Return to search

Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht, senaat en rector

1636-1971 Reference: 292-1

View context

Nederland Nederland
Het Utrechts Archief

Finding aid sub-groups

C.A. van Kalveen
2021
Het Utrechts Archief
Nederlands

Physical description

33,66 m zuurvrije dozen

General remarks

#guid

609C5B9DC9004642E0534701000A17FD

Toegangstitel

Inventaris van het archief van de senaat en rector van de rijksuniversiteit Utrecht 1636-1971

Datering toegang

1969 / 1992

Openbaarheid

Het archief is openbaar, m.u.v. de zgn. "zuiveringsarchieven"( inv.nrs. 579-643) Inzage is uitsluitend mogelijk na schriftelijke toestemming van de secretaris van de universiteit.

Rechtstitel

Overbrenging van een overheidsarchief

Bijzonderheden

Vanwege digitaliserering is een gedeelte van dit archief tijdelijk niet raadpleegbaar.

Other descriptive information

Geschiedenis van de universiteit

Nadat plannen van het stadsbestuur van Utrecht in 1470 een universiteit te stichten niet doorgingen, duurde het tot 1634 voordat als voorloper van de universiteit de "Illustere School" werd opgericht. Twee jaar later werd op 26 maart 1636 deze "school" door de Staten van Utrecht verheven tot universiteit.

De universiteit omvatte in het begin vier faculteiten: een theologische, een juridische, een medische en een filosofische. Aan de laatste werden behalve filosofie ook nog natuurwetenschappen en letteren gedoceerd.
Huisvesting voor de universiteit werd gevonden in het voormalige kerkelijke gebouwencomplex bij de Dom.

Het bestuur was voornamelijk in handen van de stedelijke regering. De vroedschap nam de besluiten. Hierbij werd zij officieel geadviseerd door de "burgemeesteren en gecommitteerden tot de academische zaken", die daarmee een groot stempel op het beleid drukten [NOTE G.W. Kernkamp, De Utrechtse universiteit, 1636-1936, I, 93 e.v.] .

De eigen inbreng in het bestuur van de universiteit geschiedde middels de academische senaat. De senaat bestond uit de gezamenlijke gewone hoogleraren-buitengewone hoogleraren hadden daarin geen zitting-met aan het hoofd de rector-magnificus, die tevens de functie van secretaris vervulde. Pas in 1779 kwam er een aparte secretaris voor de senaat.

De rector-magnificus en de assessoren vormden samen het dagelijks bestuur van de senaat. De assessoren, aanvankelijk drie, vanaf de achttiende eeuw vier in getal, waren de afgevaardigden van de faculteiten. Zowel de rector-magnificus als de assessoren werden door de vroedschap van Utrecht aangewezen voor de periode van een jaar, beginnend op 16 maart. Hieruit blijkt nog eens de grote invloed die de stad Utrecht in zeventiende en achttiende eeuw had op de universiteit. De rector-magnificus tenslotte werd vrijwel altijd gekozen uit de jaarlijks aftredende assessoren.

Tot de taken van de senaat, dus de rector-magnificus en hoogleraar gezamenlijk, behoorden o.a. het indienen van voorstellen van kandidaten voor wetenschappelijke functies, het toezicht op het onderwijs, het nemen van beslissingen aangaande examens, promoties, ere-doctoraten, enz.

De dagelijkse zaken werden afgehandeld door de rector-magnificus alleen of met de assessoren, o.a. administratieve handelingen.

Aanvankelijk groeide de universiteit zeer langzaam. Een duidelijk zwaartepunt lag bij de faculteit der theologie.

Na ruim anderhalve eeuw bracht de Franse tijd verandering in de bestaande structuur. Het centralisme sloeg toe, beslissingen werden in toenemende mate in Den Haag genomen.

Terwille van de geografische positie van Utrecht t.o.v. andere universiteitssteden, werd deze universiteit gedegradeerd tot "atheneum", zonder promotierecht. Na het herstel van de onafhankelijkheid in 1813 werd deze maatregel weer snel ongedaan gemaakt. Het organiek besluit van 2 augustus 1815 bepaalde, dat er te Leiden, Utrecht en Groningen voortaan "Lands-Hoogescholen" zouden zijn. Wat wel definitief verdween was de invloed van de stad Utrecht.

In 1815 ontstond er ook een nieuwe, vijfde faculteit, namelijk die van de wis- en natuurwetenschappen, als afsplitsing van de filosofische faculteit.

Nog steeds was de universiteit klein in omvang te noemen, zo waren er in 1821 bijv. 255 studenten: 79 in de theologie, 58 in de rechten, 24 in de geneeskunde, 6 in de wis- en natuurwetenschappen en 88 in de letteren en wijsbegeerte. Door de invoering van de Wet op het Hoger Onderwijs van 1876 verdween de benaming "LandsHoogeschool" en werd vervangen door die van Rijksuniversiteit. In 1925 werd de veeartsenijkundige school-opgericht in 1821-als zesde faculteit aan de universiteit toegevoegd. De universiteit bezat nu als enige in Nederland een diergeneeskundige faculteit. Gestaag groeide het aantal studenten. Waren er in 1886 nog maar 463, in 1936 was hun aantal al gestegen tot c. 2700. De gestage groei vergde meer continuïteit in het senaatsbestuur. Daarom werd in 1933 besloten een commissie te vormen waarin naast de rector-magnificus en de assessoren een tweede vertegenwoordiger van elke faculteit met een vierjarige zittingsduur opgenomen zou worden. [NOTE Jaarboek der Rijksuniversiteit te Utrecht, 1932/33, pag. 170.] Deze commissie werd Senatus Contractus genoemd. In de jaren vijftig zou de Senatus Contractus het college van rectormagnificus en assessoren overvleugelen en zelfs overbodig maken. De tweede wereldoorlog had uiteraard ook voor de Utrechtse universiteit de nodige gevolgen. [NOTE H.W. van der Dunk e.a. (red.), Tussen ivoren toren en grootbedrijf]

