Goethe-Gesellschaft Hannover

The Goethe-Gesellschaft Hannover e.V. is a German literary society based in Hannover and a local branch (Ortsvereinigung) of the Goethe-Gesellschaft in Weimar. Founded on 8 May 1925 (or, according to some accounts, on 26 September 1925) largely on the initiative of Walther Lampe, it is the oldest literary society in the city of Hannover and has existed for more than 90 years. Its stated purpose is to keep the work of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe alive for the present day, and it organizes generally accessible lectures for curious people of all ages regardless of their educational or professional background. The society is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) with its seat at the St. Ursula-Schule Hannover in the Südstadt district, Simrockstraße 20. The society typically holds about one event per month, usually on Wednesdays, often at the Theatermuseum in Hannover. These evenings are devoted to individual works by Goethe, to his life, to the themes of his era, and to contemporary reception and research. Lectures are given by high-calibre speakers and are generally free for members. In addition to lectures, the society organizes trips and occasionally cooperates with municipal libraries and their friends' associations, the Hannover city archive, schools, the Fontanekreis, the Wilhelm-Busch-Gesellschaft, the Konzertstube Kanapee and the Logenhaus. Historically, the Hannover branch was one of the most significant local Goethe societies. In the 1950s it was, with up to 1,200 members, the largest local association of the Goethe-Gesellschaft, helped by a long and close connection with the bookshop Sachse & Heinzelmann, whose co-owner Margarete Jockusch served as managing board member from 1949 to 1989 and then as honorary chairwoman. By 1995 membership had fallen to around 400, and today it stands at around 200 members. Cultural highlights have included commemorative ceremonies for Charlotte Kestner in 1928 and 2003, Goethe commemorations in 1932, 1949 and 1982, and the hosting of the 'Vororttagung' of the then 37 local associations of the Goethe-Gesellschaft in 1993. The society has also published anniversary volumes and annual gifts for its members.

The Goethe-Gesellschaft Hannover was founded in the Weimar Republic, largely on the initiative of Walther Lampe. Sources differ on the exact date: the society's own website states that it was founded on 8 May 1925, while the German Wikipedia article gives 26 September 1925. It was established as the Hannover local association (Ortsvereinigung) of the Goethe-Gesellschaft in Weimar, the parent organization that today has over 3,000 members in 50 countries and a network of 59 independent German local associations and 37 international Goethe societies. Although Goethe never travelled to Hannover, a small circle of ambitious connoisseurs and lovers of Goethe took on a certain obligation: as founding members they wanted to keep alive the memory not only of Goethe and his work but also of persons close to Goethe who came from Hannover, above all Charlotte Buff from Wetzlar. Walther Lampe guided the society for decades: he was Second Chairman until 1947, then First Chairman until 1964, and from 1969 honorary chairman. In the 1950s the Hannover branch was, with up to 1,200 members, the largest local association of the Goethe-Gesellschaft. This growth was supported by a long and close connection with the bookshop Sachse & Heinzelmann, whose co-owner Margarete Jockusch served as managing board member from 1949 to 1989 and became honorary chairwoman in 1989. Cultural highlights of the society included the commemorative ceremonies for Charlotte Kestner in 1928 and 2003, the Goethe commemorations in 1932, 1949 and 1982, and the hosting of the 'Vororttagung' of the then 37 local associations of the Goethe-Gesellschaft in 1993. Membership declined over the decades: in 1995 the society recorded around 400 members, and currently it has around 200. The society has published annual gifts for members (documented for 1957 to 1960) and several anniversary volumes: 'Vierzig Jahre Goethe-Gesellschaft, Hannover: 1925–1965' compiled by Margarete Jokusch (1965), 'Sechzig Jahre Goethe-Gesellschaft Hannover: 1925–1985' (1985), and 'Siebzig Jahre Goethe-Gesellschaft Hannover. 1925–1995' (1995). It is also covered in Klaus Mlynek's entry in the Stadtlexikon Hannover (2009). Today the society continues its programme of lectures, usually held at the Theatermuseum in Hannover, and organizes trips, cooperating with local cultural institutions.

• 2009

  Covered in Klaus Mlynek's entry in the Stadtlexikon Hannover.

• 1995

  Membership stands at around 400; publication of 'Siebzig Jahre Goethe-Gesellschaft Hannover. 1925–1995'.

• 1993

  Hosting of the 'Vororttagung' of the then 37 local associations of the Goethe-Gesellschaft.

• 1989

  Margarete Jockusch becomes honorary chairwoman.

• 1985

  Publication of 'Sechzig Jahre Goethe-Gesellschaft Hannover: 1925–1985'.

• 1969

  Walther Lampe becomes honorary chairman.

• 1965

  Publication of 'Vierzig Jahre Goethe-Gesellschaft, Hannover: 1925–1965'.

• 1964

  End of Walther Lampe's term as First Chairman.

• 1950

  In the 1950s the society reaches up to 1,200 members, becoming the largest local association of the Goethe-Gesellschaft.

• 1949

  Goethe commemorative ceremony; Margarete Jockusch becomes managing board member (until 1989).

• 1947

  Walther Lampe becomes First Chairman (until 1964).

• 1932

  Goethe commemorative ceremony.

• 1928

  Commemorative ceremony for Charlotte Kestner.

• 1925

  Founding of the Goethe-Gesellschaft Hannover as a local association of the Goethe-Gesellschaft in Weimar (8 May or 26 September, depending on source).

A non-profit, member-based literary society and local branch of the Weimar Goethe-Gesellschaft, offering accessible, scholarly lectures on Goethe to a broad audience in Hannover.

• Jahresgabe. Für die Mitglieder der Goethe-Gesellschaft Hannover

  Annual gift publication for members, documented for the years 1957 to 1960.

• Vierzig Jahre Goethe-Gesellschaft, Hannover: 1925–1965

  Anniversary volume compiled by Margarete Jokusch, published in 1965.

• Sechzig Jahre Goethe-Gesellschaft Hannover: 1925–1985

  Anniversary volume published in 1985.

• Siebzig Jahre Goethe-Gesellschaft Hannover. 1925–1995

  Anniversary volume published in 1995.

1. 1Goethe-Gesellschaft Hannover - Startseitegoethe-gesellschaft-hannover.de
2. 2Goethe-Gesellschaft Hannover - Geschichtegoethe-gesellschaft-hannover.de
3. 3Goethe-Gesellschaft Hannoverde.wikipedia.org
4. 4Goethe-Gesellschaft-Hannoverwikidata.org