Communities

Your community does not have a chronicle or it was written decades ago? Every community should possess its own, current village history or town chronicle. They provide an excellent overview on the community’s development and intensify the feeling of togetherness and are able to convey a sense of home. Village chronicles are identity establishing and connecting. Heidegger, Hilber und Siegl advise and support you from the first concept to the finished village history or town chronicle. We can also coordinate and academically support your community history project or contribute parts of it.

Upcoming jubilees or other celebrations often create the need for a profound village or town history. However, it is a long way from planning to printing; and sometimes community officials simply lack the experience in putting their ideas into practice. Besides professional experience, Heidegger, Hilber und Siegl possess the endurance required to realise longer-term projects. Whether you want a comprehensive village history, a brochure on your community history timeline, or a multilingual “history” page on your website – Die HISTORIKERinnen meet your individual needs and support mayors, community chroniclers and other people involved, in creating an outstanding product. We would be delighted to meet you for a first, complimentary consulting interview!

Village histories can comprise a wide thematical range. The following list may give you an overview on the wealth of subjects that can be dealt with: 

topography (e.g. old landscape descriptions, hiking guides)
integration of archaeological features
demography
structural development
farmstead history
landscape history (e.g. changes in forests and meadows)
toponomastics (field names, bodies of water)
political history (mayors, town council, court affiliation, etc.)
chronology (focus on important events such as wars or natural catastrophes)
ecclesiastical history (history of your local church(es), chapels and wayside shrines)
history of local clubs and societies (brass bands, sports clubs, rifle associations, senior citizen’s clubs, theatre associations, etc.)
customs and traditions
art history
medical history (e.g. history of the local doctor’s practice, midwife, pharmacy, care institutions such as hospitals, care and retirement homes)
energy history (e.g. history of power supply)
educational history (e.g. from nursery school to university education)
economic history (e.g. mining, agriculture, industry, service, tourism)
mobility and transport history (e.g. railway system, road construction, ropeways and ski lifts)
historical characters (e.g. athletes, politicians, scientists etc.)

Traditional clubs are shaped by a particular history. Besides the colourful diversity of younger societies and associations those clubs characterise our cultural and social life. Officials are often, especially prior to jubilees or other celebrations, faced with the challenge of presenting at least a small brochure for their members and the broad public. Besides the creation of club histories and chronicles Heidegger, Hilber und Siegl also offer a historical analysis of the club’s purpose. For instance, we do not only offer a jubilee book for your local ski club but can also include a history of skiing – from the regional to the international level.

Die HISTORIKERinnen support you in the creation of jubilee books! Whether you are looking for a comprehensive chronicle, a brochure or a multilingual “history” page on your website – Heidegger, Hilber und Siegl meet your individual needs. We would be delighted to meet you for a first, complimentary consulting interview!

Places of remembrance are geographical sites with a special historical and commemorative value. Our culture of remembrance considers these landmarks as spaces of experience. Such sites can include, i.e.

old buildings (manor houses, farmyards)
castle ruins
tribunal stones
Roman roads
wayside shrines, chapels
smugglers’ trails
borderstones
wells
forced labour camps and barracks
memorials that can visualise the history of men, women and children in your local commemorative culture

Places of remembrance can be of interest not only for the local people but also for tourism. Heidegger, Hilber und Siegl trace these historical landmarks and excavate the local memories attached. We bring your histories to light and relate them in a fascinating and comprehensive way. As social historians we lay special emphasis on a sensitive approach to the places of remembrance of the various social groups. We can develop historical theme trails in your village, thus creating a new attraction not only for a local audience but also addressed at tourists staying in the area. The visualisation of local history does not only imply historical competence and remembrance but also encourages sensitivity in dealing with your own history. Please contact us for a first, complimentary consulting interview!

Community and club archives are important places of remembrance that store historical records and material sources. Archiving of historical documents does not only guarantee legal certainty; local archives are even more important as cultural institutions. Many a treasure lies hidden in these archives and waits to be valued and preserved!

Not every community or club needs their own archivist! Heidegger, Hilber und Siegl provide external archive supervision, reaching from the setup of your archive (appraisal, arranging and describing records etc.) to professional support on a long-term basis or the historical analysis of the holdings.