De Utrechtse universiteit, 1936-1986, Maarssen, 1986. pag. 27 e.v.</VNOOT> In 1940 werden joodse hoogleraren ontslagen en in 1941 werd een numerus clausus ingesteld voor joodse studenten. Ondanks allerlei conflicten en incidenten bleef de universiteit geopend. Niet de senaat maar de rector-magnificus speelde hierin een beslissende maar soms eigenmachtige rol. In december 1942 werden inschrijvingsregisters van studenten vernield door brand in het Academiegebouw. In februari 1943 had een razzia plaats op studenten gevolgd door de eis tot tekening van de loyaliteitsverklaring in maart. Het onderwijs kwam toen zo goed als stil te liggen. Na de heropening van de universiteit op 24 september 1945 kon de zuivering worden ingezet. Zes hoogleraren werden ontslagen, 33 "gestaakt" of geschorst. Door de na-oorlogse toename van het aantal hoogleraren verminderde de bestuurskracht van de senaat. Om dit te ondervangen besloot de senaat in 1955 om de zaken die niet uitdrukkelijk aan de voltallige senaat waren opgedragen door de Senatus Contractus te laten afhandelen. Steeds meer werd de behoefte gevoeld aan bestuurlijke coördinatie tussen de senaat en het college van curatoren. Daartoe ontstond in het midden van de vijftiger jaren het wekelijks overleg tussen enerzijds de rector-magnificus en sinds 1957 ook de secretaris van de senaat en anderzijds de president-curator en de secretaris van curatoren (later secretaris van de universiteit).

Dit overleg werd ook wel dagelijks bestuur van de universiteit genoemd. In het faculteitenbestel traden in 1963 en 1964 wijzigingen op. Als gevolg van afsplitsing van de wijsbegeerte van de faculteit. Eveneens in 1963 kregen de sociale en fysische geografen een eigen faculteit in de interfaculteit der aardrijkskunde en préhistorie. Voor die tijd deden studenten in de geografie examens in de verenigde faculteiten der wiskunde en natuurwetenschappen en letteren en wijsbegeerte. In 1964 werd de faculteit der sociale wetenschappen opgericht. Via een systeem van een aantal verenigde faculteiten is deze faculteit vooral ontstaan uit de faculteit der letteren. De roep om openbaarheid van en inspraak in het universitaire bestuur werd in de zestiger jaren steeds duidelijker hoorbaar. Jarenlang werd gediscussieerd over een nieuwe democratischer bestuursvorm zonder het dualisme van enerzijds de senaat en anderzijds de curatoren. Op 2 juli 1969 werd de senaatsvergadering door studenten verstoord. Dit was in feite de laatste echte door de senaat gehouden vergadering. Het formele einde bracht de Wet Universitaire Bestuurshervorming 1970. Enige van de senaatstaken zouden in de nieuwe bestuursstructuur overgenomen worden door het College van Decanen.

Lijst van onderwerpen voorkomende in de ingekomen en minuten van uitgegane stukken nrs. 77 tot en met 381

1. Curatoren en secretaris van curatoren, vanaf 1961/1962 secretaris van de universiteit.

1a. Universiteitsraad.

2. Rector Magnificus.

3. Senaat algemeen

3a. Weekagenda's Senaat

4. Convocaties senaatsvergaderingen.

5. Senaatsvergaderingen

7. Boetes senaatsvergaderingen

8. Jaarverslagen rector.

9. Vergaderingen college van curatoren.

10. Senaat diversen.

10. Begroting.

10a. Ontwikkelingsplannen.

11. Secretaris en archivaris van de senaat.

12. Senatus Contractus

12a. College van decanen.

13. Vergaderingen Senatus Contractus.

14. Studiegroep voor beleidsvragen.

15. Viermanschap, vanaf 1968/1969 Driemanschap.

16. Bibliotheek en bibliotheekcommissie.

18. Dinercommisie.

19. Professorenkrans.

20. Sportcommissie van de senaat.

20. Comité universitair Contact.

21. Professorendameskrans.

22. Communicatieproblemen (met de faculteiten).

23. Contact dagelijks bestuur universiteit met dagelijks bestuur Utrechtse studentenfaculteiten.

25. Faculteiten algemeen.

26. Faculteit der godgeleerdheid.

27. Faculteit der rechtsgeleerdheid.

28. Faculteit der geneeskunde.

29. Faculteit der wiskunde- en natuurwetenschappen.

30. Faculteit der letteren en wijsbegeerte.

31. Faculteit der diergeneeskunde.

32. Faculteit der sociale wetenschappen.

33. Indologische faculteit.

35. Centrale interfaculteit.

36. Verenigde faculteiten der letteren en der wiskunde en/of der geneeskunde.

37a. Gewoon hoogleraren algemeen.

