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Foto: Marieke Mandemakers |
News Letter for those interested in and the volunteers of the Municipal Archives of Schouwen-Duiveland
Nr. 32, March 2008
On Tuesday afternoon, January 15, 2008 the hour had come. The Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode , which took such a great place in Zierikzee society and on Schouwen-Duiveland, was on that day made available in digital format.
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Foto: Marieke Mandemakers |
Mayor J.J.P.M. Asselbergs, LL.M and the manager of the Zeeland Library, J.A. Brandenbarg, PhD, started the use of the digital newspaper bank by entering each other's names.The project of digitizing this newspaper and to make it searchable on each word is the product of the cooperation between the Zeeland Library and the Municipal Archives of Schouwen-Duiveland. Special was that many former staff members of the newspaper were present. For them the gathering had the flavour of a reunion. The last editor-in-chief had brought the newspaper's flag.The newspaper covers the period 1844-1998. In the last year the newspaper was taken in by the Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant (Provincial Zeeland Newspaper). At the time of presentation, the digital paper was not yet quite complete - there still are a few gaps, especially in the 19th century - but work is being done to add these last bits to the newspaper database. During the course of 2008, the annual volumes of the Zierikzeesche Courant (Zierikzee Newspaper) will be added. The reactions were very enthusiastic. Visitor numbers following the presentation were high. How could that be different, since almost everyone who lived or worked on Schouwen-Duiveland can be found here. Whether a birth announcement, sports results, or something else, it can be found back quickly.
From the reactions we, and the Zeeland Library received, we make a choice: Thank you very much for your terrific initiative... It is very impressive.... Very fascinating... A considerable and valuable achievement.... A tremendously beautiful asset! I am very happy with it.... Congratulations on this splendid unlocking of this good old faithful Newspaper... My heartfelt and very warm thanks... Hats off! I will immediately look for my grandparents.... Amazing what you can find!... Terrific results. I am very impressed. That human hands can do something like this!... Very warm thanks... It warms my heart, more than I can say, that something like this in our hectic, often superficial society, is announced to me personally. Such things keep contacts and enthusiasm going.
More recommendations shouldn't be necessary. The website with the digital newspaper can be reached through our own website. Through the buttons "Gemeentearchief / zoeken in de collectie / krantenbank." The same is also possible through the website www.zeeuwsebibliotheek.nl . Finally, you can go there directly via www.krantenbankzeeland.nl .
Monday, December 10, 2007 another volunteers evening was held. The annual gathering has the flavour of a reunion where conviviality is trump. From Zierikzee to Den Helder many set out that day for the annual meeting in the main reception room of the municipal hall. This year no guest-speaker but an evening organized by the staff of the municipal archives. There was a good start as the wife of one of the oldest volunteers, Corrie Bours, celebrated her birthday that day. That's why for the first time, we started the evening singing. A good number of new volunteers could be welcomed for the first time.
Ineke van den Broek gave a lecture about the plans in respect to the presentation of our indexes on the website, a project for which volunteers deliver the material. Next, Aad Pattenier showed a film of Zierikzee of about a half century ago. Finally, Huib Uil related some things about the Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode . Those present got a foretaste of what can be read elsewhere in this issue.
Next was mayor J.J.P.M. Asselbergs, LL.M, who as portfolio manager, brought thanks from the municipal council for all the work done by the volunteers. His was the honour to present the indexes completed this year. This time, Jaap Huigens, Nel Slager, Joop and Cora van Steijn, Mariska Romijn and Jan Simmelink were called to the front.
The prizes for the most faithful volunteer this year, went to Chiel van Luijk (third place), Theo van Wijngaarden (second place) and Bernard Bours (first place).
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Foto: Aad Pattenier |
Piet Dekker, who took the challenge cup home last year, was outside the competition this time. At the end of the evening a group photograph of all volunteers was taken. Huib Uil concluded the evening with the reading of a piece by Henk Blom.
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Foto: Aad Pattenier |
Climax of these evenings was and is what follows: the informal gathering in the form of enjoyable catching up on news and gossip. Finally the goodbyes, where the volunteers received a token of attention as expression of appreciation for their work.
On Tuesday, January 29, 2008 the time had come. The 20,000th notarial deed was made accessible by Piet Dekker. He and the other volunteers Bernard Bours, Cor Eilers and Haralda van der Vlies also were present to celebrate this memorable fact, together with the staff of the Municipal Archives.
