For detailed information (in German) see here: CSEL Geschichte.
A shorter version: CSEL Geschichte kompakt.
Basic facts
1864 foundation of the “Commission zur Herausgabe eines Corpus kritisch berichtigter Texte der lateinischen Kirchenväter” (“Commission for the Editing of a Corpus of Critically Established Texts of the Latin Church Fathers”) by the Austrian Academy of Sciences to support the Thesaurus linguae Latinae with critical editions of Latin Christian authors. 1865 first publication: Karl Halm, “Verzeichniss der Älteren Handschriften lateinischer Kirchenväter in den Bibliotheken der Schweiz”
1866 CSEL vol. 1: Sulpicius Severus, ed. Karl Halm
Since 1964 (employment of Michaela Zelzer) the institute has had its own academic staff
Since 1967 co-editor of the Journal Wiener Studien
Since 1969: „Veröffentlichungen der Kommission zur Herausgabe des Corpus der lateinischen Kirchenväter“, id est since 2014: CSEL Extra Seriem
Since 2012 it has been part of the University of Salzburg (Classical Studies / Latin)
Currently more than 100 volumes have been published in approximately 125 bibliographical units.
Directors 1864-
The Kommission consisted of several members who were responsible for planning editions and awarding projects, and from 1930 onwards also of a varying number of staff (see CSEL Geschichte). One of the members was “Obmann” (= “Berichterstatter” to the Academy of Sciences):
1864-1874: Johannes Vahlen
1875-1891: Franz von Miklosich (leading role: Wilhelm von Hartel)
1891-1907: Wilhelm von Hartel
1907-1916: Wilhelm Meyer-Lübke (leading role until 1925: August Engelbrecht)
1916-1941: Edmund Hauler
1941-1963: Richard Meister
1964-1982: Rudolf Hanslik
1982-1991: Herbert Hunger
1991-2001: Adolf Primmer
2001-2012: Kurt Smolak
since 2012: Dorothea Weber