State Archives in Belgium

Volunteers

For a long time, the State Archives have benefited from the contribution of volunteers. These contributors are often experienced amateur historians, local history enthusiasts and genealogists who have accumulated a sound experience of searching archives and reading old documents.

Their various tasks include, for example, the creation of a directory based on all the parish registers from a local district selected in consultation with the State Archives.

Within the framework of projects, a group or small committee led by an archivist makes a major series of archives available for research purposes. This may involve several local areas, for example in the case of inventories, building permits or even marriage certificates or notarial acts from a province or a district within this province.

For a number of years, volunteers have also been involved with the archives reading room service provided on Saturdays, in order to ensure efficient organisation and improve security.

The outcomes of these initiatives can be consulted in the reading rooms of the State Archives and will also gradually become available in digital format. A brief description of the many collective projects involving volunteers can be found on the State Archives website.

Volunteer projects ( 18 items )

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