Jena, March 4, 2026. On the occasion of the nationwide “Archives Day,” the SCHOTT corporate archive will open its doors to interested visitors this coming Saturday. The focus will be on historical documents, rare photographs, and the life of glass pioneer Otto Schott.
- What: Archives Day (Motto: “Old Home – New Home”)
- When: Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Where: SCHOTT Archiv, Otto-Schott-Straße 13, Jena
Historical Insights into the Jena Glass Industry
Under this year’s motto “Old Home – New Home,” the archive of SCHOTT AG presents a wide range of documents on the company’s long-standing history. Visitors can view historical photographs, old publications, company magazines, and personal reports from various development phases of the global corporation.
175 Years of Otto Schott in Focus
This year’s action day is particularly embedded in the current anniversary year “175 Years of Otto Schott.” The founder’s life path is traced in detail: Otto Schott left his original hometown of Witten in the Ruhrgebiet to make a new scientific and entrepreneurial start in Thüringen. This courageous step laid the foundation for an unprecedented industrial history.
Background: The Birth of the City of Light Jena
Otto Schott (1851–1935) is considered the founder of modern glass science. In 1884, together with physicist Ernst Abbe and entrepreneur Carl Zeiss, he founded the “Glastechnisches Laboratorium Schott & Genossen” in Jena. The close collaboration of this trio revolutionized the production of optical glass and high-performance microscopes worldwide. They not only created the basis for today’s technology group but also sustainably shaped Jena’s reputation as an international “City of Light” and center for optics and photonics. The corporate archive preserves this heritage and makes the scientific and entrepreneurial milestones tangible.
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SCHOTT Archive opens for Archives Day
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.