Metadata: Department of Human Resources, enrolment register of the students
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-Département des Ressources humaines, Rôle des étudiants
- Title:
- Department of Human Resources, enrolment register of the students
- Title (official language):
- Département des Ressources humaines, Rôle des étudiants
- Creator/accumulator:
- Université Libre de Bruxelles
- Date(s):
- 1834/2016
- Date note:
- Material continues to be added to this collection.
- Extent:
- 23 linear metres
- Scope and content:
- The enrolment registers of students, inscribed between ca. 1834 and 1924, can be accessed via the database of the ULB Archives. Searches are possible by family name and by faculty, for the years 1920-1926. These registers are completed by paper indexes indicating the surname, first name, nationality, date of birth, address, faculty, the section or course(s) for which the individual was registered, and obtained grades. The religion of the students is not mentioned.
- 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.)
- Finding aids:
- There is a database (for the inscription registers of students, 1834-1924). The paper indexes are arranged chronologically and then alphabetically.
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
