Metadata: Archives of the Hoger Handelsgesticht and the Rijkshandelshogeschool Antwerpen
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- University of Antwerp
- Holding institution (official language):
- Universiteit Antwerpen
- Postal address:
- Gebouw A, Campus Middelheim, Middelheimlaan 1, 2020 Antwerpen
- Phone number:
- +32 (0)3 265 31 23
- Reference number:
- UAnt-Antwerp-Archief van het Hoger Handelsgesticht en de Rijkshandelshogeschool Antwerpen
- Title:
- Archives of the Hoger Handelsgesticht and the Rijkshandelshogeschool Antwerpen
- Title (official language):
- Archief van het Hoger Handelsgesticht en de Rijkshandelshogeschool Antwerpen
- Creator/accumulator:
- Rijkshandelshogeschool Antwerpen; Institut Supérieur de Commerce de l’État à Anvers
- Date(s):
- 1853/1969
- Language:
- Dutch; Flemish
- French
- German
- Polish
- Russian
- Bulgarian
- Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan
- Greek, Modern (1453-)
- Spanish; Castilian
- Italian
- Extent:
- ca. 43 linear metres
- Physical condition:
- good
- Scope and content:
- In this fonds we firstly note several typical general series, such as reports of the board of directors (see i.a. box “RHHA 50”) and personnel files (see i.a. box “HH 87”). We also point out the series of registers used for tracking the results of the periodical, permanent and entrance exams, enrolment (the so-called “rollen”), conferment of degrees etc. They are often subdivided in series, separating Belgian students and students of a foreign nationality. The boxes “HH 46” and “HH 47” (dated ca. 1900-1925, mainly from the 1910s) contain correspondence and (often translated) attestations and diplomas of foreign students (including numerous Jewish students), mainly originating from the former Russian Empire, present-day Romania, Poland and Bulgaria. The box bearing the title “foto’s HH studenten 1898-1906” contains three bundles with dozens of photographs of students; their names and place of origin (country, or city for the Belgian students) are mentioned on the back. Lastly, box “HH 55” contains statistical material concerning the student population for the years 1905-1933, including lists of the Belgian and foreign students mentioning their name, nationality, date and place of birth etc.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The Hogerhandelsgesticht Antwerpen – Institut Supérieur de Commerce d’Anvers was formally established by royal decree of 29 October 1852. The institute provided higher education (in theoretical as well as practical subjects) at an academic level, and focused on trade. At the time, this type of studies was still relatively new. An École Coloniale Supérieure (the later Koloniale Hogeschool and Koloniale Universiteit) was created in 1920. In 1873 Louis Strauss founded the Cercle des Anciens Étudiants of the institute; this alumni association notably granted scholarships to Belgian and foreign students. The school had already gained international renown in the 19th century. Initially, the student population primarily consisted of Belgians but between 1900 and 1914 more and more students came from Eastern Europe, such as Poles, Russians and Romanians. During the years 1928-1932 more than two-thirds of the students were foreigners, primarily from Poland and Romania (including many Jewish students). After 1939 foreigners never again formed a significant proportion of the student population. In 1932, as a result of the language legislation, classes were split up and separate French- and Dutch-speaking departments were created. In the same period – the school had received legal status in 1923 – the name of the institution was changed to Rijkshandelshogeschool Antwerpen – Institut Supérieur de Commerce de l’État à Anvers (RHHA). The political and linguistic evolution of Belgium and, by consequence, its educational policy also left their mark. By the early 1960s, there was political pressure for the full ‘Dutchification’ (vernederlandsing) of the RHHA. Eventually, in 1965, the RHHA was absorbed by law by the Rijksuniversitair Centrum Antwerpen; the last academic year of the RHHA ended in 1968. (A. Grunzweig, Histoire de l’Institut Supérieur de Commerce de l’État à Anvers, Brussel, Cercle des anciens étudiants de l’ISCEA, 1977.)
- Access points: locations:
- Antwerp
- Access, restrictions:
- Researchers wishing to consult the archives are requested to contact Mr. Herman Deumens (herman.deumens@ua.ac.be).
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
