Digitizing Dissertation Data: Annual Directories of Publications at German Universities (1885–1987)

In a citizen science project, we are digitizing the catalogue of dissertations and habilitation theses („Habilitationsschriften“) published at all German institutions of higher education between 1885 and 1987. It comprehensively covers a century of German doctoral education and contains information on the degree holder, the faculty granting the degree, and the title of the thesis. This allows us to identify the flow of new German-trained scientists by year, their initial research topics, and in many cases their socio-economic backgrounds. The data enables research studies on a broad set of issues, such as discrimination against female researchers, the evolution of technical universities, the doctoral training in engineering disciplines, migration, and socio-economic background of scientists.

Project Partner: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (CompGen)