Wilhelm Diekamp

Who was Wilhelm Diekamp?

Wilhelm Diekamp was a German historian.

Soon after his birth, his parents moved to Münster in Westphalia, where he made his collegiate studies. From 1872 to 1875 he studied theology at Würzburg and at Münster. Feeling uncertain, however, as to his ecclesiastical calling, he abandoned his desire of entering the priesthood, and took up the study of philology.

In 1877 he graduated as doctor of philosophy with the dissertation: "Widukind, der Sachsenführer nach Geschichte und Sage". Excessive study led to grave pulmonary disease. For some time he taught in the public schools of Münster, Arnsberg, and Aachen, developing in the meantime his historical training. Evidence of this was his Vitae S. Ludgeri.

In 1881 the Westfalischer Verein fur Geschichte und Altertumskunde confided to him the continuation of the Westfälisches Urkundenbuch. He returned to Münster and in 1882 he became Privatdozent for history there. Previously, however, he spent a year at Vienna for improvement in diplomatics at the "Institut fur oesterreichische Geschichtsforschung" under the direction of Theodor von Sickel.