Antiquaries in Europe

Building a network of antiquarian societies in Europe

The Society played host over 15 and 16 May 2008 to the Chairmen, Chairwomen, Presidents and Secretaries of sixteen antiquarian societies, travelling to London for the occasion from as far north as Norway, Sweden and Finland and as far south as Greece and Spain. The seminar explored the histories and roles of our various societies, the challenges ahead and the opportunities for collaboration.

All agreed that the fostering of research and the publication of the results were their core activities, based in excellent library facilities, built up and maintained over long periods of time. Another strength of all the societies was their mix of vocational and avocational (lay, amateur, volunteer) members, and their independence from government. 

In looking for areas for closer cooperation, it was proposed that a network of independent national antiquarian organisations be established, and an effort made to find analogous organisations in those European nations not represented at the seminar, especially in Eastern Europe.

As a first step, the Society of Antiquaries of London has established this web page where you willfind copies of the presentations made at the seminar, with links to the websites of all the organisations represented this first joint meeting. In future it is intended that this page will also be used to publicise research grants, meeting programmes and reciprocal access arrangements for each others’ libraries, and to promote a regular cycle of joint meetings.

UK, England: David Gaimster, FSA, General Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of London (<www.sal.org.uk>) gave a paper on 'The Society of Antiquaries: the Tercentenary and beyond'. A transcript of the paper can be read or downloaded here (Word file 109KB).

Belgium: Joost Vander Auwera, Vice President, Royal Academy of Archaeology of Belgium (<www.acad.be>), spoke about 'Bridging the Gap: the Royal Academy of Archeology of Belgium as a sign of unity in a complicated country. A transcript of the paper can be read or downloaded here (Word file 57KB).

The Netherlands: Frans Grijzenhout, Chair of Cultural Heritage, Conservation, Restoration, President of the Department for Art, Culture and Religion, University of Amsterdam, of the Koninklijk Oudheidkundig Genootschap (Royal Antiquarian Society: <www.kog.nu>) spoke about 'The Past, Present and Future of the Royal Society of Antiquaries (1858): between relic and relevance'. A transcript of the paper can be read or downloaded here (Word file 42KB).

The Netherlands: Dorien Scheerhout, Vice-President of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Oudheidkundige Bond (KNOB: the Royal Dutch Society of Antiquities: <www.knob.nl>) spoke about 'The Royal Dutch Antiquarian Society in the Twenty-first Century: new horizons. A transcript of the paper can be read or downloaded here (Word file 42KB).

France: Etienne Duval read a paper by Noël Duval, FSA, of the Société Nationale des Antiquaires de France entitled 'The Société Nationale (Impériale ou Royale ou Nationale) des Antiquaires de France: from Napoleon to the present time'. A transcript of the paper can be read or downloaded here (Word file 47KB).

France: Eliane Vergnolle, Vice-President, Société Française d'Archéologie (<http://pagesperso-orange.fr/sfa.sfa/>), spoke about 'La Société Française d’Archéologie, de sa fondation en 1834 à nos jours'. A transcript of the paper can be read or downloaded here (Word file 87KB).

UK, Scotland: Simon Gilmour, Director of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (<www.socantscot.org/>) read a paper called 'Interesting Times: the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in a devolved Scotland'. A PowerPoint version of the paper can be downloaded here (PowerPoint file 1.4MB) and the text that goes with the presentation can be downloaded here (Word file 51KB).

UK, Wales: Thomas Lloyd, FSA, President of the Cambrian Archaeological Association (<www.orchardweb.co.uk/cambrians/index.html>), spoke on 'The Role of the Cambrian Archaeological Association'. A transcript of the paper can be read or downloaded here (Word file 33KB).

Finland: Helena Edgren, Chair, Antiquarian Society of Finland and Keeper of the Historical Collections at the National Museum of Finland, Docent at the Helsinki University in Art History, spoke about 'The Antiquarian Society of Finland - from founder of the antiquarian administration to a modern learned society'. A transcript of the paper can be read or downloaded here (Word file 47KB).

Greece: Dora Vassilicos, Member of Board of Directors, Archaeological Society, Athens (<www.archetai.gr/site/eng_page_uc.html>), spoke about 'The Archaeological Society at Athens, 1837-2008'. A transcript of the paper can be read or downloaded here (Word file 59KB).

Norway: Karl Gervin, Vice-President, The Society for the Preservation of Norwegian Ancient Monuments (<www.fortidsminneforeningen.no/english>) gave a paper called: 'To seek out and study, to maintain and make known’: The Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments. A transcript of the paper can be read or downloaded here (Word file 51KB).

Ireland: Aideen Ireland, FSA, President of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (<www.rsai.ie>) spoke on 'The Role and Challenges of an Antiquarian Society in the Twenty-First Century'. A transcript of the paper can be read or downloaded here (Word file 68KB).

Spain, Tarragona: Jordi Rovira Soriano, Secretary of the Royal Archaeological Society in Tarragona (RSAT) spoke on 'The Main Role and Objectives of the RSAT in the Preservation and Defence of our Archaeological and Historical Heritage'. A transcript of the paper can be read or downloaded here (Word file 31KB).

Germany: Gabriele Isenberg, Präsidium der Verbände für Altertumswissenschaften, spoke on 'Learned Societies in Germany: origins, structures, perspectives'. A transcript of the paper can be read or downloaded here (Word file 32KB).

Ireland: Siobhán Fitzpatrick, Librarian, the Royal Irish Academy (<www.ria.ie>), spoke on 'A third century of endeavour: the Royal Irish Academy in the twenty-first century'. A transcript of the paper can be read or downloaded here (Word file 52KB).