Charlotte von Mahlsdorf

Charlotte von Mahlsdorf was born in Berlin-Mahlsdorf on 18 March 1928 as Lothar Berfelde. This fragile boy, who feltthat he was more a girl, suffered under his violent father Max Berfelde who wanted to turn him into a soldier. He found refuge and warmth at the home of his great uncle Josef Brauner.
The environment in which he found himself there would become a love for life: the living culture of the outgoing 19th century.
He found a role model, which reflected his feminine nature, in the ideal form of a maid of that period.

Being a passionate collector from an early age, he had already collected five complete room ensembles by the age of 18.
In 1958, Berfelde took care of the derelict Mahlsdorf Manor House, saving it from demolition. In August 1960, he opened his Gründerzeitmuseum, beginning with just two rooms.
In a long and painstaking process he restored the manor house to its condition prior to the alterations that took place afterthe 1920s. The final goal was to see it restored to its condition as it was after the reconstruction of 1869.
In 1972 work had progressed sufficiently for the house to be placed on the monument list of East Germany.
It was now an important monument to the 19th century’s rural economy and a fine example of private initiative in saving cultural heritage.
Meanwhile the collection grew steadily, consisting in its heyday of 23 completely furnished rooms and extensive specialised collections of clocks, costumes, mirrors, coal heaters and, most notably, music machines.

A lot went missing when the state tried to get its hands on the collection in 1974 using an unreasonable tax-demand as a means of pressure. Rather than the collection being confiscated, Charlotte began to give items away to visitors. Due to the intervention of the famous East-German actress Annekathrin Bürger and the lawyer Friedrich Karl Kaul, this process was stopped in 1976.

Up until 1995, Charlotte continued to showing visitors around her private museum, which still remains something of a hidden treasure, with a collection that fascinates visitors.
It`s a place with a special feeling, which has also attracted film crews and served as a meeting point for gays and lesbians.

With the awarding of the German medal of honour (Bundesverdienstkreuz), Charlotte gained nationwide acknow-ledgement for her life's work and her extraordinary life story.
Finally, however, a neo-Nazi attack on a gay and lesbian garden party in 1991, financial worries, but most of all pressure from and manipulation by the two woman that had moved in with her and shielded her from her old friends, caused Charlotte to move to Sweden.
The Gründerzeimuseum officially closed its doors in 1995. In spring 1997, Charlotte left Berlin to settle in Porla Brunn, Sweden, and opened her new museum there with items taken from the Berlin collection.

The part of the collection which remained in Mahldorf was later acquired by the City of Berlin, and thus saved for the „Gründerzeitmetropole Berlin.
In June 1997, the Gründerzeitmuseum reopened under the auspices of the newly founded Förderverein Gutshaus Mahlsdorf e.V.

Charlotte died unexpectedly on 30 April 2002 while paying a visit to her beloved Berlin.
To commemorate her death, the “Förderverein” placed a memorial stone in the park opposite the entrance. A beautiful historical carved stone pediment was selected by the historical graveyards Berlin heritage group. With the help of sponsors, the „Förderverein“ had a sandstone plaque made which was unveiled at a festive ceremony on 24 August 2003.
After Charlotte’s death, the “Förderverein” managed to bring back the other part of the collection from Sweden. An agreement was concluded with the legal heirs to the collection, the Berfelde family, so the museum could acquire the collection on loan.
As a result, since April 2004, most of the collection has again been on view to visitors.

Charlotte’s life story inspired American playwright Doug Wright to write a theatrical play which went on to win the Tony Award, the Pulitzer Prize and various other awards in 2004. It has since enjoyed successful tours and performances in numerous countries.