the objects acquired between 1933 and 1945 for Nazi-confiscated property. Should Nazi-looted objects be identified, fair and just solutions should be found with owners or their heirs and legal successors. Provenance markings will be included in the library catalogue and the database Looted Cultural Assets. Found objects will be reported to the Lost Art Database. The project’s findings will be presented to the public through a website respectively with a (virtual) exhibition.

German Lost Art Foundation project page