Overview of the history of the institute

1875: The physician and anthropologist Johannes Ranke (1836–1916), who had been teaching at the medical faculty since the winter semester 1863/64, begins offering courses in the second section of the Faculty of Philosophy. He teaches anthropology, natural history, and prehistory.
1885: The Prehistoric Teaching Collection established by Ranke comprises 257 replicas and about 270 original finds. It is housed on the third floor of the Old Academy on Neuhauser Street. On 14 October 1885, Ranke is appointed honorary head of the now publicly accessible collection.
1886: Ranke is appointed to the first chair of anthropology established in Germany.
1889: Ranke is appointed curator of the Anthropological-Prehistoric Collection of the Royal Bavarian State.
Around 1900: Ranke regularly gives a four-hour winter semester lecture entitled “Anthropology in connection with ethnography of prehistoric and natural peoples,” in which prehistoric fundamentals are also taught in a broader context. Each summer semester, a “Prehistoric seminar in the state’s prehistoric collection” is held.
1901: Ranke assumes leadership of the Commission for the Study of Bavarian Prehistory at the Academy of Sciences.
1904: Ferdinand Birkner, Ranke’s assistant for the Anthropological-Prehistoric State Collection since 1898, receives the venia legendi for anthropology and prehistory.
1913: As head of the Anthropological-Prehistoric Seminar, Ranke celebrates the rare anniversary of his 100th semester as a lecturer.
1914: Ranke establishes the Academic Commission for Cave Research in Bavaria.
1916: Ranke dies on 27 July 1916. On 12 September 1916, Birkner is provisionally entrusted with delivering Ranke’s announced lecture on the anthropology of prehistoric and natural peoples and takes over his representation at the Anthropological Institute and the Anthropological-Prehistoric Seminar.
1917: In the process of refilling the position, it is emphasized that physical anthropology should take precedence over prehistory, which Ranke had also extensively represented. The Swiss scholar Rudolf Martin (1864–1925) is appointed. In addition, an extraordinary professorship for prehistory is added to the staffing plan of the second section of the Faculty of Philosophy. On 11 September 1917, Birkner is commissioned by the Ministry of Education to represent the subject, explicitly without affecting the filling of the open professorship for prehistory. Birkner is promoted to curator of the State Collection. Until 1936, Birkner regularly teaches 4–6 hours per week of lectures, seminars, and practical courses on prehistoric topics.
1920/21: The professorship for prehistory remains vacant after a lengthy appointment procedure. Instead, the teaching assignment for Birkner is funded from it, and due to increased demand, the second section of the Faculty of Philosophy finances additional courses in chemistry and botany.
1927: The previously jointly managed anthropological and prehistoric departments of the State Collection are separated. Birkner is appointed Director of the Prehistoric State Collection, and Theodor Mollison (1874–1952) becomes head of the Anthropological State Collection. The application to recognize prehistory as an independent examination subject at the university is rejected. The vacant professorship in prehistory is funded through the paleobotanist Max Hirmer (1893–1981).
1929: Birkner celebrates the anniversary of his 25 years of teaching.
1931: The Anthropological-Prehistoric Seminar is dissolved. The dean’s office proposes to the Ministry of Education that the existing professorship for prehistory be filled by Birkner, who could then continue as Director of the Prehistoric State Collection in a secondary role. The Ministry of Education rejects this due to higher pension claims.

• 1934: Birkner leaves his post as Director of the Prehistoric State Collection on 1 February 1934. The professorship for prehistory, which had existed in the staffing plan of the second section of the Faculty of Philosophy since 1917, is abolished on 20 February 1934 and assigned to botany. The archaeologist Friedrich Wagner, who succeeds Birkner at the Prehistoric State Collection, is appointed honorary professor of Prehistoric and Early Historic Archaeology in the first section of the Faculty of Philosophy. The scientifically oriented second section of the Faculty of Philosophy honors Birkner, who continues teaching until 1936, by appointing him honorary professor of prehistory on 6 November 1934.

Compiled on the basis of files in the LMU archives by Bernd Päffgen.