Archive / online catalogue

The historical typewriter archive Leonhard Dingwerth (»Historisches Schreibmaschinenarchiv«) is the centrepiece of the museum’s Archive and was acquired by the municipality of Partschins in 2011 with the support of the Autonomous Province Bozen/Bolzano and the Foundation Sparkasse. It is completed by historical material and typewriter accessories endowed by the founder of the museum Kurt Ryba and other private donators.

Next to literature on the history of technology, of the typewriter and the office, the Archive holds patent letters, textbooks and instruction manuals as well as historical postcards, letters, photographs and various kinds of advertising (leaflets and brochures, advertising stamps, newspaper ads, posters and signs, promotional gifts).
A collection of ribbons, ribbon tins, different type carriers, as well as tools for the cleaning and the repair of typewriters have also found its place in the archive.

At present the Archive is being made accessible by the University of Bozen/Faculty of Design within the context of a two years research project. Over 15000 objects have been digitalized and are accessible through the online-catalogue  Kulturgüter in Südtirol of the Department of Museums of the Autonomous Province Bozen/Bolzano.