Access to Research Institutions in the German Democratic Republic

This report is based on responses to questionnaires distributed since mid-1982 by the Ad Hoc Committee on Ac­cess to GDR Archives. This question­naire has asked American scholars, who had recently sought access to GDR ar­chives, to describe their experiences from their initial requests to the comple­tion of their archival work. Although the data collected do not lend them­selves to tabulation, a rather consistent picture emerges nonetheless.

The GDR archives system can appar­ently only serve a limited number of researchers during any given period of time. Libraries, on the other hand, are easier to gain access to. Limited space may account for a part of the apparently erratic granting of access to archival materials, but other considerations also appear to influence decisions on access, since some applications are rejected out­ right.

In most cases no reason is given for rejection, so it is difficult to know the basis for such denials. ls there a numerus clausus regulation? Does a value judg­ment made about the applicant or the proposed research theme play a role? The latter is apparently the case, since experience has shown that topics dating from 1933 to the present stand almost no chance of being approved and those involving the period between 1917 and 1933 stand little chance of approval. The less overtly political the subject the better the chance of approval, and if one is writing on the music of Bach in the context of the eighteenth century, access is almost assured.

Another major problem is logistical; that is, once access to the institution(s) has been granted, the issues of visas and accommodations become of primary importance. Not only must there be space­ in the research institution, but a hotel room or similar accommodation must also be available. In fact, the granting of a visa is at times dependent upon display of a hotel voucher. While respondents to the questionnaire had a variety of experiences with accommodations, the most common complaint was related to the GDR’s insistence that visitors stay in the most expensive hotel in the area. On the other hand, some scholars have been able to rent rooms in pensions and private houses without too much trou­ble. The issue of registering with the local police is taken care of when one books into a hotel, but becomes more complex when other types of accommoda­tions are found. This step is also time consuming. There is no consensus of opinion as to the most efficient way to book a room, but most of the respon­dents used the State Travel Agency on Alexanderplatz in Berlin for the pur­pose. Service in the research institutions has been reported in general as being good.

Based on information contained in the survey and on previous correspon­dence and experience, the Committee makes the following recommendations: We urge all scholars wishing access to apply, even those who wish to do work in “gray” subject areas (e.g. right-wing movements in the Weimar period, the influence of the Reichskulturkammer, most areas of World War I research, etc.), because one simply does not know exactly what motivates the decision to grant or withhold access. In addition, the following suggestions should be ob­served:

1. Apply as soon as possible and allow plenty of time for a reply;
2. Go through official channels and follow instructions to the letter;
3. Treat your application as if you were asking for a grant; put your­self in the place of the reviewer of your proposal. Be matter of fact; be careful and clear in your style; bring out related circumstances, pertinent publications, or sponsor­ ship of your project;
4. Be specific about what you want to see, by using information gleaned from GDR archival guides and other references to the records you see;
5. Do not pressure GDR authorities unduly;
6. Be patient.

The Committee continues to be inter­ested in receiving information from scholars about their experiences in ar­chives and libraries of the GDR.