Metadata: Individual alien files
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- City of Ghent, Department Civil Affairs
- Holding institution (official language):
- Stad Gent, Dienst Burgerzaken
- Postal address:
- Administratief Centrum Zuid, Woodrow Wilsonplein 1, 9000 Gent
- Phone number:
- +32 (0)9 210 10 10
- Web address:
- http://www.gent.be
- Email:
- burgerzaken@stad.gent
- Reference number:
- DepCivA-Ghent-Individuele vreemdelingendossiers
- Title:
- Individual alien files
- Title (official language):
- Individuele vreemdelingendossiers
- Creator/accumulator:
- Stad Gent; Ville de Gand; City of Ghent
- Date(s):
- 1833/2016
- Date note:
- Material continues to be added to this collection.
- Extent:
- ca. 150 linear metres
- Scope and content:
- The archives of the Dienst Bevolking (Population Department) contain the series of individual alien files of the city of Ghent. We find both ‘old’ and ‘new’ series of files, depending on how they were arranged and packed. Some selection has already been carried out in the past – for this reason the files mainly consist of the general information forms. Occasionally they contain other documents or even passport pictures. We point out that, apart from the individual files packed in boxes, there are also series of separate information forms of aliens packed in some 15 boxes (totalling ca. 2 linear metres), preserved in the room containing the various series of registers. These files cover the late 1890s – late 1980s. Here too we occasionally find passport pictures.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The municipality is one of the levels of government with which citizens most often come into contact. Its tasks and competences were first established by the decree of 14 December 1789, and by the order of 19 Frimaire year IV [1795-96]. After Belgian independence, the legal framework was provided by the Gemeentewet of 1836 and later the ‘Nieuwe Gemeentewet’ (1988). Since 2002, the organic law regarding municipalities is a competence of the Regions. Until 1980, municipalities were supervised by the provincial and central authorities. Today, there is a division of powers between the federal and regional governments. A municipality is led by a mayor, who is also the head of the local police. He/she is assisted by a college of aldermen, selected from the municipal council. Currently, there are 589 municipalities in Belgium. Before the large-scale fusions in the 1970s – in other words, for a large part of Belgian history – there were 2359 municipalities. The municipality had/has, among others, competences regarding the management of its assets, institutions and staff; municipal revenue and expenditure; Civil Registry; health and safety in public places; urban planning and environment; public works; militia; education; elections etc. This is reflected in the sources held in municipal and city archives. Important general sources include the (sometimes published) minutes of meetings and records of the municipal council and college of aldermen (often indexed by subject). We also refer to all kinds of administrative reports and general correspondence. The series of sources of the Civil Registry (e.g. birth, marriage and death certificates, population registers, registers of arrival and departure) are crucial for historical research on individuals. Relevant for this guide are notably the alien registers (since 1933), and the alien files preserved in some larger cities. Of major importance are also the accounts, correspondence and other material regarding the recognised religions. They contain information on their operation, budgets, assets but also the appointment of ministers, donations to religious communities, various conflicts etc. Building permits and files regarding environmental permits contain information and usually blueprints of buildings. Lastly, in many municipal and city archives there are specific series of sources regarding policy during the First and Second World War. We mention e.g. the various anti-Jewish ordinances, documents regarding the spoliation of the Jews, the so-called Jodenregister (register of Jews), correspondence related to the implementation of the anti-Jewish policies etc. (J. Art & E. Vanhaute (ed.), Inleiding tot de lokale geschiedenis van de 19de en de 20ste eeuw, Gent, Mens & Cultuur, 2003; P. van den Eeckhout, “De gemeenten en de lokale openbare instellingen”, in P. van den Eeckhout & G. Vanthemsche (ed.), Bronnen voor de studie van het hedendaagse België 19e – 21e eeuw. Tweede herziene en uitgebreide uitgave, Brussel, Koninklijke Commissie voor Geschiedenis / Commission Royale d’Histoire, 2009, pp. 31-92.)
- Access points: locations:
- Ghent
- Subject terms:
- Migration
- Migration--Immigration
- Passports and visas
- Photographs
- Refugees
- System of arrangement:
- The ‘old’ series of file are arranged alphabetically by name; the ‘new’ series of files (opened after 1985) are ordered by date of birth.
- Access, restrictions:
- Consultation requires the authorisation of the College of Mayor and Aldermen (College van Burgemeester en Schepenen) of the city of Ghent.
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
