9 January 2016 marks a special day for Maastricht University (UM). On this day the young university will reach middle age, carrying the load of 40 years of history. The university’s Art and Heritage Commission (KEC) embraces this anniversary as an occasion to go and look for the many traces left by the university in terms of its material and cultural heritage. From January onwards several exhibitions and special activities will take place in celebration of UM's past and future.

One oral history project, for example, zooms in on notable staff members from the early years by asking them for their stories, memories, and personal views of the UM. These interviews serve as a basis for writing short biographical sketches of them, and the aim is to conclude the year 2016 with a publication of these portraits. 

Another project involves the search for original films and photographs dealing with the UM. Much has been lost, unfortunately, but we have also hit upon surprising materials about the UM’s early history. It may well be that after 40 years there is an increased interest in the past. At the same time, recovering these materials is a matter of now or never. Based on historical footage and images, the KEC is currently making a documentary in which several staff members look back to the beginnings of their faculty. 

One of our best finds so far has been the documentary film on the opening ceremony of State University Limburg in the Basilica of Saint Servatius. This film, made by Dirk Jan Braggaar, was believed to be lost, but miraculously it was found in some old shoebox. A cleaned-up and digitised version will be made available on the renewed KEC website as of 11 January 2016 – when the university will celebrate its dies natalis (from 11 January: www.kec-um.nl). It is quite unique indeed to listen to and see moving images of two of the university’s founding fathers, Sjeng Tans and Harmen Tiddens! But it is also special to watch then Minister of Education and Science, Jos van Kemenade, when he gave a speech at the opening ceremony.

In addition, the UM has now acquired more than 200 photographs of this ceremony made by the then young Maastricht photographer Jos Nelissen, after having purchased only a small selection in 1976. Nelissen is the maker of the iconic photo of Queen Juliana signing the foundational document with Sjeng Tans standing by. The photo reportage by Nelissen covers the entire day, including the party ‘of the people and for the people’ at the end. All photos will become available on the website of the Art and Heritage Commission. Their resolution is excellent and they can be downloaded free of charge. Furthermore, 11 January 2016 is the first day of an exhibition in the Minderbroedersberg Main Administrative Building, entitled: 9  January 1976: Dies Natalis of Maastricht University. A look back based on a photo reportage by Jos Nelissen. Finally, towards the end of December a book will be published with portriats of key figures and pioneers of Maastricht University. The book marks the end of the oral history project conducted by MACCH affiliated researcher and KEC conservator Dr. Annemieke Kijn. 

For further information, please visit the KEC website.