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The Monumenta Germaniae Historica (MGH) is an institute for the study of medieval German history which is officially called “Deutsches Institut für Erforschung des Mittelalters”. Often the abbreviation MGH means the great series of carefully edited and published source materials of the medieval German empire from the end of ancient Roman empire to 1500 which are sponsored by the above mentioned institute. The institute MGH goes back to the society, called “Gesellschaft für ältere deutsche Geschichskunde” which was established by the Prussian reformer Heinrich Friedreich Karl Freiherr vom Stein in 1819. He had initiated the great project of collecting, editing and publication of the basic sources for the study of medieval German history. The first volume of this series appeared in 1826. The project MGH is the best example of the coincidence of the Romantic nationalism and highly professional scholarship in history of modern Germany in the 19th century. The motto of MGH, Sanctus amor patriae dat animum (Holy love for the fatherland give the spirit) indicated especially the patriotic passion of German nationalism. The first editor from 1826 until 1874 was Georg Heinrich Pertz who put the critical study of historical sources of the times into practice. He brought the project MGH on the solid foundation. The scheme of the collection designed by him continued to be followed up to now with some minor modification. The method and mode of operation in MGH were also stabilized under his leadership. The collection consists of five main areas: Scriptores, Leges, Diplomata, Epistolae as well as Antiquitates. Pertz was succeeded by Gerog Waitz who was a pupil of Ranke and had been for a long time active as a member of editorial board. Many eminent medievalists from Germany and, eventually other countries of Europe, joined in the MGH project of searching out and comparing manuscripts and producing scholarly editions. With the appointment of Waitz as the chief editor of MGH, the project and the society itself from the end of the 19th century became gradually institutionalized into the national academic system of united German Empire. The MGH was transformed from the autonomous association of private intellectuals and patrons into the national academic organization. The state financed the project and designated its head. After the troublesome era under Nazi regime, the institute of MGH was finally stabilized. It was situated under the aegis of Bavarian government and was ensured the autonomous status as a public corporate institute. The project, one of the greatest group efforts of historical scholarship, continues in the 21st century. In 2004, the MGH took a step which makes it even more extraordinary: all of its publications which have been in print for more than five years can now be read online, in photo-digital reproduction, via a link on the MGH homepage. As a whole the fate of MGH showed the possibilities and the limits of the great scholarly project of modern times. Well organized, it can produce enormous outcome of which an individual scholar cannot be capable. On the other hand such a great project is forced to be independent on the help of outer influences, i.e. the financial and administrative aids of the state.