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Archives

© Linde AG
Files in the archives? Or to destruction? In times of digitalisation and GDPR, there is often great uncertainty how files must or may be handled. No enterprise must destroy however due to the GDPR all its files, all the same whether they exist physically or digitally. With clear processes and regulations for the file transfer into the archive as well as their permanent storage, the company´s history can be documented even today for the future, while at the same time protecting the data from unauthorized access. Modern and future-proof. GUG has built up special expertise in this area and developed sustainable strategies. We would be happy to advise you.
Historical archives collect information about the development of enterprises. They are created within the historical context of an individual firm and thus are unique and valuable. The past is preserved and made accessible here. At the same time, the present and the future are recorded and made available as future past. The secure keeping of this information is ensured through the collecting and storing of documents with special care for conservatory conditions.

Not only can the emergence and evolution of an enterprise’s unique business culture thus be traced and put to use, but also legal certainty and the preservation of its tradition are important gains for a business. Not least, marketing and communications departments use historical themes and facts which the archive prepares and puts at their disposal.
The GUG supports enterprises in the assessment and processing of archive-worthy records up to their incorporation into the archive. Its employees catalogue the records and store them according to archival standards in order to ensure their lasting availability. The GUG also counsels on preparations for emergencies, archival software, archive guidelines, and adequate spaces. Modern approaches to “archives 4.0” are part of our expertise. The GUG wants to promote sustainability in archiving.

The GUG assists enterprises with consulting, training, workshops, and the deployment of full-time employees on-site. Together with our clients, we design concepts for archive solutions tailored to their needs. The GUG can be commissioned to build a corporate archive from scratch or to extend, reorganize, or continue an existing archive on a professional basis.

Current archive projects:

Augustinum gGmbH, Munich (Archive development)
In 2023, GUG was commissioned by Augustinum gGmbH to set up a corporate archive for the non-profit group of companies. To this end, relevant files are being searched for, compiled, evaluated and catalogued throughout the company, and suitable premises for long-term archiving are being sought. The work of the archive is being professionalised through the introduction of archive software, and the future transfer of relevant documents to the company archive is being organised through the development of an archive policy.

Employees: Kai Balazs-Bartesch (consulting), Dr. Vernessa Wagner (consulting and archive).
Behn Meyer & Co. (Editing project)
The Behn Meyer trading company was founded in Singapore in 1840. Extensive correspondence exists from its early days up to the 1910s. This is being transcribed as part of an editing project to make it accessible for academic research.

Employee: Christiane Borchert.
Brenntag SE, Essen (Archive support)
Since May 2023, GUG has been providing Brenntag SE with conceptual support in setting up a professional company archive. This includes support for the introduction of modern archiving software and assistance in developing archiving guidelines. In addition, GUG is available to provide advice on all matters relating to data protection, archiving law and much more.

Employee: Kai Balzs-Bartesch.
Curt Mast Jägermeister Foundation, Klaus-Friedrich-Foundation, Wolfenbüttel (Archive development)
Since January 2021, GUG has been building an archive for the foundations of the Mast family of entrepreneurs. As part of this project, existing files are being evaluated, catalogued and relocated. At the same time, archiving guidelines for the future transfer of files are being developed and historical documentation on the activities of both foundations is being compiled.

Employee: Tobias Stingel-Boecking.
Gerolsteiner Brunnen GmbH & Co. KG (Archive development)
Planning and developing the company archive of Gerolsteiner Brunnen GmbH & Co. KG was one of GUG mbH’s first archive projects and has been ongoing since 2011. We support the build-up of a completely new archive, which also involves advising on construction and drafting an archival guideline. At the same time, we collect, search for, and digitize archive-worthy records.

Employee: Tim Dielmann.
KPMG AG Auditing Firm, Berlin (Archive optimisation)
GUG mbH advises KPMG on all matters relating to the company archive and supports the auditing firm in dealing with historically relevant issues. The historical archive has been optimised here since 2011. GUG also contributed to the development of an archiving policy.

Employee: Dr. Andrea H. Schneider-Braunberger.
Nürnberg Institut für Marktentscheidung e.V., Nuremberg (Archive development)
The Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM) has commissioned GUG to further develop and comprehensively digitise its existing archive. With the help of text capture, the studies and concepts on market research are to be made available for scientific evaluation. To this end, the history of the NIM is to be presented in a small exhibition.

