Archival Work: Exchange of Experience
Münster, June 16, 2026. Today, the international archival conference of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis focused on technical aspects of archival work and collegial exchange. Dr. Heinz Mestrup, director of the Diocesan Archives of Münster, and representatives from AUGIAS-Data GmbH—whose archival software is used in the Generalate’s archives—were invited as guest speakers. Conference participants gained interesting insights into the work being done on-site through a visit to the Generalate archives at the Motherhouse, and a presentation by Generalate archivist Marie Brandl.
The day’s session began with an opening address by Sister M. Marianne Kammlage, Provincial Vicaress of the German Province. Sister M. Marianne referred to the motto of the last Provincial Chapter, “Pilgrims of Hope,” and reminded everyone that all the Sisters of the Congregation are pilgrims with a long shared history, in which every single Sister is important. “How we think and act today, in the here and now, determines what new memories we create for the future,” she said.
Dr. Heinz Mestrup, Director of the Diocesan Archives of Münster, explained the significance of Congregational archives for his institution. “The Diocesan Archives have already taken over the archives of several congregations,” he explained, noting that a regional connection to the religious community is important for such a takeover. Other aspects of his presentation included the necessary preparatory work and the legal framework for potential takeovers.
Henning Ruppel, M.Sc. in Physics, one of the managing directors of AUGIAS-Data GmbH in Senden, and his colleague Jürgen Markert, who works in consulting and product development, presented the archiving software “Augias Archiv X” and described product enhancements the company is currently working on. These included applications of AI and cloud solutions that are of interest to organizations with multiple locations.
In the afternoon, Marie Brandl, archivist at the Generalate’s archives, explained the core tasks of archival work and described numerous helpful measures for protecting archival materials—ranging from climate control in archive rooms to fire safety measures and protection against mold and insects.
Finally, the participants discussed the wide range of information and insights gained from the expert presentations and outlined the questions and tasks that will arise for their future work at their respective locations.
Some impressions of the day:
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