Joseph von Fraunhofer in the opinion of his contemporaries and posterity

An exhibition at the Landshut State Archives, curated by Johanna Girschick, on display from February 10 to April 10, 2026.   Joseph von Fraunhofer (1787-1826) was a Bavarian optician, inventor, and entrepreneur whose achievements in research are still relevant today. Born in Lower Bavaria, Fraunhofer combined exact science with application-oriented practice and discovered the Fraunhofer lines named after him. He was a member of several prestigious research institutions and enjoyed national and European renown. Honors from politics, society, and science attest to his special status. Streets in several German cities, buildings, stamps, an ICE train, and a research institution bear Fraunhofer's name. The exhibition at the Landshut State Archives marking the 200th anniversary of his death aims to raise awareness of Joseph von Fraunhofer in his home region of Lower Bavaria. It deals with the city of Straubing's approach to Fraunhofer in terms of historical memory and the 80-year struggle to erect a monument in his hometown. It becomes clear that Fraunhofer is viewed positively throughout history and in the present day. The approximately 30 exhibits come mainly from the Straubing City Archives. They are supplemented by items from the Bavarian Main State Archives and the archives of the Deutsches Museum in Munich, which holds Fraunhofer's estate. Reproductions are on display. The exhibition was developed as part of the 2021/2024 preparatory service training program for entry into the third qualification level of the education and science career path, with a focus on archiving, at the University of Public Service in Bavaria. On display from February 10 to April 10, 2026, at the State Archives in Landshut, Schlachthofstraße 10, 84034 Landshut.   Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Closed on Shrove Tuesday, Good Friday, and Easter Monday. Special opening for Archives Day on March 7, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.   Free admission. An accompanying booklet is available for the exhibition.     Fig.: Exhibition poster, Benjamin Gerum, GDA.   Posted on February 5, 2026.     Related files PM_StaA_Landshut_Ausstellung_Fraunhofer.pdf