37b. Mutatielijsten gewoon hoogleraren.

37c. Gelukswensen nieuw benoemde hoogleraren.

37d. Gelukswensen met jubilea.

37e. Condoleancebrieven.

38. Buitengewone hoogleraren.

39. Kerkelijke en bijzonder hoogleraren.

40. Lectoren.

41. Privaat-docenten.

42. Leeropdrachten/ Onderwijsopdrachten.

42a. Examenbevoegdheden.

43. Overig wetenschappelijk personeel.

43a. Personeelsconvent.

43I. Commissie ontvangst buitenlandse medewerkers.

44. Bijzondere leerstoelen.

45. Wetenschappelijke voordrachten.

46. Oud-hoogleraren.

47. Overlijden hoogleraren en oud-hoogleraren (en studenten tot 1945/1946).

48. Benoemingen.

48. Benoemingen hoogleraren.

48I. Benoemingen van buitengewoon, bijzonder en kerkelijke hoogleraren.

48II. Benoeming van gewoon, bijzonder en kerkelijk hoogleraren.

48III. Benoeming van docenten met onderwijsopdracht en examenbevoegdheden.

49. Salariëring wetenschappelijk personeel.

50. Technisch en administratief personeel.

51. Studievoorlichting.

52. Toelating tot universitaire examens, wijziging art. 26, 27 W. W. O.

56. Studenten, algemeen.

56a. Lustrum.

56b. Foreign Student Service.

56c. Universiteitscafé Pandoer.

57. Studentenverenigingen.

58. Universiteitshuis.

58. Studenten getroffen door watersnood.

58. Hulp aan Hongarije.

59. Studentencontact met het buitenland.

60. Studentenhulp.

60. Studentenverzet Nederland

61. Hulp aan Indië

61. Studentenverzet buitenland.

62. Beurzen.

63. Militaire dienst

64. Tuchtmaatregelen.

65. Zuivering.

66. Sociale zorg voor studenten.

67. Gezondheidszorg.

67. Cursussen voordrachtstechniek.

68. Praktische talencursussen.

69. Inschrijving, colleges.

70. Collegegelden.

70A. Nieuwe inschrijvingsregeling.

70A. Inlichtingen collegegelden en inschrijvingen.

71. Examens.

71a. Studiebegeleiding, studieduur.

72. Studium Generale.

75. Promoties.

75I. Titelbladen promoties.

75II. Weekagenda's promoties.

75III. Promoties diversen.

76. Eredoctoraten.

77. Jubilea doctores.

78. Prijsvragen.

79. (reglement) eremedaille.

80. Protocolcommissie.

81. Wetenschap en wetenschappelijk onderwijs algemeen.

81a. Interfacultaire instituten.

81I. Wetenschappelijke commissie.

81b. Faculteitsinstituten.

81c. Academisch Ziekenhuis.

81d. Politicologisch Studiecentrum.

82. (Wijziging) Hoger Onderwijs Wet, Wet op het Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs.

82I. Bestuursreglement. (of 82a. )

82b. Reglement hoogleraren en lectoren.

82c. Bestuursvorm universiteit.

82d. Openbaarheid vergaderingen.

82e. Plan McKinsey.

83. (Wijziging) Academisch Statuut.

84. Reorganisatie Hoger Onderwijs.

85. Rapport Bolkestein.

85. Post-academisch onderwijs.

86. Tandheelkundige studie.

86I. Commissie omvang universiteit. Aanvullende opleiding voor studenten met inadequate vooropleiding.

87. Vijfdaagse werkweek.

89. Interuniversitaire instituten.

90. Pseudo Hoge Academische Raad.

90. Interuniversitair Contactorgaan, Academische Raad.

91. Contact met Nederlandse Universiteiten en hogescholen, rectorencollege.

92. Contact met Rijksuniversiteit Leiden.

97. Contact met Technische Hogeschool Delft.

100. Contact met Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen.

105. Contact met Indië, Indonesië.

106. Contact met buitenland algemeen.

107. Contact met buitenlandse universiteiten en hogescholen.

108. Contact met België.

109. Contact met Frankrijk.

110. Contact met Zwitserland.

111. Contact met Denemarken.

111. Contact met Zweden.

111. Contact met Zuid-Afrika.

117. Vakantiecursussen buitenland.

119. Uitwisseling publicaties met het buitenland.

125. Universiteitsfonds.

126. Universiteitsraad algemeen.

127. Universiteitsraad vergaderingen.

128. Prinses Marijke-geschenk.

128. College van overleg.

129. Universiteitsdag.

130. Commissie universiteitsdag.

131. Vereniging van Alumni der Utrechtse Universiteit.

134. Contactbureau Universiteit en Maatschappij.

136. Series Lectionem.

135. Studentenhuisvesting.

137. Jaarboek.

138. Universiteitsgids.

138. Commissie voor universiteitspublikaties.

139. Publicaties.

139. Radio, pers en uitgeverij.

140. Sol Justitiae, Trophonios.

142. Universiteitsmuseum.

142. Commissie Kloostergang, Conferentie.

142. Universiteit.

142a. Bouwplannen universitair centrum.

143. Portretten senaatszaal.

143. Universiteitsgebouw.

145. Uitnodigingen.

146. Diversen.

151a. Joodse zaken.

151b. Arbeidsdienst.

