colonial archives

Read more about the article Looking Back and Ahead: Access and Research in a Changing Archive
Johannes Hogeboom, “Hongi near the village of Sawai, northern Ceram.” Appendix to a letter by Nicolaas Witsen, c. 1700. Amsterdam, Allard Pierson Collection UvA. Hs. Bf. 76 C (3).

Looking Back and Ahead: Access and Research in a Changing Archive

GLOBALISE held the roundtable “The Changing Archive: Digitization, Translation, and Historical Research on the Early Modern Indian Ocean World” on 2 December 2025. This post summarizes the key points of discussion.

Continue ReadingLooking Back and Ahead: Access and Research in a Changing Archive
Read more about the article Symposium: Colonial Archives and Meaningful Digital Infrastructure
A volume from the Overgekomen Brieven en Papieren series in the VOC archives. Photo Dave Straatmeyer.

Symposium: Colonial Archives and Meaningful Digital Infrastructure

Join us for a symposium on Colonial Archives, exploring innovative approaches to colonial archives and digital infrastructure.

Key topics include:

  • Colonial archives and global significance
    Reflect on the relevance of these archives for understanding shared histories and their broader implications.
  • Text recognition and digital access
    Explore what comes after digitization and how to create meaningful tools for using complex historical records.
  • Biases in the archive
    Address the inherent biases in colonial records and their impact on research and public access.
  • Reaching new audiences
    Consider how digital infrastructures can engage diverse groups, including descendants of colonized communities.

Date and time: 24 January 2025, 10 am – 3 pm CET
Location: Radboud University, Nijmegen
More information: full announcement

Continue ReadingSymposium: Colonial Archives and Meaningful Digital Infrastructure