Kurpfalz-Stiftung Franz Schnabel

The Kurpfalz-Stiftung Franz Schnabel is a non-legal entity foundation under civil law, operating under the umbrella of the Mannheim Antiquities Association of 1859. It was named after the prominent German historian and honorary citizen Franz Schnabel, who bequeathed his estate to the association. The income from this estate is used to promote local and regional historical research. Since the 1950s, the foundation’s funds have supported the publication of numerous series (including "Mannheimer Hefte," "Kleine Schriften," "Mannheimer Geschichtsblätter," and "Mannheimer historische Schriften"). Additionally, the foundation supports restoration measures, targeted acquisitions of paintings, graphics, and manuscripts (e.g., the renovation of the Mannheim Roman stones or the acquisition of a Baroque portrait by Johann Wilhelm Hofnaas), exhibition presentations, and the digitization of objects.

The Kurpfalz Foundation Franz Schnabel is committed to sustainably promoting local and regional historical research. It provides financial resources for scholarly publications by both young and established historians, for the restoration and acquisition of culturally and historically significant objects, as well as for their exhibition and digital accessibility. The goal is to keep the historical heritage of the former Electorate of the Palatinate and the city of Mannheim alive and accessible to a broad public.

The funding is aimed at scholars and early-career researchers in the field of urban and regional history, museums and cultural-historical institutions (in particular the Mannheim Antiquarian Society and the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums), as well as an interested professional audience and historically engaged laypersons. Projects and publications that deepen the understanding of Mannheim and Kurpfalz history and present new research findings to a broad audience are supported.