Kurt Scharr, PhD
University Professor, Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck, Institut für Geschichtswissenschaften und Empirische Kulturwissenschaft, Kernfach Österreichische Geschichte, Austria
In between 2007 and 2011 I hold the position of an assistant at the University of Innsbruck (Institute for Geography), after my habilitation, from 2012 till 2016, I was working as a senior scientist at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research). Since 2016 I am full professor at the University of Innsbruck and holding the chair for Austrian History, with a specialization on the ‘long’ 19th century.
My research interests are mainly focussed on historical geography (cartography), cadastres, landscape changes (environmental history), history of Josephinism and the national question of the Habsburg Monarchy. From a regional perspective I am specialized in the Eastern-Alps and the Carpathians. Since 2007 I am (together with my team) working on the systematic edition of the Franciscan Cadastre for Cisleithania, financed via several national and international research projects. Currently we are involved in another cadastre-project, focussing Historical Ecology in the crownland of Tyrol.
Statement of interest:
Two stays at the University of Ljubljana have strengthened already existing contacts and given rise to the idea of undertaking a new research project in order to prepare an edition of the Franciscan Cadastre in former Carniola and Istria. The aim is to publish a further volume for the already existing series on edited cadastre of the Habsburg Monarchy. The focus will be particularly on questions concerning the socio-economic development of ‘Slovenia’ during the 19th century, which will be studied on the basis of cadastral data. In this context, the stay in Ljubljana essentially helps to exchange ideas (and expertise in particulars fields) with colleagues at the institute, studying the literature available locally, and conducting initial research in the state archives. However, a central aim of the stay planned is to exchange and discuss existing expertise on both substantive and technical. As a result of the visit, a joint contribution on the topic could emerge, which would fit well into the ongoing research project as I am currently directing a project on cadastres and land/soil valuation in Southern Tyrol (todays Italy). I also believe that getting to know both current and past INZ projects would be very beneficial, particularly as there appear to be overlaps in terms of timing and content (e.g. Discourses and Practices of the in-between; Slovenian History on a small scale, etc.).
Selected Publications:
Monographs/Editions
- 2026 together with R. Gräf, F. Kührer-Wielach (Eds.): Zwischen Bollwerk und Brücke? Der habsburgische Südosten Europas. Kultur-Raum-Konzepte seit dem 18. Jahrhundert (= Danubiana Carpathica. Jahrbuch für Geschichte und Kultur in den deutschen Siedlungsgebieten Südosteuropas 15(62) 2025), Oldenbourg-Berlin., 319 S
- 2023: (Ed.), Der Franziszeische Kataster im Kronland Österreichisch-Schlesien (1821-1851) (=Veröffentlichungen der Kommission für Neuere Geschichte Österreichs 125), Böhlau Wien, 337 S.
Papers
- 2023 – Konzepte des Raumes. In: A. Corbea-Hoisie, St. Höhne, O. Matiychuk & M. Winkler (Eds.), Handbuch der Literaturen aus Czernowitz und der Bukowina, Berlin, 59-67. [ https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-476-05973-4 ]
- 2021 together with A. Maier, C. Geitner, B. Kohl & G. Markart: Historische Waldnutzung und Hochwasserentstehung: Was wissen wir über den Waldzustand und seine hydrologische Wirkung vor 200 Jahren? In: Transilvanian Review XXX/1, Winter 2021, 28-47. [ https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=1033243 ]
- 2014: The Habsburg Cadastral Registration System in the Context of Modernization. In: H. Siegrist & D. Müller (Eds.), Property in East-Central Europe. Notions, Institutions, and Practices of Landownership in the Twentieth Century. Oxford/New York, 2014, 100-116.
