Blad 125 uit Stamboek van de leerlingen der Koloniale School voor Meisjes en Vrouwen te 's-Gravenhage deel II (1930-1949) Possibly 1939

This page from a student registry was made anonymously in the Netherlands between 1930 and 1949. It’s a ledger, likely bound in bookcloth over boards, with typed entries and pasted-in photographs. The materials here speak volumes. The stark, functional ledger embodies a bureaucratic approach to education, with regimented columns for names, addresses, and notes. The photographs add a personal touch, but even these are cropped and contained, serving as identification rather than expression. Consider the labor involved: the typist diligently recording names, the printer producing the photographs, the binder assembling the pages. Each step reflects a system designed to process individuals efficiently. The very existence of a colonial school for girls reveals the political underpinnings of the registry. Ultimately, this page is more than just a record, it's a material manifestation of power, class, and the social context of a bygone era. It highlights the importance of recognizing the cultural and political dimensions embedded within everyday objects.