Blad 118 uit Stamboek van de leerlingen der Koloniale School voor Meisjes en Vrouwen te 's-Gravenhage deel II (1930-1949) Possibly 1939

Editor: We’re looking at page 118 from a student registry, "Stamboek van de leerlingen der Koloniale School voor Meisjes en Vrouwen te 's-Gravenhage deel II (1930-1949)", likely from 1939. It's essentially a handwritten ledger in ink on paper, and I’m struck by how personal it feels, even though it's an official record. There’s something quite poignant about these names and dates frozen in time. What catches your eye about it? Curator: Oh, absolutely, it's like peering into a time capsule filled with hopes, dreams and lives from so long ago, isn’t it? I find myself drawn to the signatures, those tiny little artworks scattered across the pages. They offer this glimpse of individuality amidst the strict lines of bureaucracy. Editor: True. What do you think these signatures, this “hand-drawn type” as the tags put it, tells us? Curator: Well, each one is like a little flourish of personality – a rebellious act, almost. The careful looping of the letters, the pressure of the pen, these show us so much of how one wanted to present oneself. Maybe even what one hoped to achieve. And seeing it all collected, bound, within this colonial school record – it makes me wonder about these women's stories. A hint of where they ended up later in Batavia... Editor: Right, this makes you think about the individual experiences, rather than it being just another historical document? Curator: Precisely. I feel transported back to a moment. You almost imagine them poised, pen in hand, carefully crafting their place in the archive. A curious little dance, in its way. What about you? Any favourite bits that you have? Editor: I keep coming back to the faded photograph at the top. It brings an additional intimate sense of personal lives from that time. And I am touched by this idea of capturing a brief history in a school book. Thanks so much for sharing all that! Curator: It’s my pleasure! Perhaps we've conjured up some new memories.