Interview 4: Hans Petschar
In the third episode of History Exchange, Dr. Hans Petschar is interviewed. Hans Petschar is the Director of the Image Archive and Graphic Collection at the Austrian National Library, specializing in Austrian contemporary history. Originally from Carinthia, the Vienna-based Petschar has been honored for his work at the Austrian National Library, receiving the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art, First Class.
Hans Petschar spent a year as a professor at the United Nations, collaborating with Dr. Günther Bischof on various projects. Their professional paths have intersected multiple times, and the podcast delves into their joint project on the Marshall Plan. In 2017, the historians co-published the work The Marshall Plan – Since 1947. The Rescue of Europe & the Reconstruction of Austria, discussing the lasting effects of the Marshall Plan felt in Austria today. The podcast extensively covers their current collaboration, including the ongoing exhibition at the Austrian National Library titled Yoichi Okamoto: Icon of Postwar Photography.
The exhibition curated by Hans Petschar and Marlies Dornig showcases a comprehensive selection of images captured by Yoichi Okamoto in postwar Austria. Aligned with the theme of the podcast series "History Exchange," the exhibition provides insights into Austrian-American relations after 1945. Okamoto, as the head of the photo department of the American Information Service in Austria, documented all Marshall Plan projects. Interested individuals can visit the exhibition, curated by Hans Petschar and Marlies Dornig, until March 3, 2024, in the Prunksaal of the Austrian National Library.
The podcast also delves into Hans Petschar's daily work in the Image Archive of the Austrian National Library and how it has evolved throughout his career, particularly emphasizing the term "digitization." Over 20 years ago, Dr. Petschar took responsibility for gradually digitizing the holdings of the Image Archive and Graphic Collection in the Austrian National Library. Petschar now estimates that around 90 percent of users exclusively visit the National Library online. He shares the challenges and successes he experienced during his tenure as the director of the Image Archive.
The podcast also features anecdotes from Hans Petschar's time in the United States and amusing stories from his role as a professor at the UN. Like other podcast guests, Petschar shares details such as his favorite American dish and what comes to mind first when he thinks of the USA.
Interviewer:
Andrea Klingler is a Master's student in Education at the University of Innsbruck. She specializes in History, Social Studies and Political Education as well as German.