From archive boxes to digital sources
The KDC team gave a tour of the storage facilities beneath the Elinor Ostrom Building (EOS) to around 200 students. These facilities house approximately 14 kilometres of archive material relating to the Catholic social heritage of the Netherlands since 1800. The students were given an explanation about how archives are preserved and the work carried out by the archive staff.
They also visited the Digitisation Lab in the basement of the University Library (UB), where they were given an explanation of the digitisation services offered by the Heritage Collections department, and the Heritage Collections Reading Room (1st floor of the UB), where they can physically consult the heritage collections during their studies.
An introduction to archival material
KDC staff then gave a guest lecture on working with primary sources. The students examined a selection of archival documents covering nine topics, including politics, youth movements and colonial heritage. Using a set of focus questions, they explored the material and, at the end of the lecture, presented their initial findings in a short pitch. It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm with which the students immersed themselves in these sources.
Collaboration with the Faculty of Arts
The guided tour for first-year students is organised annually by the KDC in collaboration with the History bachelor programme at the Faculty of Arts. In addition, the KDC regularly organises guided tours on request for other study programmes or groups. With the growing joint efforts within the Heritage Collections department, we expect to further develop this course in the future.
Would you like to find out more about the options for a guest lecture or guided tour, or are you curious about our archival facilities and collections? If so, please contact the Catholic Documentation Centre.