151c. Gegijzelden.

151d. Loyaliteitsverklaring.

151h. Diversen oorlogstijd.

152. Mensa. (Gaarkeuken). 1940/1941-1941/1942, 1945/1946, 1947/1948-1950/1951, 1952/1953-1955/1956, 1957/1958-1969/1970.

1970/1971.

1940/1941-1947/1948, 1953/1954-1954/1955, 1956/1957-1970/1971.

1940/1941-1943/1944, 1945/1946, 1947/1948-1968/1969, 1970/1971.

1968/1969-1970/1971.

1945/1946-1970/1971.

1940/1941-1944/1945, 1946/1947-1970/1971.

1941/1942-1942/1943.

1940/1941-1943/1944, 1947/1948-1970/1971.

1954/1955-1957/1958, 1959/1960, 1960/1961.

1948/1949

1954/1955, 1961/1962, 1964/1965-1970/1971.

1961/1962, 1965/1966-1968/1969.

1947/1948-1950/1951, 1952/1953-1954/1955, 1956/1957, 1962/1963, 1964/1965, 1967/1968.

1940/1941-1943/1944, 1945/1946-1950/1951, 1953/1954-1964/1965, 1967/1968-1970/1970.

1970/1971.

1941/1942-1944/1945, 1946/1947-1970/1971.

1961/1962-1967/1968, 1969/1970-1970/1971.

1964/1965-1968/1969.

1940/1941, 1943/1944, 1945/1946-1946/1947, 1957/1958, 1961/1962-1964/1965, 1966/1967-1968/1969, 1970/1971.

1945/1946, 1969/1970.

1940/1941, 1961/1962, 1970/1971.

1940/1941-1942/1943.

1962/1963-1970/1971.

1963/1964-1965/1966, 1967/1968-1970/1971.

1965/1966-1967/1968.

1967/1968-1968/1969.

1940/1941-1942/1943, 1946/1947, 1958/1959-1959/1960, 1962/1963-1963/1964, 1966/1967.

1941/1942-1943/1944

1941/1942-1942/1943, 1956/1957, 1967/1968-1968/1969, 1970/1971

1942/1943, 1946/1947, 1949/1950, 1966/1967-1967/1968.

1942/1943-1943/1944, 1969/1970-1970/1971.

1941/1942-1943/1944, 1967/1968, 1969/1970.

1941/1942-1942/1943, 1946/1947.

1967/1968-1970/1971.

1941/1942-1942/1943.

1962/1963-1964/1965, 1966/1967-1967/1968, 1970/1971.

1962/1963.

1968/1969-1970/1971.

1968/1969-1970/1971.

1968/1969-1970/1971.

1968/1969-1970/1971.

1970/1971.

1941/1942-1942/1943, 1945/1946-1970/1971.

1940/1941-1943/1944, 1945/1946-1970/1971.

1940/1941-1943/1944, 1945/1946-1970/1971.

1940/1941-1943/1944, 1945/1946-1962/1963, 1965/1966, 1968/1969.

1941/1942-1943/1944, 1945/1946-1970/1971.

1969/1970-1970/1971.

1955/1956-1970/1971.

1968/1969

1967/1968-1970/1971.

1941/1942-1942/1943, 1945/1946-1956/1957, 1958/1959.

1940/1941-1943/1944, 1945/1946-1949/1950.

1946/1947-1950/1951, 1952/1953-1954/1955, 1956/1957-1970/1971.

1940/1941-1970/1971.

1960/1961-1965/1966.

1966/1967-1970/1971.

1966/1967-1970/1971.

1966/1967-1970/1971.

1966/1967-1970/1971.

1961/1962, 1968/1969-1969/1970.

1961/1962, 1966/1967-1969/1970.

1940/1941-1943/1944, 1966/1967-1970/1971.

1970/1971.

1940/1941-1943/1944, 1945/1946-1970/1971.

1940/1941, 1950/1951-1952/1953, 1954/1955-1970/1971.

1956/1957-1957/1958.

1961/1962-1962/1963.

1940/1941-1943/1944, 1945/1946-1970/1971.

1946/1947-1947/1948, 1949/1950.

1952/1953-1953/1954.

1956/1957.

1946/1947-1955/1956, 1957/1958, 1959/1960-1961/1962, 1963/1964-1965/1966, 1968/1969, 1970/1971.

1942/1943-1950/1951, 1952/1953-1953/1954.

1968/1969-1969/1970

1945/1946-1946/1947.

1968/1969-1969/1970.

1940/1941-1943/1944.

1961-1965

1940/1941-1943/1944, 1945/1946-1970/1971.

1943/1944-1955/1956, 1957/1958.

1966/1967.

1940/1941-1942/1943.

1957/1958-1961/1962, 1963/1964-1970/1971.

1962/1963-1965/1966.

1940/1941-1944/1945.

1940/1941-1943/1944.

1953/1954.

1969/1970-1970/1971.

1941/1942-1943/1944, 1945/1946, 1947/1948, 1961-1965, 1969-1971.

1961/1962-1970/1971.

1945/1946-1970/1971.

1940/1941-1943/1944, 1945/1946-1963/1964, 1966/1967.

1964/1965-1970/1971.

1964/1965-1967/1968.

1964/1965.

1940/1941, 1945/1946-1952/1953, 1954/1955-1970/1971.

1940/1941-1953/1954, 1955/1956-1970/1971.

