Phase 1: Unlocking collections Huiswoud, Willemsen and Vereniging Ons Suriname
The Heilbron collection has been online since July 1, 2017 via archives.nl. With the basic amount of €10,000, we can archive and (partially) digitize the collections of Otto and Hermie Huiswoud, Glenn Willemsen and VOS. All books will be sorted by theme, defined and entered in the MAIS-FLEXIS archive system, so that the archive is searchable and accessible via www.archieven.nl and www.theblackarchives.nl. The correspondence, (personal) documents, magazines and archives will be digitized. In particular the Huiswoud collection includes very special and rare pieces such as:
Check The Black Archives during the live broadcast on Keti Koti on July 1, 2017.
The Heilbron collection has been online since July 1, 2017 via archives.nl. With the basic amount of €10,000, we can archive and (partially) digitize the collections of Otto and Hermie Huiswoud, Glenn Willemsen and VOS. All books will be sorted by theme, defined and entered in the MAIS-FLEXIS archive system, so that the archive is searchable and accessible via www.archieven.nl and www.theblackarchives.nl. The correspondence, (personal) documents, magazines and archives will be digitized. In particular the Huiswoud collection includes very special and rare pieces such as:
- Signed books by Langston Hughes
- Keti Koti program books from 1948 – 1960
- LIFE and Ebony magazines from the 1960s
- Personal notes and correspondence from Otto and Hermie Huiswoud
Check The Black Archives during the live broadcast on Keti Koti on July 1, 2017.
Phase 2: Expanding the Black Archives: Collections Frits Corsten and Philomena Essed
We have received large donations from Frits Corsten, an old member of VOS, who has worked with Waldo Heilbron and Otto Huiswoud, among others. Frits Corsten was born in Suriname but moved for his study and work to the Netherlands. He has a great passion for reading books. Before he handed the books collection, his house was filled from the hallway to the bathroom with books. Mr. Corsten has donated 8 pallets and about 150 loose boxes of books, documents and archives to The Black Archives, which are at least 10,000 books.
Part of this collection will take place until the 22st of August in the Witte de With Center of Contemporary Art in Rotterdam, as part of the 'Cinema Olanda' platform. A large part, more than 8 pallets and at least 10,000 books are in storage locations in Rotterdam and Amsterdam Zuidoost.
We also received a large donation of about 250 books by Prof. Philomena Essed and, in the future, we expect more donations. However, in the Black Archives we are already facing space shortage. With additional donations, we can archive, invent and donate the donation of Frits Corsten, Philomena Essed and future donations in the Black Archives.
With additional donations we can hire and arrange extra space and purchase materials to preserve the books and documents in a responsible way. In addition, we will have to spend a lot of time and effort in inventing and digitizing the books and documents we will eventually select. Volunteers will receive a reasonable volunteer allowance for their time and effort. We need at least € 10,000, - extra for this.
We have received large donations from Frits Corsten, an old member of VOS, who has worked with Waldo Heilbron and Otto Huiswoud, among others. Frits Corsten was born in Suriname but moved for his study and work to the Netherlands. He has a great passion for reading books. Before he handed the books collection, his house was filled from the hallway to the bathroom with books. Mr. Corsten has donated 8 pallets and about 150 loose boxes of books, documents and archives to The Black Archives, which are at least 10,000 books.
Part of this collection will take place until the 22st of August in the Witte de With Center of Contemporary Art in Rotterdam, as part of the 'Cinema Olanda' platform. A large part, more than 8 pallets and at least 10,000 books are in storage locations in Rotterdam and Amsterdam Zuidoost.
We also received a large donation of about 250 books by Prof. Philomena Essed and, in the future, we expect more donations. However, in the Black Archives we are already facing space shortage. With additional donations, we can archive, invent and donate the donation of Frits Corsten, Philomena Essed and future donations in the Black Archives.
