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Der Rotarian Magazin

Rotary Portrait: Wolfgang Ziegler, R.C. Ammersee

Rotary's Archivist

"Weddings sometimes set things in motion, though I can't even say it was my own that led me to Rotary's history. It was a friend of mine's. One of the guests asked about the pin on my lapel. My explanation may have convinced him, but it wasn't enough for me."

That's why Wolfgang Ziegler began a search for evidence back in the early '90s that has led him to Rotary archives all over the world. For several years now he no longer needs to leave his desk at home in Schondorf near Lake Ammersee to accomplish this. The internet enabled him to track down even remote sources and make his findings accessible to the public. For example, the published works left by Paul Harris: In a remarkable effort, Ziegler recently verified and prepared all the articles for reading that this founding father had written in the space of nearly 40 years for The Rotarian.

They can be re-read on the Rotary Global History website (www.rotaryfirst100.org). Just how Ziegler met up with this circle of friends is best explained in his own words: "One night I was caught up in a bidders' battle at an American internet auction-house that I eventually won. My opponent sent me an e-mail afterwards stating that the rareness of the hard-fought prize, 'The Founder of Rotary' (1928), Paul Harris' first autobiography, meant that it didn't belong to just one person. It belonged to the entire Rotary community. As the new owner, I ought to at least work together with the Fellowship. Sender: Jack Selway, R. C. Pueblo/Colorado, USA, co-founder of the Fellowship. I've been with it since then."

Rotary Magazin has also benefited from his work. Some readers will recall the big series in the jubilee year 2005: "100 Years of Rotary: Notes From The Past." Those articles, most of them illustrated from the magazine's own collection, are distinguished not only by the painstaking depiction of Rotary Global History, but in particular by their embellishment with contemporary colour, anecdotes and curious facts. History comes alive – and the venerable Rotary Club receives a human touch. 

Wolfgang Ziegler developed his joy in discovery as a natural scientist. A native of Augsburg born in 1945, he went on to study pharmacy after receiving his Abitur. A doctorate in biochemistry was followed by an academic career. Posts at various universities in Germany and abroad were succeeded by a longer-term research project at the University of Munich in the 1980s, where he became a tenured lecturer in the field of medical radiobiology. Since last year he has been in so-called retirement, but actually he has merely changed his area of research. The subject is now Rotary. 

Archival work is arduous: it requires patience, stamina and good eyesight. Ziegler finds relaxation in a hobby closely linked to this work. He searches for and collects Rotarian memorabilia. Pins are certainly not the only items of interest. The objects also include such valuable pieces as the golden membership card that belonged to the legendary Chesley Perry, Rotary's first secretary-general and its "master builder" (Paul Harris – see Rotary Magazin 8/2003), or a club register from the early days of the Chicago R.C. Needless to say, Ziegler feels particularly attached to the No. 1 club, and the club has honoured him in kind. As the first non-American, Wolfgang Ziegler was appointed a Chesley Perry Fellow in 2002 for his articles about Chesley Perry.

Matthias Schütt