Eduard Dieckhoff.

In 1925, a small book titled "Brief Historical Information about the City of Narva" was printed at the printing house of A. Grigoryev's heirs in Narva. The book, published in Estonian, German, and Russian, contains a chronological list of major historical events spanning from 1256 to 1920. This year marks the 160th anniversary of the birth of Alfred-Edward Dickhoff, the compiler of this book. The son of a hereditary honorary citizen was born on November 27, 1863, in Narva. In 1889, he graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tartu and began working in the Narva City Magistrate's Office. From 1890 to 1918, he was elected as a member of the Narva City Council and served as the secretary of the Orphans' Court, acting as a magistrate for about ten years. Dickhoff actively participated in the city's public life, being a member of the "Harmony" society and the Society for Pedagogy and Hygiene, the Narva Musical Society, serving on the board of the Narva Free Library and Reading Room, and being one of the founders of the Ust-Narva School Society. As a person interested in history, Dickhoff wrote articles and essays on the history of Narva, compiling an overview of the history of the "Harmony" club. During his tenure as city secretary, he compiled a "Brief Overview of the Activities of the Narva City Public Administration from September 1, 1889, to September 1, 1893."

In 1918, during the German occupation, at the request of the townspeople, Eduard Dieckhoff assumed the position of the city mayor of Narva. By the end of November 1918, he left the city, first traveling to Riga, and then to Germany. In May 1921, Dieckhoff returned to Narva. In October 1922, the Narva City Council decided to reorganize the archive, which until then had been under the supervision of the city secretary. The City Council approved a new position - city archivist. Eduard Dieckhoff became the first archivist of Narva, serving in this position until 1930. As an archivist, he developed the internal regulations of the Narva City Archive. As a patriot of his city, Eduard Dieckhoff was interested in preserving the heritage of the past. In 1926, he made a proposal to the City Council and helped compile a list of historical sites in Narva for their protection. From 1931 to 1933, Dieckhoff actively participated in the establishment and work of the Narva Historical Society, of which Arnold Soom was the chairman.

Eduard Dieckhoff passed away in Narva on February 13, 1933, and was buried in the cemetery of the Ioannovsky Church.

Eduard Dieckhoff was a member of the student corporation "Estonia" from 1883 to 1889. Estonian Historical Archive. EAA. 1843.1.231.95

Printed publications compiled by Dieckhoff. Collection of the Narva Museum.

Nameplate of Mayor Eduard Dieckhoff from the Narva Town Hall. 1918. Collection of the Narva Museum. NLM_3:9 Aj 3:9