Karl Faber facts for kids
Karl Peter Andreas Faber (born August 12, 1773 – died January 19, 1853) was an important Prussian archivist and historian. He spent his life working with old documents and writing about history in his hometown of Königsberg, which was then part of East Prussia.
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Who Was Karl Faber?
Karl Faber was born in Königsberg, a major city in Prussia. He studied at the University of Königsberg. After finishing his studies, he became a leading expert in managing historical records.
What is an Archivist?
An archivist is like a detective for history! They are people who collect, organize, and preserve important documents, letters, maps, and other historical records. These records are kept safe in special places called archives. Archivists make sure these old papers can be used by historians and researchers to learn about the past.
Faber's Important Work
In 1808, Karl Faber became the chief archivist at the Prussian State Archive. This was a very important job, as he was in charge of many valuable historical documents.
A New Way to Study History
Faber, along with another archivist named Ernst Hennig, changed how archives were managed in Königsberg. They started using a more scientific way to study and organize historical records. This meant they looked at documents very carefully and systematically, almost like scientists doing an experiment.
Sharing Historical Secrets
One of Faber's most famous actions was making public some letters in 1811. These letters were written by Martin Luther, a very famous religious reformer, to Albert, Duke of Prussia. Sharing these letters helped people learn more about an important time in history.
Faber's Writings
Karl Faber also wrote several books and even started a newspaper.
- In 1829, he published Taschenbuch für Königsberg.
- In 1841, he wrote Die Haupt- und Residenzstadt Königsberg.
- For a short time in 1831, he produced a newspaper called Königsberger Abendzeitung.
Later Life and Recognition
In 1837, the philosophy department at the University of Königsberg gave Faber an honorary doctorate. This was a special award to recognize his great contributions to history and archiving. Karl Faber passed away in his hometown of Königsberg in 1853.