1940/1941-1943/1944, 1946/1947-1960/1961, 1962/1963-1970/1971.

1956/1957, 1959/1960-1970/1971.

1970/1971.

1947/1948-1951/1952, 1953/1954.

1961/1962-1966/1967, 1968/1969-1970/1971.

1963/1964-1970/1971.

1963/1964-1966/1967, 1968/1969-1969/1970.

1963/1964, 1969/1970.

1968/1969-1970/1971.

1940/1941-1943/1944, 1949/1950-1950/1951, 1952/1953-1962/1963, 1965/1966-1970/1971.

1960/1961-1964/1965, 1966/1967-1968/1969.

1962/1963-1963/1964.

1966/1967-1970/1971.

1969/1970.

1970/1971.

1940/1941-1942/1944, 1945/1946-1970/1971.

1945/1946, 1949/1950, 1952/1953-1955/1956, 1957/1958, 1967/1968.

1946/1947-1947/1948.

1965/1966-1969/1970.

1945/1946, 1960/1961-1961/1962.

1968/1969.

1969/1970-1970/1971.

1960/1961.

1962/1963-1970/1971.

1956/1957.

1957/1958-1959/1960, 1961/1962-1970/1971.

1941/1942-1943/1944, 1946/1947-1969/1970.

1954/1955, 1966/1967.

1941/1942.

1941/1942.

1946/1947-1949/1950, 1952/1953-1955/1956.

1945/1946-1970/1971.

1945/1946-1970/1971.

1945/1946-1956/1957, 1958/1959-1963/1964, 1966/1967-1970/1971.

1947/1948-1953/1954, 1957/1958-1961/1962, 1964/1965, 1966/1967-1967/1968.

1945/1946-1950/1951, 1959/1960.

1945/1946-1946/1947.

1951/1952.

1953/1954-1956/1957, 1958/1959-1963/1964, 1967/1968-1968/1969.

1940/1941, 1945/1946-1946/1947, 1948/1949-1949/1950, 1954/1955, 1959/1960, 1964/1965, 1969/1970.

1942/1943, 1945/1946.

1940/1941-1942/1943, 1946/1947-1949/1950, 1951/1952-1954/1955, 1961/1962-1963/1964, 1969/1970.

1946/1947-1948/1949, 1950/1951, 1955/1956-1957/1958, 1959/1960.

1946/1947-1949/1950, 1956/1957-1958/1959, 1960/1961-1961/1962.

1946/1947-1950/1951.

1968/1969-1970/1971.

1940/1941-1942/1943, 1946/1947-1954/1955, 1956/1957-1959/1960, 1961/1962-1964/1965, 1968/1969.

1946/1947-1948/1949.

1947/1948.

1957/1958.

1943/1944, 1961/1962.

1957/1958, 1959/1960, 1963/1964.

1941/1942-1944/1945, 1968/1969-1969/1970.

1952/1953, 1955/1956, 1965/1966-1966/1967.

1964/1965.

1941/1942.

1945/1946-1948/1949, 1955/1956, 1961/1962-1970/1971.

1963/1964-1965/1966, 1968/1969.

1945/1946, 1949/1950, 1951/1952.

1952/1953.

1953/1954, 1956/1957-1959/1960, 1963/1964-1964/1965.

1961/1962-1968/1969, 1970/1971.

1946/1947, 1948/1949, 1953/1954-1955/1956.

1950/1951.

1940/1941-1942/1943.

1940/1941-1953/1954, 1956/1957-1970/1971.

1940/1941-1943/1944.

1941/1942-1943/1944.

1940/1941-1943/1944.

1942/1943-1943/1944.

1940/1941-1944/1945.

1941/1942, 1943/1944.

Keywords

Subjects:
Onderwijs en Wetenschap

Rate this content

Was this content helpful? Let Archives Portal Europe and the archival institution know what you think.

Add feedback

Contact this institution

Feedback is sent directly to the institution holding this material and should preferably be submitted in English or in the language of the institution, if possible. The institution will aim at getting back to you as soon as possible to help you with your request, though you might need to allow between two and four weeks for this depending on the current workload at the institution.

Not all required fields have been filled in.

Full name*

Your full name is required

Email address*

Your email address is required

Your message*

A message is required

Archives Portal Europe help guide

Please select amongst the relevant tips we can help with. If you still have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will be in touch as soon as possible.

Starting your search here will include all content available in Archives Portal Europe. Simply enter your keyword(s) and hit the search button. Wrap fixed expressions in quotation marks, e.g. “French Revolution”. Check the box to “Search each term separately” in case you are looking for documents containing at least one word, but not necessarily all keywords; this will also allow you to search for the same term in multiple languages at the same time (e.g. “French Revolution” “Révolution Française”). You can also use wildcards - find more about Research Tools here. If you would like to use more specific settings, try our Advanced search

The additional advanced search options give you the possibility to focus your search in:

  • archival documents (Search in archives),
  • names of person and organisations that created, worked with and maintained these documents (Search in names),
  • Institutions currently holding the documents (Search in institutions).

When searching with multiple terms at the same time, wrap fixed expressions in quotation marks (e.g. "French Revolution"), or check the box "Search each term separately" in case you are looking for either one term of the other. This will also allow you to search for the same term in multiple languages (e.g. "French Revolution" "Révolution française"). You can also choose one of the suggestions matching your search term once you start typing.