With additional donations we can hire and arrange extra space and purchase materials to preserve the books and documents in a responsible way. In addition, we will have to spend a lot of time and effort in inventing and digitizing the books and documents we will eventually select. Volunteers will receive a reasonable volunteer allowance for their time and effort. We need at least € 10,000, - extra for this.
Phase 3: Digitize archives
In addition to the various book collections of Surinamese black writers, scientists and activists, the Black Archives also contains archives from various Surinamese organizations. We have sections of the archives of:
Expenditure from, among others: Center Anton de Kom, LOSON (Wrokoman), Surinamese Women's Emancipation Movement (Tamara), Surinamese Students Union Leiden & VOS (The Red Star)
Museum Suriname: Initiative of, among others, Waldo Heilbron
In the third phase, we can digitize these rare and unique archives that digitize the hidden history of black and Surinamese self-organizations and make it accessible to the public.
[1] http://www.vijfeeuwenmigratie.nl/collectie-suriname-comit
In addition to the various book collections of Surinamese black writers, scientists and activists, the Black Archives also contains archives from various Surinamese organizations. We have sections of the archives of:
- The Society of Our Surinam (1919 - present)
- Surinamese Student Association Leiden (1950 - 1970)
- Welsuria: Surinamese welfare organization 1970s -80s
- Suriname Committee: Solidarity Organization 1970s-80s
- National Federation of Surinamese Welfare Organizations
Expenditure from, among others: Center Anton de Kom, LOSON (Wrokoman), Surinamese Women's Emancipation Movement (Tamara), Surinamese Students Union Leiden & VOS (The Red Star)
Museum Suriname: Initiative of, among others, Waldo Heilbron
In the third phase, we can digitize these rare and unique archives that digitize the hidden history of black and Surinamese self-organizations and make it accessible to the public.
[1] http://www.vijfeeuwenmigratie.nl/collectie-suriname-comit
Phase 4: Accessible space of the archive and presentation collection
The collections of The Black Archives are in the premises of the Association of Our Suriname in Amsterdam East. In the run-up to the 100th anniversary of the Association of Our Surinam (in 2019), we want to make the archives accessible to a wide audience for the first time.
In the fourth phase, we can invest in the accessibility of the archive space and the presentation of the collection, to make everything as accessible to the public as possible.
Amount
- Phase 1 (€ 10,000): Book collections Huiswoud, VOS, Willemsen and inventory the donations and digitize archive Huiswoud
- Phase 2 (€ 20,000): Second space: Corsten and Essed collection
- Phase 3 (€ 30,000): Inventory and digitize archives
- Phase 4 (More than € 30,000): Make the archive space well accessible and present the collection here in the right way.
The Black Archives is also supported by the Foundation for Democracy and Media and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment in the context of the UN Decade for People of African Descent.
The collections of The Black Archives are in the premises of the Association of Our Suriname in Amsterdam East. In the run-up to the 100th anniversary of the Association of Our Surinam (in 2019), we want to make the archives accessible to a wide audience for the first time.
In the fourth phase, we can invest in the accessibility of the archive space and the presentation of the collection, to make everything as accessible to the public as possible.
Amount
- Phase 1 (€ 10,000): Book collections Huiswoud, VOS, Willemsen and inventory the donations and digitize archive Huiswoud
- Phase 2 (€ 20,000): Second space: Corsten and Essed collection
- Phase 3 (€ 30,000): Inventory and digitize archives
- Phase 4 (More than € 30,000): Make the archive space well accessible and present the collection here in the right way.
The Black Archives is also supported by the Foundation for Democracy and Media and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment in the context of the UN Decade for People of African Descent.
Can I still donate?
Yes. We are not a state funded organization, we are a grass roots organization which was set up by people from the Surinamese and black community in the Netherlands. Because we still need to archive (book) collections of The Black Archives and make it possible to run the archive, all donations are welcome. You can donate via NL05ABNA0628368992 with 'Donation The Black Archives, and your name'.