Member of the International Council on Archives
Who Are We?The Board
•Mr Han Kooij – Chair•Mr Kees de Groot – Treasurer•Lady Judy Moody-Stuart* – Chair Nomination Committee•Ms Tasoula Hadjitofi – Member Nomination Committee•Dr Marijke Huisman – Academic Member•Mr Ian Franklin – Shell •Ms Sylvia Spoelder – Global Outpost* Founding Member
The Staff
Volunteers in supporting roles
Elske van HolkDirector
Rosita Arnts-BoerArchivist
Catherine SwindlesOffice Manager
Peta ChowPR and Marketing
History of the Archive
• The Shell Ladies’ Project: Lady Moody-Stuart, Glenda Lewin andProf. Dr Dewey White
• Collection originated with source material from 2 books “Life on the Move” and “Life Now”.
• April 2008 independent “Stichting” with
own staff and a new name The Expatriate Archive Centre
Why The Hague?
• 2nd UN City in the world
• Long tradition of expatriation
• Shell origins of the collection
• Donation of the premises
Defining “Expat”One who leaves their home country temporarily to work or study
Adj. Resident outside one’s native country
Source: Move Guides
What’s in a word?“Many Britons abroad see themselves as 'expats', a word that reflects outdated attitudes inappropriate for 21st-century global living. It's time to consign it to history” - Sociologist Peter Matanle,The Guardian
“I've spent years looking at expat identity - namely the fact that many social scientists claim it doesn't exist. There's no "real" culture associated with it, they say. I wholeheartedly disagree… expat culture collects exceptions to the (traditional culture) rule. It is based in a mindset, not an "origin".” -Anthropologist Sarah Steegar, Expatica.com
Why an Archive?
• Document and preserve the social history of expatriate life for future generations
• Create a research facility for historians, social scientists and writers
• Relevance in a shrinking world, increasing globalisation
Our Mission: To collect, preserve, promote and make accessible a collection of primary source materials documenting the social history of
expatriate life.
The Collection• Primary source material, originals preferred• From all over the world, in original languages
• What we collect:
– writings, diaries and memoirs– letters, postcards and emails– photos and scrapbooks– video and audio– blogs and social media– magazines and newsletters– paperwork, tickets and invites
• Supplementary library of published material
Donation Example
Stories From all the Family
Why Donate?
• Become part of expat history
• Help academic research
• Proper preservation
• Keep your collection together
• Free delivery with Voerman
• Free digital copy
• Privacy and confidentiality
Storage
• Custom-built archival room• Humidity controlled• Acid-free folders and boxes• Links with Gemeentearchief
Research
• Primary: social history, geography, psychology, genealogy etc
• Secondary: writers, journalists (limitations)
Current Research Example
National identity and nostalgia in expatriates’ letters, 1979-2009
Mara SfountouriGlobal History and International Relations MA
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Volunteering
• Essential for our operation
• We ask: 3 hours minimum, enthusiastic and inquisitive nature, an interest in history
• We offer: a friendly and international environment, support and training, references, gratitude!
Tini NeervoortCoordinator
Volunteer Projects• Sorting and cataloguing collections• Research and gap filling• Scanning • Translating• Writing articles• Managing library• Marketing, PR, social media
Latest Developments
• Online catalogue launched 2012• First academic symposium 2013• Social media, reaching the world• Blog archiving• Digitalising films• New Director
@xpatarchive
From a Suitcase to an Archive…our story in a nutshell