This will only show results that include documents that have been digitised and are available online

Use this option to search only one or more keywords, rather than all of them

Select where your search terms should appear specifically inside the archival description:

  • Title: search terms will appear in the title, or name, of the description
  • Content Summary: search terms will appear in the main description of the document or of the collection
  • Reference code: it is the identifier of the archival material as provided by the institution. Use this option if you know the exact reference code of the material you are looking for

You can filter results by selecting where your search terms appears specifically inside the archival description:

  • The name can be the full name of a person, family or organisation as well as only parts of it, e.g. only the last name.
  • The identifier is used internally by the institution or refers to (inter)national vocabularies such as the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF).
  • The place can be the place of birth (or foundation), the place of death (or closing), the place of work or any other place of importance.
  • The occupation is the profession or job of a person.
  • The mandate is a law, directive or charter that establishes and defines an organisation's powers, functions, responsibilities or sphere of activities.
  • The function is an activity, role, or purpose performed or manifested by a person, family or organisation.

You can filter results by selecting where your search terms appears specifically inside the description of the archive:

  • Name: search term appears in the name of the institution. It can be the full name of an archival institution or only parts of it.
  • Place: search term appears in the address or area of the institution. It can be the city or town, where the archival institution is located or any other place of importance (e.g. previous locations)

  • A finding aid is a structured description of archival materials per collection or fonds, up to item level.
  • A holdings guide is an overview of the collections and fonds of one archival institution.
  • A source guide is a topic-oriented overview of collections and fonds of one or several institutions.
    You can filter by one or more entity types:
  • A person (e.g. John Locke, or Jean Jaques Rousseau);
  • A family (e.g. Bonaparte, or Helgason);
  • A corporate body, i.e. the name of an institution, organisation, or company (e.g. Ministerie van Justitie, or Electro Mecánica Antonio Armentano)

Please note that this filter will only include institutions, for which a type has been provided as part of their descriptions:

  • A business archive holds the records of (often) commercial organisations.
  • A church or religious archive holds the records of church parishes or religious organisations, e.g. birth or death registers.
  • A county or local authority archive holds the records of the county's administrative bodies.
  • A media archive holds audiovisual or sound records, e.g. a film archive or the archive of a broadcasting company.
  • A municipal archive holds the records of a town or city administration.
  • A national archive holds the records of a country's administrative bodies, i.e. from ministries and other public bodies, sometimes also private papers of former ministers, chancellors, or presidents.
  • A private person or family archive holds the records forming the legacy of a prominent person or family.
  • A regional archive holds the records of a region's administrative bodies.
  • A specialised governmental archive holds records of public bodies, often operating on a national level, that are not part of the national archives' holdings.
  • A specialised non-governmental archive or archive of another cultural heritage institution hold collections from various cultural heritage institutions, eg. museum archives, libraries archives, etc
  • A university archive or archive of another research organisation holds the records pertaining to the administration of the according educational or research body.
  • Political parties, popular/labour movements and other non-governmental organisations, associations, agencies and foundations hold the archival collections of these institutions, outside of governmental records and outside of business archives (e.g., NGOs)

Enter a start and/or end date in the format DD-MM-YYYY, i.e. 01-01-1900 for 1 January 1900. This will allow you to focus your search on a specific period of time. You can use the calendar function or type directly in the text field. The checkbox "Exact date search" concentrates the search on one specific date.

Check "View in context" to view the results in the hierarchical structure of archives.

  • Choose "List view" to view the results in a simple list, ordered according to relevance or date
  • Choose "Context view" to view the results in the hierarchical structure of the holding archives.

For more details see Research Tools

Please sign in to save your searches.

A holdings guide is an overview of the collections and fonds of one archival institution.

A finding aid is a structured description of archival materials per collection or fonds up to item level.

You can filter results by selecting one or more countries of interest. You can also combine this filter with other filters. Your filter selection will appear above. Click "Clear filters" to see all results matching your initial search request again.

You can filter results by one or more holding archival institutions. You can also combine this filter with other filters. Your filter selection will appear above. Click "Clear filters" to see all results matching your initial search request again.

You can select to view results from a specific Finding Aid, i.e., a structured description of archival materials per collection or fonds up to item level. You can also combine this filter with other filters. Your filter selection will appear above. Click "Clear filters" to see all results matching your initial search request again.

You can filter by type of descriptive document:

  • "Holdings Guide": an overview of the collections and fonds of one archival institution.
  • "Source guide": a topic-oriented overview of collections and fonds of one or several institutions. a description of the archival collections available. Similar to Holdings guides
  • "Finding aid" provides more detailed descriptions of the archival materials of specific collections or fonds

You can also combine this filter with other filters. Your filter selection will appear above. Click "Clear filters" to see all results matching your initial search request again.

You can filter results by selecting "Fonds description" for a general overview or "Other descriptions" for item level. You can also combine this filter with other filters. Your filter selection will appear above. Click "Clear filters" to see all results matching your initial search request again.

You can filter results by selecting only those containing digital objects, i.e. the link to the digitised version of the archival material you are looking for. You can also combine this filter with other filters. Your filter selection will appear above. Click "Clear filters" to see all results matching your initial search request again.