To visit the NIM website see: https://www.nim.org/

Employees: Kai Balazs-Bartesch, Tim Dielmann.
RUD. IBACH SOHN
GUG mbH assists the former piano manufactuter in all questions concerning the management of its company archive and conducts research.

Employees: Kai Balazs-Bartesch.
Zoologische Gesellschaft Frankfurt von 1858 e.V., Frankfurt (Archive optimisation)
Since 2023, GUGmbH has been advising Frankfurt Zoological Society (ZGF) on the professionalisation and structuring of its archive. The focus is on developing work processes for transferring documents to the archive and devising a suitable archival structure and digital strategy.

Employee: Kai Balazs-Bartesch.

Completed archive projects:

adidas AG, Herzogenauchach (Archive development)
The document archive at adidas AG’s headquarters in Herzogenaurach has been built up from 2014 until 2018. The GUG archivists collected files, set up and administrated a database, drafted archival guidelines, and catalogued records. GUG also assisted in the writing of the company history by research, conducting interviews, and support of the historians.

Employee: Sandra Trapp
Bankhaus C.L. Seeliger, Wolfenbüttel (Archive cataloguing)
In preparation for a book project, which by now is underway, the historical records of the banking house were surveyed, catalogues, and boxed.
BASF SE, Ludwigshafen am Rhein (Archive consulting)
In 2010, GUG advised BASF on archiving guidelines and corporate archives.
Block Group
From 2017 to 2018, GUG supports Block Marketing GmbH in developing a company archive for the whole Block enterprise group. Historically relevant files and objects are collected ad made accessible in order to preserve the company’s historical heritage. GUG employees surveyed and evaluated material, drafted archive guidelines, and classified contents. The archive is to support Block Group’s preparations for their 50th anniversary.
Block Gruppe, Hamburg (Archive management)
From July to December 2020, GUG managed the Block Group archive.
BORGERS SE & Co. KGaA, Bocholt (Archive consulting)
GUG mbH advised Borgers on optimising its archive, introducing an archiving policy and evaluating existing material from 2018 to 2019.
Bosch Thermotechnology, Wetzlar (Archive relocation)
Between July 2016 and May 2017, GUG mbH was tasked with the relocation of Buderus’s archive from Wetzlar to the Bosch company archive in Stuttgart-Feuerbach. The complete holdings were catalogued and boxed.
Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA), Berlin (Archive development)
From August 2019 to February 2020, GUG began setting up the BDA's historical archive. GUG took on the task of reviewing and evaluating the file inventory, transferring, cataloguing and digitising material worthy of archiving. It provided support in developing archive guidelines, including terms of use, and in overseeing the programming process for archive software.
Lufthansa Group, Frankfurt (Archive optimisation)
From 2016 until 2019, GUG mbH has been tasked with the optimization of Lufthansa AG’s company archive. Apart from surveying, appraising, cataloguing, and pre-paring for storage the archive’s complete holdings, GUG assists Lufthansa in the selection and implementation of archival software, integration of databases, and the drafting of archival guidelines and usage regulations. As part of Lufthansa’s His-torical Communication, the archive replies to numerous questions on all aspects of business history coming from inside and outside the company.
Engelhard Arzneimittel, Niederdorfelden (Archive development)
As part of the study on the history of Engelhard Arzneimittel, GUG provided support in 2011 and 2012 with setting up the archive of Engelhard Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG.
H. Schmincke & Co. GmbH & Co. KG, Erkrath (Archive cataloguing)
As part of a pre-study beginning in 2017, historically relevant company files of the manufacturer of finest artists’ colours from Eckrath were catalogued and boxed according to archival standards. This project was part of a research and feasibility study in preparation of a scholarly business history of the family-led enterprise.
Knorr-Bremse AG, Munich (Archive optimisation)
From the end of 2021 to the end of 2024, GUG has been assisting with the professionalisation of the Knorr-Bremse AG archive. This included the (re)evaluation of existing archive materials, the cataloguing and relocation of documents worthy of archiving, and the creation of an archive structure and archive guidelines.
Krauss Maffei Group, Munich (Archive cataloguing)
Cataloguing workers‘ index cards, 2016-2017.
Liebherr-International Deutschland GmbH, Biberach (Archive development)
November 2011 marked the start for building the company archive of Liebherr Group in co-operation with GUG mbH. GUG was responsible for collecting material, cataloguing, and archival guidelines. In December 2021, the project was successfully completed and the archive transferred into Liebherr's hands.
