Dit symposium brengt onderzoekers en praktijkmensen samen om de uitdagingen en mogelijkheden van het werken met gedigitaliseerde koloniale documenten te bespreken.

Voertaal is het Engels. 

Many archives related to the Dutch colonial past have been digitised in recent years. From the archives of the VOC and WIC to early modern family, notarial, and business archives. These archives are closely intertwined with the colonial past itself. They contain information that sheds light on the (everyday) consequences and experiences of colonialism worldwide. These archives also provide access to information about non-European societies that is often not preserved in other ways. Colonial archives are often literally world heritage. More and more archives are therefore being made accessible through digitisation and text recognition. But as rich and diverse as these archives are, they are not neutral.

Key topics

• 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.

Meer informatie over dit symposium vind je, samen met een volledig programmaoverzicht, via deze link.