Metadata: Camille Huysmans archives
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- Amsab – Institute of Social History
- Holding institution (official language):
- Amsab - Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis
- Postal address:
- Bagattenstraat 174, 9000 Gent
- Phone number:
- +32 9 224 00 79
- Web address:
- www.amsab.be
- Email:
- info@amsab.be
- Reference number:
- AmsabISH-Ghent-Archief Camille Huysmans
- Title:
- Camille Huysmans archives
- Title (official language):
- Archief Camille Huysmans
- Creator/accumulator:
- Huysmans, Camille
- Date(s):
- 1850/1967
- Date note:
- ca. mid-19th century - 1967
- Language:
- Dutch; Flemish
- French
- German
- English
- Hebrew
- Extent:
- 70 linear metres
- Scope and content:
- This fonds, which at the time of writing is being reordered, contains much correspondence relevant for this guide. It concerns correspondence and files related to various services, questions and requests, arranging of visas and residence papers, etc. The Jewish population is regularly represented in this material. We notes for instance the correspondence between Huysmans and various individuals and organisations concerning the relief and aid to returned survivors of the concentration camps and killing centres. We also find correspondence related to the situation of the Antwerp diamond industry before, during and after the Second World War – i.a. with Romi Goldmuntz, Herman Schamisso and other known figures from this sector. Furthermore, the fonds contains a very interesting report titled “La question juive en Belgique” (s.d., 1943-1944?), written by the SERA (State Security). Lastly, we also mention the various documents testifying to Huysmans’ interest and support for the establishment of the State of Israel, his travels to Israel, etc.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Camille Huysmans (1871-1968), originating from a liberal environment in Bilzen (Limburg), was one of the best known socialist politicians of Belgium. His exceptionally long political career spanned more than 60 years. Huysmans was for more than continuous 50 years a member of parliament (1910-1965) i.a. also as president of the Kamer (1936-1939, 1954-1958). He was appointed minister various times (i.a. repeatedly Minister of Education), was appointed Minister of State (1945), was a part of the government in exile in London (1940-1944) and even led his own government (1946-1947). For a long time Huysmans also served as the mayor of Antwerp (1933-1940, 1944-1946). Initially a left wing liberal, he evolved towards socialism. Huysmans played a crucial role, in the first half of the 20th century, within the Socialist (‘Second’) International, i.a. as secretary of the Bureau (1905-1922) and president (1939-1944). He was in many ways an unorthodox politician – see the “mystical marriage” with the Christian democrats in Antwerp or his outspoken pacifism (and participation at the socialist peace conference in Stockholm in 1917) during the First World War. Huysmans was the architect of a large body of social legislation, but is best known for his flamingantism – see his efforts to make Dutch the standard language of Ghent University, for Flemish culture in Brussels, for amnesty for Flemish ‘activists’ after the First World War, to compel the socialist party to accept the compromis des Belges (with Jules Destrée), etc. Huysmans was also a philologist and author of a comprehensive journalistic and mostly literary oeuvre, on i.a. medieval Flemish literature, Reinaert de Vos and Tijl Uilenspiegel, but also of poetry, theatre and toponymy. Relevant for this guide are Huysmans’ lifelong excellent relations with the Jewish community in his city – see for example his efforts to help the victims of the Eastern European pogroms, the refugees from Nazi Germany and the Jewish population in Antwerp, the organisation of the evacuation and return of the Antwerp diamond industry, his support for the Zionist movement and the establishment of the State of Israel, … (D. De Weerdt, “Huysmans, Jan, Jozef, Camille”, in Nouvelle Biographie Nationale, Brussel, Académie Royale des sciences, des lettres et des beaux-arts, 1988, vol. 1, pp. 181-189.)
- Access points: persons/families:
- Goldmuntz, Romi
- Huysmans, Camille
- Schamisso, Herman
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
