From left to right: Tanya Sitaram, Rose Mary Allen, and Hilde Neus in Curacao.
Research into Surinamese history
Recently, a training was organised for a group of archive employees, in which she encouraged them to explore subjects from Surinamese history. From lemkitiki (lime bag that the kotomisi have in their mouths) to Moengo, related to World War II. Each topic provides an opportunity to gain experience more about the country's rich history. Dr. Coen van Galen of Radboud University has helped the employees find sources for their research, which will result in a publication of their findings.
Digitisation and Unlocking
The collaboration between Dr. Hassankhan and Dr. Coen van Galen of Radboud University has led to the digitisation of important archives, including the slavery registers. This is crucial for descendants of enslaved people who want to reconstruct their family history. Previously, it was difficult to go back beyond 1863, the year in which emancipation took place. Thanks to the opening of these registers, researchers can now look wider and make connections between names and plantations.
Symposium on Curacao
From 2 to 6 December 2024, a symposium took place in the Curaçao Archive, where researchers gathered to exchange knowledge and experiences. Hilde attended and emphasised the importance of listening to the stories of people from the former colonies. Presentations on the importance of unlocking sources emphasised the need to hear the stories of people from the former colonies. There is a danger that the European perspective may overshadow the narratives of those involved.
Pedigree research at allesurinamers.org
The website www.allesurinamers.org, set up by the Foundation for Surinamese Genealogy, offers a valuable resource for anyone interested in Surinamese family research. Hilde points out the importance of this site, which collects important resources and offers a ten-step plan for early-stage researchers. This makes it easier to navigate through the complex data and reconstruct the family tree.
On 16 December, a presentation was given on pedigree research at the Anton de Kom University. Pieter Bol, chairman of the SSG, shared his expertise on genealogy and the available resources. This kind of event, like the annual Kon Makandra in The Hague, shows the growing interest in family history among Surinamese.
Our team members Hilde Neus and Tanya Sitaram were in the weekend edition of De Ware Tijd, a daily newspaper in Suriname.
Our team member Hilde Neus recently authored an article in the daily newspaper De Ware Tijd. In the article Hilde emphasises the value of archives in Suriname as a source of inspiration for literature. She writes about how historical events and real-life characters can be incorporated into our stories as protagonists. A fitting example of this is the work of Cynthia McLeod, with titles such as ‘How expensive was the sugar’ and ‘Elisabeth Samson.’ For years, Cynthia searched archives to create her novels. She discusses the digitisation and disclosure of important archives, including slavery registers, which are crucial for reconstructing family histories. In addition, the role of platforms such as allesurinamers.org and events such as Kon Makandra, which stimulate interest in Surinamese family research, is highlighted.
Dutch Colonial Archives and Surinamese Archives
In her article Hilde emphasises the value of the Dutch colonial archives, which are a treasury of information about colonial policy and the economics of the slave trade. The government secretary documented everything from major events to criminal acts and financial transactions. This resulted in several miles of archives, which were originally kept in The Hague. Thanks to restoration and digitisation, interested parties can now view these valuable documents from their armchairs via the National Archives.
A large part of the Surinamese archives has now been returned to Paramaribo, thanks in part to the efforts of Dr. Maurits Hassankhan. In a modern archive building at the Jagernath Lachmonstraat, the archives are opened by well-trained staff under the leadership of national archivist Rita Tjien Fooh.
Articles on archive-related topics regularly appear, written by researchers who want to highlight the history of Suriname. Hilde herself has published 150 articles on the website of the Working Group on Caribbean Literature (https://werkgroepcaraibischeletteren.nl/)
Lost Deluded Stories about Women
Hilde Neus, who also researches free women in the eighteenth century, discovered that these women often left surprising stories. The lives of these women, who include both settlers and free, manumented black and coloured women, offer a new perspective on the history of Suriname. Something Our Heritage also contribute to by stimulating and presenting research on ancestors in the Caribbean.
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