Metadata: Marcel-Henri Jaspar papers
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- National Archives of Belgium
- Holding institution (official language):
- Archives Générales du Royaume
- Postal address:
- Ruisbroekstraat 2-6 / Rue de Ruysbroeck 2-6, 1000 Brussel
- Phone number:
- +32 (0)2 513 76 80
- Web address:
- http://www.arch.be/
- Email:
- archives.generales@arch.be
- Reference number:
- NAB-Brussels-510-169
- Title:
- Marcel-Henri Jaspar papers
- Title (official language):
- Papieren van Marcel-Henri Jaspar
- Creator/accumulator:
- Jaspar, Marcel-Henri
- Date(s):
- 1875/1980
- Extent:
- 11.97 linear metres
- Scope and content:
- The archives of Marcel-Henri Jaspar contain a fairly large series of correspondence. Of particular importance to this guide are the correspondence treating the events before, during and after the Second World War (war crimes in particular), and with personalities from the Belgian social and political world – see for example the nos. 1609-1611 (with Paul-Henri Spaak) and 1615 (with Herbert Speyer). We also point out Jaspar’s correspondence with a number of Jewish personalities i.a. Georges Aronstein (no. 52; 1940-1964), René Cassin (no. 401; 1942-1943), Jacques Errera (no. 661; 1947-1959), R[omi?] Goldmuntz (no. 782; 1942), Paul Hymans (no. 905; 1928-1930), Marcel Kirschen (no. 1000; 1961-1968) and Jacques Wiener (no. 1820; 1941-1942). Apart from correspondence we also note various documents concerning the refugee policy before and at the start of the Second World War (nos. 1978, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017). They concern i.a. legislative proposals on this matter, the surveillance of ‘suspects’, Belgian refugees in France, etc. The protocols of the meetings presided by the Ministry of Public Health, concerning the evacuation of civilians (nos. 1979-1985) also contain information on the Jewish refugees in Belgium. The reports, correspondence and diplomatic notes of Jaspar in his capacity as the Belgian ministre plénipotentiaire to the Czechoslovak government in London are relevant for this topic as well – see the files nos. 2071-2104, especially nos. 2078, 2083 and 2098. Lastly, we mention assorted documents such as “notes on Israel” (file no. 2947).
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Marcel-Henri Jaspar (1901-1982) held a PhD in law and was attached to the Hof van Beroep in Brussels. He started his career within the liberal movement (in which he belonged to the radical wing), first in the liberal party, later as a member of parliament and in the cabinet of the Minister of Defence Albert Devèze. In the 1930s Jaspar held posts such as Minister of Transport and Public Health (and as such was responsible for leading the evacuation of civilians in May 1940). He was a member of many parliamentary commissions as well. After the capitulation of France and Belgium in May 1940 Jaspar left for Great Britain, where he took up functions for the Belgian government in London. After the Second World War he held high diplomatic functions in Argentina, Brazil, Sweden and France. Apart from his political career, Jaspar was a journalist, author, and member of the Belgian Liga tegen het Racisme en het Antisemitisme. (F. Caestecker, Ongewenste Gasten: Joodse vluchtelingen en migranten in de dertiger jaren, Brussel, VUB Press, 1993, p. 203; R. Wellens, Inventaire des papiers de Marcel-Henri Jaspar, député, ministre et ambassadeur de Belgique, I 226, Brussel, ARA-AGR, 1982.)
- Access points: locations:
- Belgium
- Czechoslovakia
- Access points: persons/families:
- Jaspar, Marcel-Henri
- Access, restrictions:
- Consultation requires the permission of Henri P. Jaspar. Only the microfilm copy of this fonds can be consulted.
- Finding aids:
- R. Wellens, Inventaire des papiers de Marcel-Henri Jaspar, député, ministre et ambassadeur de Belgique, I 226, Brussel, ARA-AGR, 1982.
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
