Karazin Impresses: Renowned Writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Helped Recruit Professors for the University

21 february 2025 year

Did you know that the famous German statesman, poet, writer, philosopher, and founder of modern German literature, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, played a key role in the establishment and development of our university?

He was one of those who actively assisted in selecting the faculty staff for the newly founded university, as he was deeply interested in the idea of its creation. Thanks to his efforts, Ludwig Schnaubert, who was appointed Professor of Chemistry and Metallurgy, and Johann Baptist Schad, a philosopher and aesthetician, came from Germany to Kharkiv.

As a token of gratitude for his help in recruiting professors, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was elected an Honorary Member of Kharkiv University.

In response, the great German thinker — who was, incidentally, a connoisseur and collector of minerals — sent a garnet bracelet as a gift to Kharkiv. It is believed that garnets symbolize perseverance, strength, resilience, and devotion. Today, this remarkable gift is displayed in the Nature Museum of Karazin University.