An introduction to the Archive: who we are and what we do. We aim to preserve the social history of expat life for future generations and for academic research.

1. Member of the International Council on Archives

2. Who Are We?
The Board
•Mr Han Kooij – Chair
•Mr Kees de Groot – Treasurer
•Lady Judy Moody-Stuart* – Chair Nomination Committee
•Ms Tasoula Hadjitofi – Member Nomination Committee
•Dr Marijke Huisman – Academic Member
•Mr Ian Franklin – Shell
•Ms Sylvia Spoelder – Global Outpost
* Founding Member
The Staff
Volunteers in supporting roles
Elske van Holk
Director
Rosita Arnts-Boer
Archivist
Catherine Swindles
Office Manager
Peta Chow
PR and Marketing

3. History of the Archive
• The Shell Ladies’ Project: Lady
Moody-Stuart, Glenda Lewin and
Prof. Dr Dewey White
• Collection originated with source material
from 2 books “Life on the Move” and
“Life Now”.
• April 2008 independent “Stichting” with
own staff and a new name The Expatriate Archive
Centre

4. Why The Hague?
• 2nd
UN City in the world
• Long tradition of expatriation
• Shell origins of the collection
• Donation of the premises

5. Defining “Expat”
One who leaves their home country temporarily to work or study
Adj. Resident outside one’s native country
Source: Move Guides

6. What’s in a word?
“Many Britons abroad see themselves as 'expats', a word that reflects
outdated attitudes inappropriate for 21st-century global living. It's time to
consign it to history” - Sociologist Peter Matanle,The Guardian
“I've spent years looking at expat identity - namely the fact that many social
scientists claim it doesn't exist. There's no "real" culture associated with it,
they say. I wholeheartedly disagree… expat culture collects exceptions to
the (traditional culture) rule. It is based in a mindset, not an "origin".” -
Anthropologist Sarah Steegar, Expatica.com

7. Why an Archive?
• Document and preserve the social history of
expatriate life for future generations
• Create a research facility for historians, social
scientists and writers
• Relevance in a shrinking world, increasing
globalisation
Our Mission: To collect, preserve, promote and make accessible a
collection of primary source materials documenting the social history of
expatriate life.

8. The Collection
• Primary source material, originals preferred
• From all over the world, in original languages
• What we collect:
– writings, diaries and memoirs
– letters, postcards and emails
– photos and scrapbooks
– video and audio
– blogs and social media
– magazines and newsletters
– paperwork, tickets and invites
• Supplementary library of published material

9. Donation Example

10. Stories From all the Family

11. Why Donate?
• Become part of expat history
• Help academic research
• Proper preservation
• Keep your collection together
• Free delivery with Voerman
• Free digital copy
• Privacy and confidentiality

12. Storage
• Custom-built archival room
• Humidity controlled
• Acid-free folders and boxes
• Links with Gemeentearchief

13. Research
• Primary: social history, geography,
psychology, genealogy etc
• Secondary: writers, journalists (limitations)

14. Current Research Example
National identity and nostalgia in
expatriates’ letters, 1979-2009
Mara Sfountouri
Global History and International Relations MA
Erasmus University Rotterdam

15. Volunteering
• Essential for our operation
• We ask: 3 hours minimum, enthusiastic
and inquisitive nature, an interest in
history
• We offer: a friendly and international
environment, support and training,
references, gratitude!
Tini Neervoort
Coordinator

16. Volunteer Projects
• Sorting and cataloguing collections
• Research and gap filling
• Scanning
• Translating
• Writing articles
• Managing library
• Marketing, PR, social media

17. Latest Developments
• Online catalogue launched 2012
• First academic symposium 2013
• Social media, reaching the world
• Blog archiving
• Digitalising films
• New Director
@xpatarchive

18. From a Suitcase to an Archive…
our story in a nutshell