Herbert Speyer papers

Collection description

Holding institution (official language):: Archives de l’Université Libre de Bruxelles

Postal address:: Campus du Solbosch AX1.222, Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 50 / Franklin Rooseveltlaan 50, 1000 Bruxelles

Web address:: http://bib.ulb.ac.be/fr/bibliotheques/archives-de-lulb/index.html

Scope and content:: This fonds contains correspondence (notably with the Zionist Federation of Belgium, the Jewish Agency for Palestine, the Keren Hayesod), a “private” file (consisting of handwritten and typed notes related to the situation in Palestine), annotated drafts of laws, handwritten notes, documents concerning discussions held in parliament, reports, summaries and notes related to the Centre d’Études pour la Réforme de l’État and the executive power, parliamentary documents, a handwritten note on direct taxes in Belgium, a typed note on employee-employer relations in the Congo, copies of dissertations and doctoral theses of students, shares of the Compagnie minière du Congo français, an annotated map of the Balkans (roughly present-day Kosovo and Montenegro), files related to lectures by Speyer on the Congo and press cuttings (including articles on, or excerpts from speeches by Speyer).

Archival history:: This fonds was first confiscated by the Germans and later by the Soviets (so-called “Moscow archives”).

Administrative/biographical history:: Herbert Speyer was born in London in 1870. Having obtained a PhD in law and political and administrative science at the ULB, he lectured at the École des sciences politiques et sociales from 1907, became extraordinary professor two years later, and then full professor. After the First World War, he taught colonial policy and specialised in this matter – he notably became member of the Conseil colonial of the Institut royal colonial belge. He was the president of the Institut colonial international and was involved in the legislation related to the organisation of the colony. Herbert Speyer was, in addition, a senator for the liberal party. During the Second World War he lived in exile in London, where he was president of a legal committee advising the government in exile on draft legislation. Apart from his academic engagements and political career, he was also heavily invested in many Jewish institutions, including the Jewish Agency for Palestine. He played an important role in welcoming Chaim Weizmann in 1934 and in the dedication of a forest to King Albert I. Speyer was also active in the Comité belgo-palestinien and was the vice president of the Comité d’Aide et d’Assistance aux Victimes de l’Antisémitisme en Allemagne (CAAVAA). He published many articles notably in the Revue de Belgique, the Revue de l’Université and in Le Flambeau, as well as in specialist legal periodicals. Herbert Speyer died in London in 1942.

Subject terms:: Education; Education--Schools and universities; Jewish political activity; Mandatory Palestine; Maps; Professions; Professions--Scholars (secular), scientists, and academics; Trade and commerce; Zionism; Zionism--Jewish Agency; Zionism--Zionist organisations and parties; Zionism--Zionists

Access, restrictions:: Access requires the authorisation of the archivist of the Université Libre de Bruxelles.