Archive Jos M.M. Hermans (1949-2007)

Brief overview

Name of the archive : Archive Jos M.M. Hermans

Provenance : Gifted tot he University Library by Hermans’ heirs

dated: 1987-2007

Size : 2 archival boxes and 4 drawers with index cards

Language : Dutch, Engels, Duits

Summary :    

The work archive of Jos Hermans, including an incomplete typescript of his dissertation, five appendices and 362 book descriptions. The unedited photocopies of the first printed catalog of the UB Groningen have been removed from the archive. This is already available for consultation, both digitally and in a printed edition in the Special Collections reading room.

Collection number: UBG012

Institution: Groningen University

Retainer : University Library Groningen

Provenance and acquisition

Biography

Joseph Maria Martinus Hermans (Heerlen, March 30, 1949 – Groningen, July 27, 2007) grew up in Maastricht and studied history and art history in Nijmegen from 1968 to 1975. From 1976 he worked at the Medieval Studies working group at the University of Groningen, where he coordinated several project groups and taught, among other things, paleography and Western manuscript science. In addition, he has published a multitude of publications, mainly focused on book culture in the Northern Netherlands. His dissertation from 1987, decorated with the designation 'cum laude', reflects this emphasis on local Groningen book production and book culture. The PhD committee also praised the 'general validity and usability' of the methodology developed by Hermans—a value that went 'far beyond the regional cultural and book historical importance'.

The Hermans archive that the UB has available consists of two archive boxes and several index card trays. The archive boxes contain an incomplete typescript of Hermans' original dissertation from 1987, as well as five appendices to this dissertation and 362 typewritten book files. The dissertation can be characterized as an anthology of Hermans' extensive codicological research results. Previous intentions to publish the thesis failed, largely due to Hermans' untimely death in 2007. After consultation with the surviving relatives, the UB decided to make all of Jos Hermans' work stored there digitally available in 2022. During the inventory it quickly became apparent that part of the dissertation was missing. This section has been supplemented with scans of the published dissertation. The other parts of the archive appear to be complete. The entirety of the scanned work covers more than 1200 pages. In order to increase accessibility and because the nature of the three separate parts allows this, it has been decided to make them available as separate documents. You can find them on the website of the University Library, Special Collections department.

Acquisition: The archive was gifted by Hermans’ relatives to the UB.

Future additions: There are no expected additions to the archive.

Instructions for users of the archive

Accessibility

The collection is accessible for research purposes. To view the collection you must be in possession of a University Library access pass.

Limitations to use

The materials in this collection are available for viewing only. They cannot be borrowed. When consulting this collection, the rules set out in the Reglement voor de gebruikers van de Bibliotheek der Rijksuniversiteit Groningen apply. Reproductions, insofar as they are allowed are to be made in line with the rules set out in the Tarieven en diensten Bibliotheek der Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.

Accessing the collection

An inventory of the collection can be found on the Special Collections website.

Citations

When citing the archive, the following information must be provided: University Library Groningen, Archive Hermans.

Requests

Pieces from the collection can be requested at the Special Collections desk of the library. The call number is uklu Hermans [number].