Blad 89 uit Stamboek van de leerlingen der Koloniale School voor Meisjes en Vrouwen te 's-Gravenhage deel II (1930-1949) Possibly 1937

This page from a register for girls and women at a Dutch Colonial school in The Hague, made some time between 1930 and 1949, is a kind of record of comings and goings. I imagine the archivist carefully writing in looping cursive, documenting the students’ names and dates alongside their signatures. And then these little photographs, pasted in with care. Each student froze for a moment, posing in a formal stance, or perhaps in a relaxed pose with a friend. Look at their faces, their outfits, their aspirations. These are all women who, in one way or another, were linked to the Dutch colonies. Maybe they were training to become teachers or nurses. It's a fascinating glimpse into a specific time and place, and it makes me think about the colonial legacy and how it shaped individual lives. Like looking at a painting, you're drawn into the details, the human stories behind the official record.