מכון גוטליב שומאכר
לחקר הנוכחות הנוצרית בארץ ישראל בעת החדשה
אוניברסיטת חיפה
The Gottlieb Schumacher Institute is a leading research center dedicated to the study of the history, culture, and heritage of Christian individuals, communities, institutions, and organizations in Palestine from the mid-nineteenth century until the establishment of the State of Israel. The Institute is named after Gottlieb Schumacher (1857–1925), a German-American engineer, architect, and archaeologist active in Palestine during the late Ottoman period. Schumacher conducted pioneering geographical and archaeological surveys in the region and left a lasting impact on the scholarly study of the country. He spent his final years in his home on Mount Carmel in Haifa.
History
The Institute was founded in 1987 at the initiative of the late Prof. Alex Carmel, a pioneer in the study of the Templers in Palestine. He spearheaded efforts at University of Haifa to establish both the Chair and the Institute for the Study of the Christian Contribution to the Development of Palestine in the nineteenth century.
Since 1993, the Institute has been housed at Beit Keller, following the restoration and renovation of the building through generous donations from Germany, primarily from the German Federal Foreign Office and the Fritz Thyssen Foundation in Cologne, Germany.
Research Areas
The Institute is devoted to advancing research and disseminating knowledge concerning Christian activity in the Land of Israel in the modern era, with particular emphasis on documenting and preserving the heritage of the Templers in the country in general, and in Haifa and northern Israel in particular. Its research focuses on the distinctive impact of the various Christian communities active in the Land of Israel on the development of the modern Jewish settlement, as well as on the emergence of modern agriculture, industry, and urban life.
Archive and Library
The Institute’s library and archival collections constitute a major research resource for the study of Christian activity in Palestine during the modern period. The holdings include extensive and rare materials documenting the activities of Christian individuals, communities, institutions, and organizations that were active in the Land of Israel, particularly in the Haifa region and northern Israel. These collections comprise original manuscripts, correspondence, administrative records, historical photographs, a substantial collection of historical maps and architectural plans, and other unique items that illuminate the contributions of Christian settlers and institutions to the social, cultural, and economic development of the region. The Institute’s collections are accessible to scholars, graduate students, and the public.
A central objective of the Institute is the systematic identification, acquisition, and long-term preservation of private papers and related materials. Special priority is given to documents, photographs, and personal archives held by descendants of Christian settlers, missionaries, and members of the numerous religious, civic, and charitable institutions that operated in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Palestine. These privately held materials often constitute irreplaceable primary sources and are particularly vulnerable to loss.
In parallel, the Institute is committed to safeguarding official archival records relevant to its field of study. Many such documents remain in the custody of churches, missionary societies, and other Christian institutions formerly active in the region. Without professional preservation measures, these materials face the risk of deterioration or permanent disappearance.
Furthermore, the Institute actively locates and reproduces archival records from the foreign consulates of European countries that operated in Palestine. These reproduced collections are systematically catalogued, preserved under appropriate archival standards, and integrated into the Institute’s research infrastructure, thereby ensuring their long-term accessibility for the international scholarly community.
The Institute Activities