You can filter results by type of digital object you are interested in:

  • Text: most documental material, such as administrative records, letters, manuscripts etc.
  • Image: includes photographs, posters, maps.
  • Sound: sound recording with no images
  • Video: moving images with or without sound
  • Unspecified: indicates that the holding institution has not specified the type of digital object
  • 3D: 3-d digital objects

You can also combine this filter with other filters. Your filter selection will appear above. Click "Clear filters" to see all results matching your initial search request again.

You can filter results based on the date of creation of the archival material (which may differ from the time period you are interested in - e.g., philosophers from the Enlightenment period reflecting on classic thinkers)

  • Full dates includes normalised date information available for date-based searches. It is recommended to combine this selection with the filters "Start timespan" and "End timespan" for more details.
  • Only descriptive dates provides the date information in human-readable format.
  • No date either includes documents where the creation date is unknown, or where date information is not in a machine-readable format

Please note that not all documents contain a machine-readable date. More information here

You can filter results based on the date of creation of the archival material (which may differ from the time period you are interested in - e.g., philosophers from the Enlightenment period reflecting on classic thinkers). This filter will only include materials with "Full dates", i.e. those that include date information available for date-based searches. You can either search for a specific date of interest or focus step by step on the time span of a century, decade, year or month. When searching for a specific date, enter the date in the format DD-MM-YYYY, i.e. 01/01/1900 for 1 January 1900, via the calendar function or by typing directly in the text field.
This filter concentrates on the earliest dates mentioned in the materials.

You can filter results based on the date of creation of the archival material (which may differ from the time period you are interested in - e.g., philosophers from the Enlightenment period reflecting on classic thinkers). This filter will only include materials with "Full dates", i.e. those that include date information available for date-based searches. You can either search for a specific date of interest or focus step by step on the time span of a century, decade, year or month. When searching for a specific date, enter the date in the format DD-MM-YYYY, i.e. 01/01/1900 for 1 January 1900, via the calendar function or by typing directly in the text field.
This filter concentrates on the latest dates mentioned in the materials.

You can filter results based on the language in which the material is written. Please note that this filter will only include materials where specific language information has been provided by the institution and is therefore in a machine-readable format. You can also combine this filter with other filters. Your selection will then be displayed above the search results (see "Search filters"). Clicking "Clear filters" will remove your selection and you will see all results matching your initial search request again.



You can filter results by selecting one or more topics of interest. Please note that this filter will only include materials where the topic has been assigned and is therefore in a machine-readable format. Read how to assign a topic to documents on the Topics page. You can also combine this filter with other filters. Your selection will then be displayed above the search results (see "Search filters"). Clicking "Clear filters" will remove your selection and you will see all results matching your initial search request again.



You can filter results by selecting where your search terms appears specifically inside the archival description:

  • The name can be the full name of a person, family or organisation as well as only parts of it, e.g. only the last name.
  • The identifier is used internally by the institution or refers to (inter)national vocabularies such as the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF).
  • The place can be the place of birth (or foundation), the place of death (or closing), the place of work or any other place of importance.
  • The occupation is the profession or job of a person
  • The mandate is a law, directive or charter that establishes and defines an organisation's powers, functions, responsibilities or sphere of activities.
  • The function is an activity, role, or purpose performed or manifested by a person, family or organisation

You can also combine this filter with other filters. Your selection will then be displayed above the search results (see "Search filters"). Clicking "Clear filters" will remove your selection and you will see all results matching your initial search request again.

You can filter results by type of entities:

  • Person (e.g., John Locke or Jean Jaques Rousseau)
  • Family (e.g., the family Bonaparte)
  • Corporate body (an institution, organisation, or company, e.g. the "Ministerie van Justitie")
You can also combine this filter with other filters. Your selection will then be displayed above the search results (see "Search filters"). Clicking "Clear filters" will remove your selection and you will see all results matching your initial search request again.

You can filter results based on the language in which the material is written. Please note that this filter will only include materials where specific language information has been provided by the institution and is therefore in a machine-readable format. You can also combine this filter with other filters. Your selection will then be displayed above the search results (see "Search filters"). Clicking "Clear filters" will remove your selection and you will see all results matching your initial search request again.

You can filter results based on the type of holding institution. Please note that this filter will only include institutions, for which a type has been provided as part of their descriptions.

  • A business archive holds the records of (often) commercial organisations.
  • A church or religious archive holds the records of church parishes or religious organisations, e.g. birth or death registers.
  • A county or local authority archive holds the records of the county's administrative bodies.
  • A media archive holds audiovisual or sound records, e.g. a film archive or the archive of a broadcasting company.
  • A municipal archive holds the records of a town or city administration.
  • A national archive holds the records of a country's administrative bodies, i.e. from ministries and other public bodies, sometimes also private papers of former ministers, chancellors, or presidents.
  • A private person or family archive holds the records forming the legacy of a prominent person or family.
  • A regional archive holds the records of a region's administrative bodies.
  • A specialised governmental archive holds records of public bodies, often operating on a national level, that are not part of the national archives' holdings.
  • A specialised non-governmental archive or archive of another cultural heritage institution hold collections from various cultural heritage institutions, eg. museum archives, libraries archives, etc
  • A university archive or archive of another research organisation holds the records pertaining to the administration of the according educational or research body.
  • Political parties, popular/labour movements and other non-governmental organisations, associations, agencies and foundations hold the archival collections of these institutions, outside of governmental records and outside of business archives (e.g., NGOs)

Write your message in your own language and use this drop-down menu to have your message translated into English or in the language of the institution for a swifter response. By checking this box and selecting a language you will send your original message along with the translated version

What kind of suggestion would you like to make?

