A successful LEADER project, in which the Topotheque was used as a digital basis, was duly celebrated. Two years of collecting in 17 communities show what enthusiasm and volunteer work can achieve! For the summary, the celebration and an outlook, the LEADER management invited all Topothequers to the “Sustainability Factory”, the old rectory in Steinbach an der Steyr. Josef Wolfthaler, managing director of the LEADER region Traunviertler Alpenvorland and historian Sigi Kristöffl provided a particularly appreciative setting. All 17 communities were presented in the best possible light with their own roll-up. After the welcome from the BR mayor and LEADER chairman Bernhard Ruf and words of thanks from Alexander Schatek, Topotheque, LEADER regional manager Josef Wolfthaler summarized the results. Over the course of the two project years, almost 30,000 memorial units, many of them from private sources, have been secured in 17 communities and made visible online. There are more than 70 volunteer Topothequers who have added these historical sources to their Topotheques in the region south of Steyr.
Historian Adi Brunnthaler used a photo, which is well known in the region, to trace its history of use: how much room for interpretation can a historical document tolerate? He also pointed out that even old photographs do not necessarily guarantee the truth that they are believed to be. A photo that shows Empress Elisabeth in conversation with a local businessman turns out to be a deliberate forgery upon closer inspection: the Empress liked to send her lady-in-waiting forward in order to remain veiled in the background.
In order to show the different approaches to the image and quote selection of the individual communities, historian Sigi Kristöffl led alphabetically through the roll-ups designed by Katharina Baumgartner, which, with elaborate detailed work, allow a very personal look at the past of the places.
The results presented represent a beginning, because the large digital base of images, videos and texts collected so far makes it possible to mobilize further material. Therefore, a possible follow-up project is already being considered!
A colorfully harmonious hall awaited the visitors.
BR Mayor Bernhard Ruf, LEADER chairman, is pleased with the great results.
LEADER regional manager Josef Wolfthaler presents the key data of the project.
Historian Adi Brunnthaler brings interesting aspects to the role of image documents.
An excerpt from the long series of 17 community roll ups.
Each roll up shows individual quotes. All photograps © Alexander Schatek, CC-BY-SA