Linde Group, Munich (Archive optimisation)
From 2012 to the end of 2022, GUG mbH was involved in expanding and optimising the corporate archive of Linde plc. In addition to organising the archive according to provenance, procuring archive software and supporting corporate communications with internal and external enquiries on topics and publications relating to the company's history, the focus was on cataloguing core holdings and preserving archive material through digitisation.
LVM Landwirtschaftlicher Versicherungsverein Münster a.G., Münster (Archive development)
From April 2019 to December 2021, GUG was commissioned to set up the LVM corporate archive. The project began with the evaluation and subsequent cataloguing of the existing material. The focus was on introducing an archiving policy and archiving software, among other things. In the course of setting up the archive, GUG provided information for the upcoming company anniversary. After the successful completion of the archive setup, ongoing operations were handed over to LVM. GUG will continue to advise on the archive.
Mast-Jägermeister SE, Wolfenbüttel (Archive development)
GUG MbH has been building the Historical Company Archive of Mast-Jägermeister SE from 2015 until 2019. Apart from files and photographs, he archive of course also contains a fascinating collection of bottles, and the complete records of the marketing campaign “I drink Jägermeister because…”.
Munich Re, Munich (Archive continuation)
2015-2018, GUG mbH extended Munich Re’s historical archive. We collected for archiving further files dating from ca. 1980 or later, ensured the usability of holdings, and developed archival guidelines.
Munich Re, Munich (Archive continuation)
Since July 2020, GUG has been supporting the further development and maintenance of Munich Re's archive in Munich. This included cataloguing archive materials and processing enquiries to the archive.
RKW - German Economy Centre for Rationalisation and Innovation (Library and archive development)
From August 2019 to June 2020, GUG built up the library and archive of the German Economy Rationalisation and Innovation Centre, which was founded in 1921. This includes the systematic cataloguing of the journal holdings as well as the existing and outsourced old files, photos, films, etc. The development of an archiving policy will regulate the future storage of historically relevant documents.
Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart (Archive cataloguing)
From mid-June 2022 to March 2023, GUG mbH was commissioned to process the interim archive of Bosch GmbH in Stuttgart. The work mainly consisted of cataloguing the documents and transferring them for permanent archiving.
Sartorius Corporate Administration GmbH, Göttingen (Archive development)
The creation of Sartorius’s historical archive began in October 2016. Sartorius is a world-wide leading supplier of devices for pharmaceutical and laboratory appli-cations whose origins in the city of Göttingen date back to the year 1870. The archive contains not only voluminous holdings of files, but also many objects which document the company’s development. GUG assisted in the creation of a completely new archive, including construction of appropriate storage space, archival guidelines, and the collection, surveying, cataloguing, and digitization of historical-ly relevant records. The cooperation also bore fruit in the form of several publications on the history of Sartorius. Since May of 2022 the archive is managed by Sartorius itself.
UniCredit Bank Group, Munich (Evaluation of archival material)
GUG mbH was tasked 2017 with the evaluating the archive-worthiness of records from the registry of UniCredit in Munich.
Weleda AG, Schwäbisch Gmünd (Archive development)
Since 2021, GUG has been overseeing the development of a modern corporate archive in combination with the registry at Weleda AG. In addition to the recording, evaluation, indexing and repositioning of existing stocks, an archive guideline for the transfer of new stocks is also being developed, and the transfer process for the corporate registry is being revised. The aim is to create an efficient and living corporate archive.
Wintershall Dea GmbH, Kassel (Archive development)
GUG supported Wintershall Dea GmbH from 2023 to March 2025 in setting up its company archive. The existing archive holdings of the two predecessor companies, Wintershall and DEA, were processed, catalogued and relocated. GUG also assisted with the transfer of the archive to the Hessian Economic Archive and the migration of inventory data when Wintershall Dea's production was sold and its head office in Kassel was closed.
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