Oud-archief van Curaçao, Bonaire en Aruba, 1707-1828 (1859)
Item
Country
NL
Name of institution (English)
National Archives
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
dut
Contact information: postal address
Prins Willem-Alexanderhof 20, 2595 BE The Hague
Contact information: phone number
0031 703315400
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
Reference number
1.05.12.01
Title (English)
Old Archives of Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba, 1707-1828 (1859)
Title (official language of the state)
Oud-archief van Curaçao, Bonaire en Aruba, 1707-1828 (1859)
Creator / accumulator
Nationaal Archief
Date(s)
1707/1828
Language(s)
dut
Extent
126.50 linear metres (1746 storage units)
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
This collection comprises documentation from the colonial archives of Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba up to 1828, containing records from a large number of institutions of these islands. It is composed of three sections, according to the different incorporations into the Archives. The collection contains a great amount of judicial documentation, including resolutions, accounts with the decisions taken thereon, court rolls (including sentences), deeds of oath-taking and of revision of judgments, and attachments. It also includes journals of governors and commanders, regulations and instructions, and appointments of officials, as well as a vast collection of correspondence, especially in the form of outgoing letters. Records from financial institutions include ledgers, cash books, estates, etc., while documents from religious bodies contain information on baptisms, marriages, and burials. The collection also contains a large number of notarial records and commercial documentation, namely regarding shipping (including privateering).
The Oud-archief van Curaçao, Bonaire en Aruba is one of the richest archival collections with information regarding the Sephardic community of Curaçao. For instance, it includes the birth registers of Portuguese Jews from 1722 to 1831, with information on their death (1484A and 1484B). Particularly interesting is also the documentation regarding conflicts within the Jewish community whose resolution ended up being appealed to secular authorities. It was the case of the excommunication of Moses Penso imposed by Rabbi Samuel de Sola and the Parnassim of the Jewish Congregation of Curaçao. In 1747, Penso appealed to Governor Isaac Faesch and the States Gereal against this resolution (863, fol. 139). The Governor asked the Heren X (the West India Company’s ruling council) about the situations in which the excommunication could be imposed (863, fol. 423). In the following year, Penso and 45 Jews submitted a petition to the Governor to forbid Rabbi de Sola from preaching offensive sermons against them and to allow them to open a new synagogue (867, fols. 79, 211). Faesch ended up forbidding the opening of another synagogue. More information on this case can be found in the Archieven van Directeur en Raden (Archives of the Director and Council), in particular among the resolutions in 1749 (12) and nos. 180 (fol. 132) and 183 (fol. 27). Another example is an appeal to the States General concerning a conflict between two Sephardic families of Curaçao, the Leão and Pereira, in 1751 (825).
The Oud-archief van Curaçao, Bonaire en Aruba is one of the richest archival collections with information regarding the Sephardic community of Curaçao. For instance, it includes the birth registers of Portuguese Jews from 1722 to 1831, with information on their death (1484A and 1484B). Particularly interesting is also the documentation regarding conflicts within the Jewish community whose resolution ended up being appealed to secular authorities. It was the case of the excommunication of Moses Penso imposed by Rabbi Samuel de Sola and the Parnassim of the Jewish Congregation of Curaçao. In 1747, Penso appealed to Governor Isaac Faesch and the States Gereal against this resolution (863, fol. 139). The Governor asked the Heren X (the West India Company’s ruling council) about the situations in which the excommunication could be imposed (863, fol. 423). In the following year, Penso and 45 Jews submitted a petition to the Governor to forbid Rabbi de Sola from preaching offensive sermons against them and to allow them to open a new synagogue (867, fols. 79, 211). Faesch ended up forbidding the opening of another synagogue. More information on this case can be found in the Archieven van Directeur en Raden (Archives of the Director and Council), in particular among the resolutions in 1749 (12) and nos. 180 (fol. 132) and 183 (fol. 27). Another example is an appeal to the States General concerning a conflict between two Sephardic families of Curaçao, the Leão and Pereira, in 1751 (825).
Archival history
Most of the archives of Curaçao and of the dependent islands of Bonaire and Aruba up to 1828 were transferred to the Netherlands in 1917, following a royal decree of December 22, 1915.
The archives of Curaçao amounted to 35 boxes, of which 26 were transferred to the Netherlands in 1917. This documentation had been evaluated by A. Telting, the deputy archivist of the Algemeen Rijksarchief (ARA), during his travels to Surinam and Curaçao in 1899. Unlike the old archives of Suriname, Telting found the Curaçao archives in good condition and well-organised. The transfer was later arranged by Th. Morreen, former chief clerk of the (ARA) by order of the Ministry of Colonies.
In addition to this first incorporation, another group of documents containing 18th-century records, which were left behind in Curaçao due to their poor condition, was transferred to the Netherlands in the early 1920s. The last transfer occurred in 1931.
The archives of Curaçao amounted to 35 boxes, of which 26 were transferred to the Netherlands in 1917. This documentation had been evaluated by A. Telting, the deputy archivist of the Algemeen Rijksarchief (ARA), during his travels to Surinam and Curaçao in 1899. Unlike the old archives of Suriname, Telting found the Curaçao archives in good condition and well-organised. The transfer was later arranged by Th. Morreen, former chief clerk of the (ARA) by order of the Ministry of Colonies.
In addition to this first incorporation, another group of documents containing 18th-century records, which were left behind in Curaçao due to their poor condition, was transferred to the Netherlands in the early 1920s. The last transfer occurred in 1931.
Administrative / Biographical history
In the early 19th century, the Rijksarchief (State Archives) was responsible for managing the archives of government bodies, including the ministries. In the course of the century, provincial archives emerged, encouraged by the national government. From 1877, they were gradually converted into State Archives. They remained independent until 1968, when the Rijksarchiefdienst (State Archives Service) was established, consisting of a central directorate, the State Archives and a Algeemen Rijksarchief (General State Archives). The State Archives Service was headed by the "Algemene rijksarchivaris" (General State Archivist), who was also the director of the Algeemen Rijksarchief.
In 1979, the Algeemen Rijksarchief moved to a building at the Prince Willem Alexanderhof in The Hague. Since the late 1990s, the General State Archives service was reformed and gradually dismantled. The provincial state archives were merged with other regional cultural partners, forming the so-called Regionaal Historisch Centra (Regional Historical Centers). In 2002, the Algeemen Rijksarchief was renamed as Nationaal Archief to emphasise its feature as a national archive institution.
In 1979, the Algeemen Rijksarchief moved to a building at the Prince Willem Alexanderhof in The Hague. Since the late 1990s, the General State Archives service was reformed and gradually dismantled. The provincial state archives were merged with other regional cultural partners, forming the so-called Regionaal Historisch Centra (Regional Historical Centers). In 2002, the Algeemen Rijksarchief was renamed as Nationaal Archief to emphasise its feature as a national archive institution.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The collection is organised by institutions and, at lower levels, by document types. Records are tendentially arranged in chronological order.
Access, restrictions
This collection is only available in microfilm or digital format. Some items are temporarily unavailable (see the online catalogue).
Finding aids
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2023
Bibliography
Published primary sources
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Congregation Mikvé Israel-Emanuel (Willemstad, Curaçao) (Small Collections) | Existence and location of originals | |
| Collectie Joshua Mozes Levy Maduro | Existence and location of originals |
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Nationaal Archief | Collections (official language of the state) |