  • Assign to topic: assign this record to one of our Topics. Topics are created following the Unesco Thesaurus
  • Suggest translation: If you have translated this archival description or the documents themselves, please send it to us as a .doc or .pdf file
  • Connect to another resource: If this object relates to another resource in Archives Portal Europe, or anywhere else on the web (e.g., an article on Wikipedia), you can suggest it to be linked to this resource
  • Other: If you have any other relevant material, such as a transcription of the document, please upload it and let us know here

This is a test area to fill out all the copyright details for Attribution Creative Commons Licence

This object is not or no longer protected by copyright and has been labelled with the Public Domain Mark. It can be used by anyone without any restrictions.

This object is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication. All possible existing rights in the content are waived, and the object can be used by anyone without any restrictions.

This object is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons - Attribution (BY) licence. You can copy, redistribute, remix, tweak, and build upon the licensed object, even commercially, as long as you attribute the rights holder as described in the licence.

This is a test area to fill out all the copyright details for Attribution Creative Commons Share Alike Licence

This is a test area to fill out all the copyright details for NoDerivs

This is a test area to fill out all the copyright details for NonCommercial

This object is in the public domain, but has been digitised as the outcome of a public-private partnership, where the terms of the contractual agreement limit commercial use for a certain period of time. You can copy, redistribute, remix, tweak, and build upon the object for non-commercial use only.

This object has been identified as an Orphan Work in the country of first publication and in line with the requirements of the national law implementing Directive 2012/28/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on certain permitted uses of orphan works.

You are free to use this object in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. Please note that you are responsible for your own use, including the need to obtain other permissions e.g. with regard to publicity, privacy or moral rights.

This object is in the public domain, but is subject to known legal restrictions other than copyright which prevent its free re-use. Please contact the providing institution for more information.

This object is currently in copyright. Please contact the providing institution for more information and in order to acquire additional permissions for re-use.

The copyright status of this object has not been evaluated yet. Please contact the providing institution for more information.

You are free to use this object in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. Please note that you are responsible for your own use, including the need to obtain other permissions e.g. with regard to publicity, privacy, or moral rights.

This object is currently in copyright and the rights holder(s) have allowed re-use for educational purposes only. You are free to use this object in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. Please note that you are responsible for your own use, including the need to obtain other permissions e.g. with regard to publicity, privacy or moral rights.

Please contact the providing institution for more information and in order to acquire additional permissions for any other uses.

This object is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons - Attribution, ShareAlike (BY-SA) licence. You can copy, redistribute, remix, tweak and build upon the licensed object, even for commercial purposes, as long as you attribute the rights holder as described in the licence, and you license your adaptations of the object under the same terms.

This object is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons - Attribution, ShareAlike (BY-SA) licence. You can copy, redistribute, remix, tweak and build upon the licensed object, even for commercial purposes, as long as you attribute the rights holder as described in the licence, and you license your adaptations of the object under the same terms.

This object is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons - Attribution, No Derivates (BY-ND) licence. You can copy and redistribute the object, even commercially, as long as no alteration is made to the object and you attribute the rights holder as described in the licence.

If you remix, transform or build upon the object, you may not distribute the modified material.

This object is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons - Attribution, Non-Commercial (BY-NC) licence. You can copy, redistribute, remix, tweak, and build upon the licensed object for non-commercial use only and as long as you attribute the rights holder as described in the licence.

This object is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons - Attribution, Non-Commercial, ShareAlike (BY-NC-SA) licence. You can copy, redistribute, remix, tweak, and build upon the licensed object for non-commercial use only, as long as you attribute the rights holder as described in the licence, and as long as you license your adaptations of the object under the same terms.

This object is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons - Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivates (BY-NC-ND) licence. You can copy and redistribute the object for non-commercial use only, as long as no alteration is made to the object and as long as you attribute the rights holder as described in the licence.

If you remix, transform or build upon the object, you may not distribute the modified material.

This object is in the public domain, but has been digitised as the outcome of a public-private partnership, where the terms of the contractual agreement limit commercial use for a certain period of time. You can copy, redistribute, remix, tweak, and build upon the object for non-commercial use only.

This object has been identified as an Orphan Work in the country of first publication and in line with the requirements of the national law implementing Directive 2012/28/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on certain permitted uses of orphan works.

You are free to use this object in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. Please note that you are responsible for your own use, including the need to obtain other permissions e.g. with regard to publicity, privacy or moral rights.

This object is in the public domain, but is subject to known legal restrictions other than copyright which prevent its free re-use. Please contact the providing institution for more information.

This object is currently in copyright. Please contact the providing institution for more information and in order to acquire additional permissions for re-use.

The copyright status of this object has not been evaluated yet. Please contact the providing institution for more information.

You are free to use this object in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. Please note that you are responsible for your own use, including the need to obtain other permissions e.g. with regard to publicity, privacy, or moral rights.

This object is currently in copyright and the rights holder(s) have allowed re-use for educational purposes only. You are free to use this object in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. Please note that you are responsible for your own use, including the need to obtain other permissions e.g. with regard to publicity, privacy or moral rights.

Please contact the providing institution for more information and in order to acquire additional permissions for any other uses.

Return to search Make a suggestion Contact this institution