Theodor Zink

Theodor Zink (born September 24, 1871 in Ulmet , † October 31, 1934 in Kaiserslautern ) was a teacher, collector, local researcher and curator of the Landesgewerbeanstalt in Kaiserslautern and founder of the Theodor Zink Museum .

Life

Like his father, Theodor Zink initially took up the teaching profession. After attending the preparatory school in Kusel and the teachers' college in Kaiserslautern (1888–1890), he worked as a teacher in several places in the West Palatinate. In 1900 he was transferred to Kaiserslautern, where he last worked as a senior teacher.

In addition to his school service, he collected many things from the craft and folklore . His research into the history of the city of Kaiserslautern encouraged him to set up a public museum. However, the First World War ruined this plan.

In 1924, Zink resigned from school and became a conservator at the Palatinate State Trade Institute in Kaiserslautern. There he took over the “Inventory of the Palatinate Handicraft Antiquities” department and traveled to the Palatinate together with the photographer Reinhold Wilking (1899–1944). In this context, not only was an extensive photo library created , but numerous objects could also be acquired for the collections.

From 1926 onwards, the city of Kaiserslautern made some rooms available provisionally in which he could exhibit his collected works. Countless donations in kind from the population made the space in these rooms too small. A corresponding building was found on Stiftsplatz , the former Spittelmühle. The museum was supposed to open in October 1934.

Theodor Zink died a few weeks before the opening at the age of 63 of a heart attack. The museum was named Theodor-Zink-Museum in his honor .

Reopening of the museum

The Spittelmühle was demolished in connection with the construction of the east-west axis, one of today's main traffic routes in the city. The collections were moved to various locations during the Second World War . The new beginning was delayed because no new rooms were available. The museum was only reopened in 1978 in a former restaurant on Steinstrasse. The Theodor-Zink-Museum shows a permanent exhibition on the city's history as well as changing exhibitions. Cultural events, such as readings and chamber concerts, take place regularly in the museum's barn.

In addition to the museum, a street in Kaiserslautern is named after Theodor Zink.

Fonts

• Palatine fountain . From Palatinate Art and Art. E. Lincks-Crusius, Kaiserslautern 1926.
• North Palatinate town houses, gates and doors . Thieme, Kaiserslautern 1929.
• The Palatinate . Text & image collection. In: German folk art . Delphin-Verlag, Munich 1931.
• The Palatinate . Text & picture collection by Theodor Zink. Weidlich, Frankfurt / Main 1982, ISBN 3-8035-1171-2 . (unchanged reprint with additional foreword)

Web links

• Museum website