The Institute for the History of Medicine (IGM), based in Stuttgart, is a unique research institution with a history spanning several decades. It owes its existence to the keen interest of its founder, Robert Bosch (1861–1942), in the history of healthcare in general and homeopathy in particular.

The IGM was established in 1980 and headed by medical historian Renate Wittern-Sterzel. Werner Friedrich Kümmel took over from 1986 to 1988. From 1990 to 2020, Robert Jütte headed the institute, promoting and further developing not only the history of homeopathy and complementary medicine, but also the social history of medicine in particular. The focus on patient history linked these two areas of emphasis and set new standards in medical history throughout Germany. The same applies to the history of nursing established by the IGM and the Robert Bosch Foundation.

Since 2020, under the direction of Marion Baschin, the IGM has also served as the central archive for the Robert Bosch Stiftung (RBSG) and its institutions. Organizationally, it is now part of the Bosch Health Campus (BHC), which was founded in 2022 by the Robert Bosch Stiftung and brings together all activities in the field of health.

On the one hand, the IGM comprises one of the largest public specialist libraries with more than 14,500 volumes on the history of homeopathy and more than 60,000 volumes on the history of medicine. The library catalog can be accessed via our website. It also maintains an important homeopathy archive, which is virtually unique worldwide and preserves the estate of Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), the founder of this healing method, as well as important students and successors – in particular Clemens von Bönninghausen (1785–1864). The archive also contains the records of international and national homeopathic organizations. Currently, 52 collections comprise more than 20,000 items, amounting to approximately 400 linear meters of archive material (as of 1/2025); part of the collection can be accessed via the Archivportal-D; a complete overview of the collection can be found here. The archive also includes a collection of objects, some of which are on display in a small showcase exhibition.

The Robert Bosch Foundation archive primarily contains files on funded projects. The Robert Bosch Foundation works in the areas of health, education, and global issues. It is one of the largest corporate foundations in Germany and traces its roots back to the legacy of entrepreneur and founder Robert Bosch. It was established in 1964 as a non-profit limited liability company. Approximately 9,800 cataloging units in 60 collections (as of 1/2025) are stored in a space measuring just under 500 linear meters. An overview of the collections with further information on the history of the foundation can be found here.

The hospital archive contains historical documents relating to Robert Bosch Hospital and its locations. The hospital was opened in 1940 and has been located at Burgholzhof in Stuttgart since 1973. The 28 collections comprise approximately 7,800 cataloging units in 360 linear meters (as of 1/2025). The holdings may only be used with the permission of the hospital management. An overview of the holdings with further information, including historical details, can be found here.

Holdings of the Institute for the History of Medicine on Archivportal-D.

Contact information

Institut für Geschichte der Medizin
Bosch Health Campus
Straußweg 17
70184 Stuttgart

Phone: +49 711 460841-71

Website: https://www.igm-bosch.de/Aktuelles.html

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm. Please register in advance.