Retrospective: 250 years of Johann Conrad Fischer
An eventful summer lies behind us. The Iron Library celebrated the 250th birthday of GF founder Johann Conrad Fischer with widely acclaimed and well-attended activities. The celebrations began in June, but the preparations kept us busy for over a year.
The largest project, entitled "Travel Reports of a Pioneer", will outlast the anniversary year: with joy, enthusiasm and perseverance, the Iron Library realised an extensively illustrated and annotated digital edition of Fischer's seven travel diaries (www.johannconradfischer.com). These remarkable sources, which give the reader an expert's view of the industrialising world at the end of the 18th to the middle of the 19th century, are now available in English for the first time.
The anniversary kicked off in early June with the vernissage of the edition and the accompanying exhibition at Klostergut Paradies. On the following Sunday, the library and the Klostergut opened their doors to around five hundred guests. Inside and outside, there was much to see and experience. Visitors were the first to see the new exhibition on Fischer's travels, mint a commemorative medal, operate an original Fischer fire pump from the early 19th century, take a ride on a steamboat or try their hand at blacksmithing.
Inspired by the world and the journeys recorded in the diaries, we set off via Paris to England. From 12 to 22 June, we followed in the footsteps of Johann Conrad Fischer and reported on the extraordinary remains of industrial marvels in a video blog that is available on our Youtube channel.
On 13 September, the eve of Fischer's 250th birthday, the actual highlight and conclusion of the anniversary took place: Georg Fischer Ltd, the Naturforschende Gesellschaft Schaffhausen and the town of Schaffhausen jointly invited everyone to a festive "birthday party" with a keynote speech, an illustrious panel and atmospheric music.
We would like to thank everyone who accompanied and supported us in this anniversary year and who participated in the numerous activities. It was a great honour and pleasure to celebrate with you.
Roland Gröbli, GF Corporate Secretary and Chairman of the Iron Library Governing Board, welcomes guests to the vernissage for the digital edition of Fischer's travel journals.
Franziska Eggimann, Head Iron Library and Corporate Archives, explains the project.
Prof. Marcus Popplow introduced the time and world of Fischer in his guest lecture.
Nicolau Lutz of the Iron Library gives a teaser of the Jubilee journey in Fischer's footsteps.
Valerija Rukavina of the Iron Library explains the research process behind the digital edition.
Christopher Zoller-Blundell gives an impression of the many hundreds of images that can be found in the digital edition.
Andreas Fischer, a direct descendent of Johann Conrad, rings a bell cast by his ancestor.
Guests arrive for the open day on June 11.
The auditorium becomes a mint: guests pressing a commemorative medal.
Visitors in the Iron Library finding out about Fischer's books and the literature of the Industrial Revolution.
The steam boat returning to dock at Paradies.
Nina Schläfli gives an expert tour about Fischer's networks and scientific exchange.
Peter Niederhäuser enthrals guests with a special tour about Fischer´s turbulent times.
A special tour about the culture of industry in Fischer's time.
A special tour about the culture of industry in Fischer's time.
Valerija Rukavina and Nicolau Lutz give a demonstration of how to navigate the digital edition of the travel journals.
At the festive celebration on September 13, Franziska Eggimann presents Fischer´s life and his qualities as a pioneer, citizen and entrepreneur.
The September festivities included a panel discussion moderated by historian Matthias Wipf, Andreas Müller (CEO GF), Peter Neukomm (President of Schaffhausen) and Iwan Stössel (Naturforschende Gesellschaft Schaffhausen).
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