Archive Theo van Baaren

Description of collection

Brief overview

Title: Archive Theodoor Petrus van Baaren

Provenance: Baaren, Theodoor Petrus van (1912-1989)

Dated: 1937-1989

Size: 12 m

Language of the material:  Dutch, French, German, English

Summary:

Correspondence to Van Baaren from 1937-1988

Number of the collection: ubg011

Institution: University Library Groningen

Repository: University Library Groningen

Provenance and Acquisition

Biography

Theodoor van Baaren was born in Utrecht in 1912. He went on to study theology in Utrecht and graduated with a dissertation entitled Voorstellingen van openbaring phaenomenologisch beschouwd (1951).

He was a historian of religion and worked as a professor at the University of Groningen between 1952 and 1980. Here, he taught history of religion as well as Egyptian language and linguistics. He succeeded Gerardus van der Leeuw. He also founded the Instiuut voor Godsdiensthistorische Beelddocumentatie (Institute for the Preservation of Images of the History of Religion, I.G.B.).

Van Baaren, who considered himself to be agnostic, published mainly about non-literate religions, primitive art, religious dance, creation myths, the major religions of Asia and religion in Ancient Egypt. In 1980 Van Baaren retired due to health problems.

In 1968, Van Baaren donated his collection of non-western art to the University, in order to make it accessible to a broader public. June 16 1978, the Volkenkundig Museum (Museum of Cultures and Societies) was opened, named after Gerardus van der Leeuw, Van Baaren’s predecessor.

Besides poetry, Van Baaren wrote plays, a novel and academic works. He also created collages and had a fondness for the visual arts. He was an enthousiastic collector of non-western objects, be they artistic or otherwise. Starting in 1976, he regularly published collections of poetry and also created many collages.

Contents and Collation 

Instructions for users of the archive

Accessibility

The collection is accessible for research purposes. To view the collection, you must have an access- or guestpass for the University Library Groningen.

Limitations to use

Materials from this collection are exclusively for viewing in the reading room. When viewing the collection, the Reglement voor de gebruikers van de Bibliotheek der Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (house rules University Library) apply. Reproductions, as far as they are allowed must be made conforming with the rules stated in Tarieven en diensten Bibliotheek der Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. 

As owners, the University Library Groningen is the only party that has the right to publish (parts of) the archive.

Citations

When referring to these materials, the archive as a whole, or the individual item needs to be cited as a whole (without abbreviations) at least once. After that, abbreviations may be used. 

• Collection: Universiteitsbibliotheek Groningen, Collectie Theodoor Petrus van Baaren
• Individual items: Groningen, UB, Van Baaren [number]

Accessing the collection

A inventory of the archive and its contents is available.

Requests

The materials in this collection can be requested by sending an email to Special Collections Department.