Algemene Diamantbewerkersbond van België

Collection description

Collection

Country:: Belgium

Holding institution:: Amsab – Institute of Social History

Holding institution (official language):: Amsab - Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis

Postal address:: Bagattenstraat 174, 9000 Gent

Phone number:: +32 9 224 00 79

Web address:: www.amsab.be

Email:: info@amsab.be

Reference number:: AmsabISH-Ghent-558

Title:: Algemene Diamantbewerkersbond van België

Title (official language):: Algemene Diamantbewerkersbond van België

Creator/accumulator:: Algemene Diamantbewerkersbond van België

Date(s):: 1895/1995

Extent:: 3.3 linear metres

Scope and content:: In this fonds we firstly point out the two ledenboeken (books of members), which constitute an exceptional source for reconstructing the social history of the diamond industry and for genealogical research. These are registers in which apprentice diamond workers were inscribed, with mention of their name and family name, date and place of birth, domicile, employer, etc. There are photographs for nearly every pupil in this register, attached next to his/her name. Nr. 29.86 concerns the registration of pupils with “fabrieken niet in regel” (years 1932-1935); the second register (no. 29.87) concerns apprentices inscribed in 1937-1938. In addition, the fonds contains registers with minutes of the meetings of the Bondsraad (for the years 1895-1916) and of the Executive (Bestuur; years 1944-1992), as well as a register with minutes of meetings concerning the Wereldverbond van Diamantbewerkers (World Union of Diamond Workers; for the years 1905-1910). Furthermore, we note correspondence and documentation, bookkeeping documents, subject files etc. Also interesting for this guide is i.a. no. 32.116 containing notes and a leaflet (1946) regarding the ADB during the Second World War and the re-establishment of the union after the war.

Administrative/biographical history:: The Antwerpse Diamantbewerkersbond (ADB; ‘Antwerp Diamond Workers Union’) was created in 1895, at the initiative of and with the financial support of the Algemene Nederlandse Diamantbewerkersbond (General Dutch Diamond Workers Union). The first incarnation of the union did not last long (1890-1892). Despite a short-lived split by dissident ADBers (1911-1913) and the subsequent weakening of the union, the ADB (renamed, in 1918, to Algemene Diamantbewerkersbond van België, ‘General Diamond Workers Union of Belgium’) steadily expanded. During the interwar period, the ADB was at its peak, despite communist opposition within its ranks. Around 1919, it represented 95% of the diamond workers in Antwerp. The economic boom and the fact that Antwerp had become the most important diamond centre – partly because of the return of Eastern European Jews from London and Amsterdam after the First World War – contributed to this. In addition to being a labour union in the narrow sense, the ADB also operated its own gym club, party committee, male choir, study circle, photography club, a cooperative called Adamas (1901), its own program for members suffering from tuberculosis (Zonnestraal), etc. The union was also active as a producer, with its own diamond cutting factory De Daad (from 1926). Relations with the Belgian Labour Party were never really cordial. Conflicts arose, among others, about the cooperative of the ABD, the question of apprentices, inclusion in the social democratic movement, etc. After the Second World War, the board of the ADB was accused of aligning too closely with the economic ‘New Order’ of the occupier, e.g. in the collaborationist Unie van Hand- en Geestesarbeiders. After the war the ADB joined the socialist union ABVV. From the 1950s, the ADB had to struggle for the preservation of jobs in the diamond industry. Despite the return of diamond traders to Antwerp – achieved by Huysmans, Goldmuntz et al. – the post-war years were a period of decline. The ADB first merged with the Centrale der Kleding to become the Algemene Kleding- en Diamantbewerkersbond (1993). Since the fusion with ABVV-Textiel in 1994, the union is part of ABVV-Textiel, Kleding en Diamant. (M. Vermandere, Adamastos: 100 jaar Algemene Diamantbewerkersbond van België, Gent, AMSAB, 1995.)

Subject terms:: Education; Education--Vocational training; Labour unions; Photographs; Professions; Professions--Jewellers and goldsmiths; Socialism; Trade and commerce; Vital records; World War II

Finding aids:: M. Vermandere, Plaatsingslijst van het archief van de Algemene Diamantbewerkersbond van België (ADB), Antwerpen, Amsab-ISG, 1995.

Yerusha Network member:: State Archives of Belgium

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