Rossel, Johann Heinrich Karl Ludwig

Educator, historian, archivist

born: 10.12.1815 in Wiesbaden

died: 02.07.1872 in Wiesbaden

Rossel attended Johannes de Laspée 's institute and the Pädagogium in Wiesbaden and finally the Landesgymnasium in Weilburg. He studied philology and theology in Göttingen from 1834 and was awarded his doctorate in 1837. From 1839 he was a teacher at the Pädagogium in Wiesbaden, and in 1846 he was transferred to the Pädagogium in Dillenburg, where he was appointed prorector in 1848. Here he already undertook excavations at the castle ruins. Due to his involvement in the political events of 1848/49 and his liberal views, he was dismissed from teaching in 1850. He was then a private teacher at the Schirm Commercial School in Wiesbaden.

From 1851, he acted as secretary of the Association for Nassau Antiquities and Historical Research, of which he had been a member since 1844. Rossel succeeded in arousing interest in history and antiquities in wide circles through a variety of activities. He also worked as an editor for the association. The documentation of the clearing work on the ruins of the Mauritius Church, which burned down in 1850, led to the first volume of "Denkmäler aus Nassau": "Die kirchlichen Alterthümer von Wiesbaden, insbesondere die Pfarrkirche zum heiligen Mauritius". This was followed by the publication of further volumes with research on Eberbach Abbey. After the discovery of a Roman military diploma from 116 AD in Wiesbaden, publications on Roman times were produced. Rossel also campaigned for the preservation and restoration of various works of art and monuments, e.g. the high altar of the church in Lorch, St. John's Chapel in Nieder-Lahnstein and the knights' monument in Kronberg. From 1856, in addition to his work as secretary of the association, he also took over the administration of the museum and the Nassau Antiquities Collection. In 1858 he also became secretary of the Nassau State Library.

From 1866 until his retirement in 1869, he was state archivist in Idstein. Here he was involved in the founding of the Baugewerkschule, which opened in 1869. Rossel wrote numerous publications on the history of Wiesbaden, including "Das Stadtwappen von Wiesbaden, ein Beitrag zur Ortsgeschichte" (1861). He was a member of Wiesbaden's municipal council for several years and supported the trade association and the gymnastics and workers' association in particular. In 1871/72 he was involved in organizing the newly founded Strasbourg University Library.