Caroline Jessen

Dr. Caroline Jessen is a Research Associate at the Dubnow Institute since October 2021, specializing in Material Culture, Provenance Research, and the History of Knowledge. Her work bridges Literary Studies and Archival Theory through analysis of German-Jewish exile collections.

• Education: M.A. in Literary Studies (2005); Doctoral Candidate at Bonn University (2007–2015)
• Prior Affiliations: German Literature Archive Marbach (DLA) (2012–2021), Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2008–2012), European University Viadrina (2019)
• Teaching: University assignments at Stuttgart, Frankfurt/Oder, and Munich

Her research examines the materiality of literary estates, focusing on transnational transfers and preservation challenges. Key projects analyze the Kanon im Exil (exilic literary canon) and the Schocken Collection in Jerusalem. She co-edited volumes on provenance research, archival practices, and Jewish cultural property post-1945.

Recent publications explore ephemeral book traces, émigré collection dynamics, and the intersection of biography and provenance. Her work combines archival theory with historical analysis to address gaps in post-war literary history.