Metadata: Secretariat of the Rectorate
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- Archives of the Université Libre de Bruxelles
- 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
- Phone number:
- +32 02/650.35.66
- Email:
- archives@ulb.ac.be
- Reference number:
- ArUnLib-Brussels-Secrétariat du Rectorat
- Title:
- Secretariat of the Rectorate
- Title (official language):
- Secrétariat du Rectorat
- Creator/accumulator:
- Université Libre de Bruxelles
- Date(s):
- 1834/1969
- Date note:
- 1834 – late 1960s
- Extent:
- 55 linear metres
- Scope and content:
- This fonds, also known as “Ancien secretariat” (‘old secretariat’), contains numerous files regarding the functioning of the university and the organisation of its education. We note administrative documents concerning the academic staff, the administrative and technical personnel and the students. The files related to foreign students and financial aid for students are of great interest, mainly for the years 1905-1945. We note for example the following files: nos. 19.15 and 19.15/1 (“professors and students killed or arrested due to war – correspondence”), no. 41.27/8 (“foreign physicians”), no. 53.76 (Union des étudiants juifs de Belgique), no. 54.61 (concerning the Émile Bernheim prize), no. 74.26 (regarding the donation of Mrs. Léo Errera, “buildings and contents of the Instituts de botanique Léo Errera), no. 74.35/1 and 74.35/2 (“donation Cassel”), no. 74.36 (“donation Speyer for extension of the Cité (1950-1951)”), no. 74.43 (“donation Philippson, laboratory”), no. 752.26 (“bequest Errera”), no. 752.69 (“bequest Goldschmidt-Errera”), no. 95.44 (“Jewish staff”, 1941) and no. 95.53 (“Jewish students – measures decreed by the occupier”).
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The Université Libre de Bruxelles (‘Free university of Brussels’)(ULB) was established on 20 November 1834. Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, Master of the Masonic lodge Les Amis philantropes initiated the creation of this “free” university, dedicated to teaching the Enlightenment philosophy and fighting against intolerance. Originally, the institution was called Université Libre de Belgique; it was divided in four faculties: literature and philosophy, law, science and medicine. Its name was changed to Université Libre de Bruxelles in 1836. The number of students steadily increased. In 1861, the university integrated the principle of free inquiry (‘libre examen’) as a founding principle in its statutes. A polytechnic school was opened in 1873, the school of political and social science was founded in 1899. The first female students were allowed to enrol at the ULB in 1880-1881. A difference of opinion led to a split of progressive professors and students, who would create the Université Nouvelle (‘new university’) in 1894, which existed until the First World War. The Institut de Sociologie of the ULB was created in 1902, the École de Commerce Solvay two years later. Since the late 19th century, the ULB has welcomed many foreign students, notably from Russia and Central and Eastern Europe. These students were fleeing the discrimination and entry restrictions imposed on ethnic and religious minorities. We note a significant number of (male and female) Jewish students from Russia and Eastern Europe; some of them continued to make an academic career at the ULB. Furthermore, the policy of the ULB was to hire renowned experts as professors for their skills and merit, without discrimination based on origin or religion. The ULB was closed in November 1941. Certain professors continued to teach classes in secret. Many teachers and students were involved in the resistance, notably in Groupe G. Classes resumed after the Liberation, in September 1944. The ULB was split in two in October 1969, resulting in the creation of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (also ‘Free University of Brussels’) where Dutch was the medium of instruction. The ULB is currently one of the leading universities of the country and the top French-speaking university. (J. Bartier, Université libre de Bruxelles, 1834-1959, Bruxelles, ULB, 1959 ; A. DESPY-MEYER, A. Dierkens & F. Scheelings (eds.), 25 novembre 1941, l’Université Libre de Bruxelles ferme ses portes, Bruxelles, Archives de l’ULB, 1991 ; V. Piette & E. Gubin, Emma, Louise, Marie … L’Université libre de Bruxelles et l’émancipation des femmes (1834-2000), Bruxelles, éd. Gief, 2004.)
- Access points: locations:
- Speyer
- Access points: persons/families:
- Errera
- Goldschmidt-Errera
- Philippson
- Finding aids:
- There is a paper inventory as well as a database which can be consulted in the reading room.
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