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Foto: Ineke van den Broek |
The notarial deeds cover the period 1642-1810 and measure about 40 metres (44 yards). Of these a part is now made accessible. All relevant information is copied from the deeds and entered into an electronic database. This can be consulted through the website. In the meantime, many made thankful use of it and of many an interesting piece of information which could be found thanks to this index. The memorable event got a festive touch by the cutting of a cake by the four volunteers. A solemn (and cheerful) moment was the reading of an act in which this memorable fact and the appreciation for this large amount of work was expressed. The act was signed by the four volunteers and the staff of the Municipal Archives. A copy was stored with the 20,000th deed. We are very happy about this mile stone. Those concerned are continuing diligently. The database can be consulted on our website: zoeken in de collectie / notariële akten.
Recently the acquisition list for the second half of 2007 was published. The list opens with a survey of the finished (digital) indexes. It concerns the indexes mentioned in newsletters 30 and 31. In addition it can be reported that also finished are the indexes of the lists of conscription and contribution of Ellemeet, Noordwelle and Rengerskerke, 1797-1798, and the register of deaths of Noordwelle, 1806-1811. All these indexes were made by volunteers of the Municipal Archives. Received archives were those of N.H. Lysen, overseer of territories; the Neighbourhood Association Sint Nobel in Zierikzee and the Reformatorische Politieke Federatie, kiesver. Schouwen-Duiveland (Reformational Political Federation, elector's association Schouwen-Duiveland). Also various additions to archives already here, were received. Varied too, are the acquisitions for the manuscript collection in which pieces of a private nature were included. These acquisitions cover the period 1748-2007. Included are pieces about pillagings in 1788; a reading schedule from the Reading Circle 'Lucifer' in Dreischor; pieces from the war period by Rev. M.G. Westerhof of Nieuwerkerk; letters from the same period from the family Van den Berge of Bruinisse, etc. Included in the acquisitions for the historical-topographical atlas are designs for the water tower in Zierikzee, a watercolour of the farm on the Stolpweg in Nieuwerkerk (formerly occupied by D. van Farowé), etc. The collection of photographs was supplemented with photos of Dreischor, Scharendijke, Zierikzee, the Grevelingendam and the Brouwersdam, etc. Then films, seal pictures and documentation material have been obtained. Also a selection of acquisitions by the library are included in the list. In short, a fascinating whole of especially gifts. The list can be seen at our website. It is also placed in the leaflet rack in the foyer of the Municipal Archives, ready to take with you.
Mid February, a bit later than normal, the new update of Atlantis became available on the internet. Filling the databases for notarial deeds and images has been steadily ongoing by volunteers, for a number of years now. Thus more than 16,000 images have made digitally accessible. Many thousands of photographs are still waiting for a description.
This too, is donkey work, certainly when there are many people in a photograph, or the portrayed building cannot immediately be recognized. Sometimes this takes a lot of detective work and inquiries in circles of family and friends. The number of orders for prints of our images is also rising. From this we can conclude that many people make thankful use of Atlantis.
This year too, the Municipal Archives are participating in the Open Archives Day. The date has been set for Saturday, October 11, 2008. The theme for this day is Stories.
'The purpose of investments in cultural heritage cannot be the enlargement of the economic fortune. It is no longer a question of more business, more tourism and such, although these could be side effects. We invest in cultural heritage in order to realize social values like involvement, identity, feeling of community, but above all to fulfill cultural values. As members of an affluent society we have the moral assignment to show pride, to occasionally make a large gesture costing much and also yielding much as regards feelings, perceptions and therefor social and cultural values' - Arja Klamer during the Belvedere festival, 2007.
At the end of November 2007 a new volunteer signed on, Corine Ligthart. She has begun to digitize existing indexes and is currently working on the entry of death registers of various villages from the period 1806-1810. These had not been made accessible earlier. Ms Ligthart is working with our new module Atlantis NT.
Starting with number 19, this newsletter will be digitally mailed to interested parties. If you are interested, please send your e-mail address to gemeentearchief@schouwen-duiveland.nl
It is also possible to fill in the form on the website.
In 2008, the Municipal Archives are closed on Friday, May 2 (the day after Ascension Day).
MUNICIPAL ARCHIVES SCHOUWEN-DUIVELAND
LAAN VAN ST. HILAIRE 2
POSTBUS 5555
4300 JA ZIERIKZEE
phone: 0111-452 320
e-mail: gemeentearchief@schouwen-duiveland.nl
Editorial Board:
Ineke van den Broek
Cor Eilers
Aad Pattenier
Huib Uil
