Brothers Grimm Medal
The Brothers Grimm Medal was first awarded by the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in 1963, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the death of Jacob Grimm (1785–1863). It honours individuals who have made significant contributions over many years to philological and historical research, but who are not professionally engaged in academic work.
The award is intended as a special recognition for work that is both of scholarly value and methodologically sound. The Grimm Medal is not awarded on a regular basis.
Candidates must be nominated by the Humanities and Social Sciences Class to the Academy’s plenary assembly, preferably in the year preceding the award ceremony. Self-applications are not accepted.
Recipients
2023
Dr Wolfgang Schellmann, Lüneburg, for his remarkable scholarly contributions to the history of books and culture in the Early Modern Period.
2016
Dr Michael Kunze, Hamburg, for his substantial and methodologically exemplary research in legal history, as well as for his historical works that have also reached a broader public audience.
2006
Dr Wolfdieter Haas, Seevetal-Ramelsloh, for his publications in the field of medieval historical research.
1999
Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Laub, Goslar, for his work on the history of the Harz region.
1997
Hermann Haiduck, Wilhelmshaven, for his research in the field of rural church architecture in medieval northern Germany.
1985
Dr Ludwig Denecke, Hann. Münden, for his contributions to the study of the lives and works of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.
Hajo Hayen, Varel, for his work in the fields of peatland research, prehistoric transport systems, and settlement studies in north-western Germany.
1971
Dieter Zoller, Bad Zwischenahn, for his exceptional contributions to prehistoric and early historical research, particularly his studies on settlement patterns in the north-west German lowlands and on fortifications and historical routes.
1968
Hans Drescher, Hamburg-Harburg, for his metallurgical research on the trade history of the Roman Iron Age and for his verification of the absolute chronology of this period.
Dr Benno Eide Siebs, Bremerhaven, for his scholarly work in the history, language, and ethnology of the Frisian North Sea region.
1965
Dr Hans Wohltmann, Stade, for his academic contributions to the history of northern Lower Saxony, the urban history of Stade, folklore studies, the history of the Worpswede artists' colony, and for his services to monument preservation in the Weser-Elbe region.
1963
Dr Paul Alpers, Celle, for his scholarly work on Lower Saxon folk songs, legends, and field names, as well as on dialectology and cultural history.
Wilhelm Barner, Alfeld (Leine), for his academic work in prehistory and early history, folklore, and folk legal history.
Wilhelm Hartmann, Hildesheim, for his historical research on Lower Saxony and for his efforts in making important non-state archives accessible.