Why does this seemingly ordinary warehouse on Cruquiusweg hold secrets of global significance? This is the International Institute of Social History. It is also known as the IISG. The IISG is one of the world’s largest archives for labor and social history.
Founded in 1935 by Nicolaas Posthumus, the IISG began as an independent scientific institute. Posthumus aimed to study the evolution of labor relations. He gathered archives from across the globe. In its early years, the IISG acquired significant collections. These included papers from anarchists and socialist movements.
Before the Nazi invasion in 1940, Posthumus moved crucial archives to London. Many remaining archives were seized during the war. They were transported to Nazi Germany but were not destroyed. Most documents resurfaced in Hannover in 1946. Additional materials were later found in Moscow in 1991. They were then returned to Amsterdam.
The International Institute of Social History boasts an impressive collection. It holds one million volumes. There are 80000 audiovisual items. It contains 2400 serials. Three million digital files are stored here. The IISG also has 30000 linear feet of manuscripts. These belong to 2300 collections. The collections include institutional archives from Amnesty International. Also included are the papers of Karl Marx and Emma Goldman. The institute is the foremost repository of anarchist documents.
In 1989, the IISG relocated to this former warehouse. Previously, the building was a customs depot named Pakhuis Koning Willem I. In 2017, the Press Museum, also housed here, became part of the Dutch Institute for Image and Sound.
The building itself has a story. Built in 1962 to a design by architects Cornelis Wegener Sleeswijk and S.J.S. Wichers, it originally served as a customs warehouse. The warehouse was converted to house the IISG in 1988. Atelier PRO oversaw the repurposing. They saved the building from demolition. The heavy construction was ideal for supporting the weight of the archives. The renovation earned Atelier PRO the Betonprijs in 1989.
Today, the International Institute of Social History continues its mission. It collects and preserves records. It promotes research in social history. The IISG also hosts the IHLIA LGBT Heritage collection.
The IISG offers researchers a wealth of resources. They can explore global labor relations. They can also examine social and economic inequality. The institute’s research program is divided into four clusters. These are Global Labour Relations, Commodities, Environment and Labour, Social and Economic Inequality and Individual and Collective Action.
So, next time you pass this building. Remember it is more than just a warehouse. It is a treasure trove of social history. It preserves the stories of movements and individuals. They fought for a better world.