Archival work for our girls
The magazine De Hollandsche Lelie (the Dutch lily) first appeared in 1887.
Being a magazine for girls between 12 and 16, it alternated between playing the roles of the ‘Best Friend’ and the ‘Teacher’.
Detail magazine De Hollandsche Lelie
In 1905 a captivating article ‘Archival work for our girls’ appeared, telling the story of the first female municipal archivist in the Netherlands, Rins Visscher (1868-1950). She was appointed in Leeuwarden in 1900. Samuel Muller, then chairman of the Vereniging van Archivarissen (society of archivists), predicted that the reputation of dryness and colorlessness would disappear
‘when ladies, natural enemies of dust, will join us and make a visit to the archive an outing and a pleasure’.
However, the board of the VAN, unanimously and without objection or restriction excluded Rins Visscher from membership.
Source: Library Atria