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Citizens collect for Westphalia
200 years of the Society of Antiquities
10.5.2025 – 26.10.2025
Citizens collect for Westphalia – 200 years of the Society of Antiquities
10.5.2025 – 26.10.2025
Since 1824/25, the Paderborn and Münster sections of the ‘Verein für Geschichte und Altertumskunde Westfalens’ have been dedicated to the historical heritage of Westphalia.
It was citizens – and in fact, keeping the times in mind, almost exclusively male citizens, not women – who collected, safeguarded and made visible cultural assets here. For the ‘antiquities’, cultural-historical and regional objects of all kinds, as well as prehistoric and early historic finds, documents and books, coins and medals, reflect Westphalian history, homeland and identity.
In 1908, the collection in Münster became part of the newly founded ‘Landesmuseum’ at the Domplatz; the collection in Paderborn is today mainly part of the city museum there. The collection of the Münster section of the Society of Antiquities is still on permanent loan to the collection of the LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur.
Based on the five key questions ‘What?’, ‘Why?’, ‘Where from?’, ‘How?’ and ‘Who?’, the exhibition focuses on the 19th century and presents the two collections of the Society of Antiquities in all their diversity.
An exhibition from the collections of the Verein für Geschichte und Altertumskunde Westfalens, Abteilungen Münster und Paderborn e.V.
The exhibition “Citizens collect for Westphalia” is sponsored by the LWL Cultural Foundation as part of the cultural program for the anniversary year 2025 “1250 years of Westphalia” and the Sparkasse Münsterland Ost. The patron of the cultural program is Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Curated by Stefan Kötz.
Program
9.5.2025, 8 p.m.: Opening of the exhibition on Long Friday
Tours through the exhibition (German language):
Every saturday, 11.15 a.m.
Discussion series "Home(s) - How we want to live together. About longing and search movements" (German Language)
The series of talks takes up the topic of “Belonging, Identity, Tradition” raised in the exhibition and will approach the concept of home from different perspectives.
"Heimat ohne Postleitzahl? Über Sehnsucht und Utopie" with author Burkhard SpinnenThursday, 4.9., 7.30 p.m.
"Unser Deutschlandmärchen. Migrantische Hoffnungen zwischen Rebellion und Märchen" with author and publisher Dinçer GüçyeterWednesday, 8.10., 7.30 p.m.
Admission 10 Euros / reduced 5 Euros
Free lecture series by the Verein für Geschichte und Altertumskunde Westfalens followed by a tour of the exhibition (German language)
"Ein exklusiver Blick hinter die Kulissen. Führung durch die Bibliothek des Vereins" with Martin ZanglWednesday, 21.5., 6 p.m.
"Von Hexen und Witwen, Soldaten und Bischöfen: Viel mehr als Pergament und Papier" with Prof. Dr. Mechthild Black-VeldtrupWednesday, 21.5., 7 p.m., Auditorium
"Zwischen Sammeln und Ausstellen. Die Kunstwerke des Altertumsvereins 1825 bis 1905" with Dr. Gerd DethlefsThursday, 12.6., 7 p.m., Auditorium
"80+120 = 200 Jahre Münzen sammeln für Westfalen 1825 – 2025" with Stefan Kötz M.A.Wesdnesday, 9.7., 7 p.m., Auditorium
"Ein exklusiver Blick hinter die Kulissen. Führung durch die Bibliothek des Vereins" with Martin ZanglWednesday, 1.10., 6 p.m.
"Clemens von Olfers (1787–1861), seine Familie und der Altertumsverein in Münster" with Prof. Dr. Wilfried ReininghausWednesday, 1.10., 7 p.m., Auditorium