Metadata: Archives of archbishop Jozef-Ernest Van Roey
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- Archives of the Archbishopric
- Holding institution (official language):
- Aartsbisschoppelijk Archief
- Postal address:
- Diocesaan Pastoraal Centrum, Varkensstraat 6, 2800 Mechelen
- Phone number:
- +32 015 29 84 22
- Email:
- archiv@diomb.be
- Reference number:
- Archbish-Mechelen-B.1.2.1.6.
- Title:
- Archives of archbishop Jozef-Ernest Van Roey
- Title (official language):
- Archief van aartsbisschop Jozef-Ernest Van Roey
- Creator/accumulator:
- Van Roey, Jozef-Ernest
- Date(s):
- 1896/1961
- Extent:
- 30 linear metres
- Scope and content:
- In this fonds we firstly note file no. II/41. It consists of 4 folders containing subfiles (1941-1945) ordered alphabetically by family name. They hold correspondence of individuals appealing to archbishop Van Roey in the context of the persecution of the Jews – for example requests for protection, for baptism certificates and requests for interventions on behalf of people targeted by the antisemitic ordinances, prisoners held in the Kazerne Dossin or Fort Breendonk, etc. We also note the file no. I/2, titled “conversion of Jews + baptisms” (ca. 1934-1939), in which we find a number of letters concerning baptisms of Jews. Lastly, we point out the file concerning antisemitism (file no. I/3), consisting of antisemitic letters addressed to the archbishop as well as documentation (press cuttings, brochures).
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Jozef-Ernest van Roey (1874-1961) was ordained a priest in 1897 after his studies at the Kleinseminarie in Mechelen (1892-1894). From 1901 to 1907 he was attached to the theology faculty of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL), first as lecturer in moral theology at the Schola Minor (1901), then as extraordinary (1903) and full (1907) professor at the theology faculty. Van Roey held the functions of i.a. vicar general (1907-1926), Honorary Prelate of His Holiness (1909) and protonotarius apostolicus (1925). He became a cardinal in 1927. In 1926 Van Roey was appointed archbishop of Mechelen, a title he would hold until his death in 1961. In this capacity he was a member of i.a. the board of the KUL. As the archbishop, Van Roey faced a number of pivotal moments in recent Belgian history, such as the Second World War, the ‘Royal Question’, the ‘School Struggle’, etc. (“Jozef-Ernest Van Roey (1874-1961)”, in ODIS - Database Intermediary Structures Flanders (accessible on http://www.odis.be))
- Access points: persons/families:
- Van Roey, Jozef-Ernest
- Finding aids:
- There are several (unpublished) inventories.
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium