How to become museum director: lessons from the decisive years 1883 to 1887 and Karl August Möbius' appointment at the Zoological Museum in Berlin

Abstract

Karl August Möbius (1825–1908) was one of the most eminent and influential zoologists of the second part of the 19th century in Germany, and the epitome of a German Gelehrten, or scholar. Serving as director of the Zoological Museum and professor at the university in Kiel since 1880, Möbius was finally offered the post as director at the Natural History Museum in Berlin in early 1887, at the age of 62. While Möbius’ outstanding achievements in biology have only lately been outlined and fully appreciated in several papers and a book, the exact circumstances of him becoming director in Berlin were hitherto largely unknown. Researches in the archive of the Stazione Zoologica Napoli in Italy, albeit accidentially, retrieved evidence of a correspondence between Karl Möbius and Anton Dohrn, another biological pioneer at that time and founder of the Zoological Station in Naples. While Dohrn’s answers were not found, several letters written to him by Möbius between 1883 and 1887 shed new light on an apparently long-lasting process of becoming director, on Möbius’ motivation at that time to fill this vacant position in Berlin and his actions aimed at persuading officials of him. These letters, transcribed here from the originals, with some being depicted and translated, provide new insight into Möbius’ activities during this crucial period between later in 1883, after he first learned about rumors to offer the Berlin directorship to him, and the interims appointment early in 1887. At the same time, this episode offers a history in well-connected networking and self-advertisement in academia already more than a century ago, with scientists in this fashion actively securing prestigious positions (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)