Jos Polak archives

Collection

Scope and content:: In this fonds we find correspondence of Jos Polak and Jeanne Suetens as well as a large number of pictures. We firstly note pictures taken by Polak and photos depicting Polak and/or Suetens. In the section “photos concerning Jos Polak” we find around 200 photos related to the Polak-Suetens family – mainly portraits of Jos Polak, Jeanne Suetens, their children and relatives, travel photos, photos of activities at which Polak and Suetens were present, etc.

Administrative/biographical history:: Jos Polak (1918-2008) was councillor for the socialist party in the province (1957-1988) and city (1968-1970, 1981-1982) of Antwerp. He was also an active member, collaborator and/or board member of various socialist organisations such as Socialistische Voorwacht (1945-1957), Eigen Kracht, the Raad van Toezicht van Huisvesting and the Koöperatief Verbond. In addition, Polak was a gifted amateur photographer. He was the co-founder of the Socialistische Foto- en Kinokring Antwerpen (1945), a member of the board of the Federatie van Arbeiders Foto- en Kinokringen (from 1965) and the creator and president of the Socialistisch Centrum voor Amateuristische Kunstbeoefening (from 1989). His wife Jeanne Suetens was also active within the socialist movement in Antwerp, i.a. in the ABVV as a youth leader of the Syndikale Jeugd, in the cabaret De Rode Troubadours, but especially in women’s organisations such as the Socialistische Vooruitziende Vrouwen, the Koöperatieve Vrouwen, the women’s group Stuivenberg (1964-1975) and the Socialistische Vrouwen Antwerpen Centraal. She first worked for the city libraries in Antwerp and later for the AMVC-Letterenhuis; from 1970 until retirement, Suetens worked for the Antwerp city archives. (unpublished list of the Polak-Suetens Jos and Jeanne archives (BE / AMSAB-ISG / 525)

Access points: persons/families:: Polak-Suetens family; Polak, Jos; Suetens, Jeanne

Subject terms:: Correspondence; Jewish political activity; Personal records; Photographs; Socialism; Socialism--Socialists

Finding aids:: The fonds is described in the Agrippa database of the Letterenhuis.