School in the 17th and 18th centuries was completely different from today. There was little government regulation, and there were no set curricula. Anyone who wanted to could offer lessons to students; all that was needed was to find parents willing to pay for them. In general, school was not free—and it was even more expensive in the winter than in the summer, because fuel for heating had to be paid for separately. It was only gradually that compulsory education was successfully implemented, for both boys and girls. Sources from the city archives provide information on these and many other topics. 

In a course at the Department of History at Johannes Gutenberg University, students under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Bettina Braun examined these sources and compiled a selection into an online edition, making these texts readily accessible via the City Archives’ website. 

In this session, the students will present their project, describe the many steps involved—from deciphering the texts to creating the digital edition—and provide insight into the school system in Mainz during the 17th and 18th centuries.