The History of the Humboldt Foundation One-and-a-half years after the death of Alexander von Humboldt,the Foundation named after him was established in Berlin in 1860 to sponsor research travel abroad by German scholars. After loss of the Foundation's capital during the depression in 1923, the Foundation was re-established in 1925 with the aim of assisting foreign scholars in undertaking postgraduate studies in Germany. After the collapse of the German Reich in 1945, the Foundation had to cease itsactivities.At the suggestion of former Humboldt guest-researchers, the Foundation was re-established by the Federal Republic of Germany on December 10, 1953 with its headquarters in Bonn-Bad Godesberg. More than 18,000 scholars from 123 countries have been sponsored to date. The Foundation About Us Who we are The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is a non-profit organisation under private law established by the Federal Republic of Germany. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables highly qualified foreign scholars holding doctorates to carry out long-term research projects in Germany. What does Humboldt Foundtion do Humboldt Research Fellowships and Humboldt Research Awards are granted without regard to national origin, ethnic group, sex or ideology. There are no quotas in respect of specific countries or disciplines. Academic qualification is the only criterion for selection. Scholars are free to choose their research projects, to choose their host institutes and host towns, and to determine their periods of research. Associated with this freedom is the idea of a most individual assistance of Humboldtians during their stay in Germany and lifelong contact upon their return home. The Man Behind the Name
Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was a nature researcher and explorer, universal genius and cosmopolitan, scientist and patron. His lengthy Latin American journey from 1799 to 1804 was celebrated as the second scientific discovery of South America. Members of natural science disciplines such as physical geography, climatology,ecology or oceanography see Humboldt as their founder. The masterpiece of his advanced years, the five-volume "Cosmos. Draft of a Physical Description of the World," has remained unique in its comprehensive approach. Alexander von Humboldt not only invested his heritage in his own studies but also selflessly sponsored other young scholars and talents, among them Justus von Liebig and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Selected Bibliography Alexander von Humboldt Alexander von Humboldts Reise durchs Baltikum nach Rußland und Sibirien 1829, aufgezeichnet von Hanno Beck, 2. Verb. Aufl. Stuttgart: Thienemann 1984 Alexander von Humboldts Amerikanische Reise, aufgezeichnet von Hanno Beck, Stuttgart: Thienemann 1985 Botting, Douglas: Alexander von Humboldt, Biographie eines großen Forschungsreisenden, 4. Edition, München: Prestel 1989 Botting, Douglas: Humboldt and the Cosmos, München/New York: Prestel 1994 Gebauer, Alfred: Alexander von Humboldt. Forschungsreisender, Geograph,Naturforscher, Berlin: Stapp 1987 Meyer-Abich, Adolf: Alexander von Humboldt, Hamburg: Rowohlt 1967(rm 131) McIntyre, Loren A.: Die amerikanische Reise. Auf den Spuren Alexander von Humboldts, 2. Edition, Hamburg: Gruner + Jahr 1986 de Terra, Helmut: Alexander von Humboldt und seine Zeit, 2. Edition, Wiesbaden: Brockhaus 1959 Slonimski, Chaim Selig: "Zur Freiheit bestimmt. Alexander von Humboldt - eine hebräische Lebensbeschreibung", including an essay about "Alexander von Humboldt und die Juden" by Peter Honigmann, edited by Kurt-Jürgen Maaß, Bonn: Bouvier Verlag 1997
