TRUUS WIJSMULLER ARCHIVES
Now that the first storm has subsided since the documentary Truus' Children could premiere in private in March and after almost half a million people watched the television broadcast on Dutch public television last month, it is time to focus on the continuation of the Truus Wijsmuller project.
Already during the filming of Truus' Children, and even more during the lengthy process of editing the almost 90 hours (!) of film, we have come to realize that with all the interviews, the documents that we have been able to collect during the research, the unique archive images that we have found, and the letters and documents that have been provided to us by the 'Children of Truus', we have such special material with great historical value in our hands that this should not be lost.
This is how the idea was born for the Truus Wijsmuller Archives (TWA), a digital platform that should be accessible to as many people as possible all over the world: pupils, students, teachers, scientists, and researchers at home and abroad. The advantage of this digital form is - in addition to remote accessibility - that we as compilers will be able to add any new material that may come to the table in the future in a relatively easy way.
By setting up this archive, important historical material will be stored in an orderly manner and made accessible for everyone - certainly also for younger interested parties - and thus preserved forever.
The reactions after the broadcast of the film Truus' Children on Dutch public broadcasting (NPO) in May made it unmistakenly clear that there is still a great need to know more about this part of our modern war history. The Truus Wijsmuller Archive will provide this need.
The Jewish Cultural Quarter in Amsterdam has expressed the intention to work with us to (also) give this archive a place within the walls of the future National Holocaust Archive in the Dutch capital.
As with the creation of the documentary Truus' Children, we will again depend on contributions from funds, institutions, and private persons when setting up the archive. If you are interested in supporting the project 'Truus Wijsmuller Archives' financially, please contact us or use the 'donate' button at the top left of this page.
