Interview collection

Collection description

Holding institution (official language):: Fondation de la Mémoire Contemporaine

Creator/accumulator:: Fondation de la Mémoire Contemporaine; Stichting voor de Eigentijdse Herinnering

Scope and content:: This fonds consists of interviews. The earliest interviews were conducted by Jean-Philippe Schreiber (some 20 in total). Most of the interviews in this collection were carried out by the researchers of the Fondation, since its creation in 1994. These interviews are occasionally accompanied by attachments, hand written notes, photographs and personal documents. There are transcriptions for the vast majority of interviews. The interviews are either biographical (retracing the life story of the interviewed person) or thematic (concerning a particular subject).

Administrative/biographical history:: The Fondation de la Mémoire Contemporaine (FMC) was created in 1994. This academic research institution is one of the key partners of the CIERL (Centre Interdisciplinaire d’Étude des Religions et de la Laïcité – ULB). The objective of the FMC is to improve our knowledge of the history of the Jews in Belgium and of their contribution to the national community in the 20th century. The researchers of the FMC conduct scientific studies on the history of the Jews in Belgium during the 20th century. The institution also collects biographical documentation on important personalities of the Belgian Jewish community, theses, archival material, audio and video testimonies and iconographic material regarding various aspects of Jewish life in Belgium. The work of its researchers is published in the form of monographs. The FMC also publishes an annual journal, Les Cahiers de la Mémoire contemporaine – Bijdragen tot de eigentijdse Herinnering, consisting of academic contributions to Jewish history in Belgium. (http://www.fmc-seh.be.)

Subject terms:: Historical research; Oral history; Personal records; Photographs

Access, restrictions:: Access is dependent on the provisions in the agreements signed by the interviewees.

Finding aids:: There is a list. For each interview there is a form containing a description as well as keywords; it is therefore possible to search by keyword.