Universität Hamburg is one of Germany's younger universities. Its founding was not documented in some provincial foundation charter but in a sober official announcement issued by the Free and Hanseatic City on 1 April 1919. "Nonetheless, the University's roots reach back to the early 17th century. In 1613, the Academic Gymnasium, an intermediary institution for students transitioning from school to university, was founded. For two semesters, students attended general lectures before specializing. The first lecture building Due to low attendance, the institution was forced to close in 1883. A ""general lectures series,"" which was reorganized in 1895, remained in its wake. To accomodate this series, entrepreneur Edmund Siemers donated the lecture building in the street now named after him. The building officially opened in 1911, bearing the mission statement: ""To research, to teach and to educate."" Today, it serves as the University's Main Building."