Insights into the History of the Collection

Gotthilf Roos

8.10.1856 – ?

Gotthilf Roos was born on 8 October 1856 in Schmieheim near Lahr. Before he came to Freiburg in 1893, he lived in Tjitjalengka on the island of Java in Indonesia. He moved from Freiburg to North America on 1 June 1908. Further details about his biography are not known.

Roos Donation

There is only one letter from Gotthilf Roos in the files of the Museum für Natur- und Völkerkunde. In it he lists eleven objects from Indonesia, which he offers to the museum as a gift. These include, for example, rain hats made of palm leaves, a weapon made in Borneo, other weapons from Java and Javanese clothing. The Freiburg press made particular mention of the hats and weapons from Java and Borneo. Although small, comprising only the eleven objects, the value of the collection was estimated by Hugo Ficke in 1905 to be 350 marks. The Roos Collection is still completely intact in its entirety in the museum's holdings.