The ‘Doopsgezinde Bibliotheek’ in the Allard Pierson contains over 16.500 books and other printed works on Mennonite/Doopsgezinde history from the 16th century to the present. Additionally, the manuscripts section includes treatises and letters from the 16th century to the present, as well as sermons and lecture notes from the 18th century to the 20th century. The primary focus of the collection is on Dutch Doopsgezinde history, but Mennonite publications from abroad are also included. Among the greatest treasures are the writings of the proponents and opponents of revolutionary Anabaptism, including Melchior Hoffman and the first Anabaptist leaders in the Netherlands such as Menno Simons, David Joris, and Obbe and Dirk Philips. The works of like-minded thinkers such as Hans Denck, Christiaan Entfelder, and Sebastian Franck, as well as later spiritualists like Hendrick Niclaes and Hendrick Jansz van Barrefelt (Hiël), are also represented. The library holds theological and polemical writings from prominent 17th and 18th-century teachers, works by Doopsgezinde literary writers, and numerous prints. The ‘Doopsgezinde Bibliotheek’ has been on loan from the ‘Doopsgezinde Gemeente Amsterdam’ since 1968. The fellowship is intended for researchers from various disciplines, such as cultural history, intellectual history, book history, and art history.
Suggested research topics:
• The role of Doopsgezinde booksellers, printers, publishers, and translators in disseminating and popularizing radical and moderate Enlightenment ideas during the long 18th century;
• The second revival of the Doopsgezinde movement at the end of the 18th century, since the establishment of the ‘Maatschappij tot Nut van ’t Algemeen’ and further manifesting itself in politics, science, and art;
• The contribution of Doopsgezinde writers to the discussion on the principle of freedom of conscience;
• The attitude towards colonialism and slavery among Doopsgezinden;
• Other topics in the field of Dutch Doopsgezinde history.
Searching the collection
All printed works and a part of the manuscripts can be found through the online catalogue of the UvA. The Doopsgezinde Bibliotheek as a whole has been described in the Collection Descriptions. For a survey of all the manuscripts and archives, contact curator Gwendolyn Verbraak.
Questions
Curator Gwendolyn Verbraak (g.m.verbraak@uva.nl) can be contacted for questions about the collection. On behalf of the ‘Doopsgezind Erfgoedcentrum’, Prof. Dr. Mirjam van Veen (mirjam.vanveen@ads.nl) is available for inquiries and part of the selection committee. Fellowship programme coordinator Anna de Wilde (a.e.dewilde@uva.nl) can be contacted for questions about the application process.
Guidelines
You can read more about the guidelines and application process here.
