acknowledgments

The Joris Ivens Archives, deposited by Marceline Loridan-Ivens, is the major collection of the European Foundation Joris Ivens. They contain more than twenty linear metres of archival material, which is a considerable amount for a private collection. Consequently the archives contain a wealth of information. Besides the archives the European Foundation Joris Ivens manages and acquires other collections of material relating to the filmmaker Joris Ivens. An inventory will be made of these collections as well, so that eventually a series of inventories will have been made allowing all the archives collected so far to be made accessible. Making the inventory of the Joris Ivens Archives has not completed the work by far: besides acquiring other collections and completing the Joris Ivens Archives, an inventory will be made of these collections and they will be disclosed. The important beginning has been made, however.

Making the inventory of the Joris Ivens Archives has taken quite some time. For me as film researcher it was a particularly wonderful and instructive job, and a source of inspiration. The job could not have been done, however, without the help of others. In the first place I would like to thank Frank van der Maden; he taught me the ropes of archiving. With his ‘Plan of attack’ we could work in a structured way, and his advice appeared to be very valuable.

Without Eugène Geldof, Director of the European Foundation Joris Ivens till 1997, I would never have begun this job, for it was he who enrolled me in the Foundation. He offered me this job and the pleasant atmosphere in which we co-operated in Amsterdam. Just as for Frank also Eugène can be considered to have contributed to this inventory. My gratitude is also extended to Eric Ketelaar, former director of the General State Archives. As a member of the board of the Foundation he has helped us with advice, both with regard to the inventory and conservation of its contents.

Apart from the inventory of the archival pieces other collections, such as photographs, clippings and the posters, had to be described. This was done in the first place by Katinka Ringes, and afterwards by Pinkel van de Broek and Brigit Blasweiler. It was a major job seeing the large number of photographs and clippings. They too contributed greatly to the description and disclosure of all the collections of the Joris Ivens Archives, for which I thank them. Describing an archive does not take place without help. Referring to software that was used I would like to thank Bert van der Saag (Regional Archives Central Holland) and Dick Bunskoeke (Regional Archives Waterland) for their advice and the help offered.

The removal from Amsterdam to Nijmegen and the housing of the Joris Ivens Archives with the Municipal Archives of Nijmegen was done with the help of Willem Meeuwissen, municipal archivist, and Jan Beens, inspector of the archives, both connected to the Municipal Archives of Nijmegen. Both advised me with regard to the inventory, and Jan Beens assisted me with the completion of it all.

Apart from the inventory there were a large number of other tasks waiting for me within the scope of the Foundation. Sometimes the accent was on these other tasks, sometimes on the inventory. The other work, however, also continues. That is why I would like to thank my colleagues André Stufkens, Elles Erkens and until recently Elles van Genugten, and the board of the European Foundation Joris Ivens and last but not least Marceline Loridan-Ivens, depositor of the Joris Ivens Archives and president of the Foundation for her support, co-operation and trust.

Kees Bakker, November 1998