Roosevelt Institute for American Studies

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Middelburg
Roosevelt Institute for American Studies

Bellen Routebeschrijving Website

http://www.roosevelt.nl/ As a research and conference center the RIAS explores the Roosevelt Legacy in Transatlantic Relations.

The diverse and dynamic character of this legacy offers an inspiring way to understand the history and culture of the United States and its meaning for Europe. The staff realizes this objective through their research programs, by sharing the results through academic and public channels, and by stimulating further inquiry. Extensive archives, a specialized library, research grants to visit the center, lectures and conferences, and a strong international academic network further advance this mission. The RIAS is located in the twelfth-century Abbey of Middelburg, the Netherlands. It is named after three famous Americans whose ancestors emigrated in the seventeenth century from Zeeland to New York: President Theodore Roosevelt (1858 -1919), President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 -1945) and Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 - 1962). The RIAS is subsidized by the Province of Zeeland and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. LIKE it and get a look at our website: http://www.roosevelt.nl/home/

13/10/2026

This week, we have the pleasure of welcoming research grantee Andrea Cannizzo, of University of Messina, to the RIAS.

During his stay at the RIAS, Andrea is conducting research for his project on Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. and his notion of ‘responsible internationalism’. His research will trace the origins, development, and main elements of this approach to foreign affairs from World War II to the Global War on Terror.

At the RIAS, Andrea is drawing on the microfilm collections of the President Harry S. Truman Office Files, 1945-1953, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Oral History Collection and the President John F. Kennedy’s Office Files, as well as the periodical repository and the digital collections.

We wish Andrea a productive and enjoyable stay at the RIAS!

06/10/2026

Hello everyone!

My name is Karen Heilemann and I will be the new intern at the RIAS from October to December. I am excited to spend the cozy fall months in the lovely city of Middelburg.

Coming all the way from the other end of the country, I completed my BA in American Studies at the University of Groningen and I am now at the end of my MA in North American Studies. During my studies, I have become increasingly interested in how social groups, particularly the LGBTQ+ community, African Americans, and women, navigate their complex relationship to the United States. Recently, my research has focused on how media, in particular TV, can be a tool not just to shape representation, but act as a space for agency, meaning-making and building of identity.

During my time at the RIAS, I hope to build on these interests by expanding my research beyond the scope of recent history. I am excited to work in an archive and learn about the insides of academic work beyond the setting of a university.

30/09/2026

This week we have the pleasure of welcoming research grantee Constantin Berlin, of Goethe University Frankfurt, to the RIAS.

During his stay at the RIAS, Constantin is collecting primary material for a dissertation chapter on the collaboration between the Socialist Workers Party (SWP US) and Robert F. Williams. In doing so, he is primarily consulting the Robert F. Williams Papers. Additionally, he is drawing on the SNCC Papers, the Black Power collection, and RIAS’s digital collections.

We wish Constantin a productive and enjoyable stay at the RIAS!

29/09/2026

We’re excited to announce the second session of the European Forum on US History — bringing together twelve European institutes to foster new conversations and collaborations on US history!

This monthly hybrid seminar series, organized in collaboration with leading research centers across Europe, provides a space for scholars at different career stages to exchange ideas, explore new approaches, and discuss some of the most innovative research in US history.

Our second speaker is Bastiaan Bouwman, Assistant Professor of History of International Relations at Utrecht University. His research focuses on the history of human rights, humanitarianism, and refugees during the Cold War. He is the author of Liberalism and Liberation: The World Council of Churches and the Global Politics of Human Rights (Cambridge University Press, forthcoming 2026), and editor of the forthcoming special issue Refugees and the Cold War.

In his presentation, Bouwman examines the experiences of Haitian migrants who arrived in the United States by boat during the 1970s, fleeing the repression and immiseration of Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier’s Haiti. Focusing especially on Amnesty International’s role in the political and legal struggle over Haitian asylum claims, he explores how the case contributed to a broader shift in refugee policy — from Cold War selectivity toward a framework based, at least in principle, on universal human rights.

Date: 26 October 2026
Time: 17:00-18:30 CET
Location: Online

Join us for this fascinating talk on refugees, human rights, migration, and the Cold War.

Click for more information and registration: https://www.roosevelt.nl/en/nieuws/european-forum-on-us-history-bastiaan-bouwman/

23/09/2026

Check out the latest edition of our From the Vaults on the RIAS website!

Written by our intern Isabel Peters "Constructing Assata Shakur: Narratives from the Archives" brings together newspaper clippings, prison writings, and Black revolutionary publications to explore the competing narratives that shaped Shakur's legacy.

Through the archive, her own voice stands alongside-and against-the narratives produced by the state and the mainstream media.

Decades later, the struggle over how Assata Shakur is remembered continues.

Click the link to read the full article: https://www.roosevelt.nl/en/constructing-assata-shakur-narratives-from-the-archive/

17/09/2026

We're pleased to introduce our research intern David Szepesi, a third-year student of International Studies at Leiden University, specializing in North America:

“At the RIAS, my research focuses on right-wing politics in the United States, with a particular interest in the 1960s and environmental policy. Having previously researched conservative discourse in American politics and its impact on higher education, I look forward to continuing this work at the RIAS. Alongside my research, I support the Blue History Network and the Netherlands American Studies Association with administrative and digital matters. I’m excited to join the RIAS and contribute to its research and academic community.”

Welcome aboard, David! We wish you a great internship!

15/09/2026

On 11 September, Professor Giles Scott-Smith delivered this year’s William J. vanden Heuvel Memorial Lecture, “Enduring Culture? US Cultural Diplomacy beyond Liberal Internationalism.”

Drawing on the history of US cultural diplomacy, Scott-Smith reflected on its changing role -from the Cold War to the present day - and the impact of recent political shifts on cultural and educational outreach.

The lecture was followed by responses from Laurien Crump (Radboud University), who highlighted the link between security and cultural outreach, and Kaete O’Connell (Southern Methodist University), who emphasized the importance of continuity in cultural diplomacy, including smaller-scale programs.

A thought-provoking afternoon of reflection and discussion on America’s changing relationship with the wider world. 🌍

Read the full report here: https://www.roosevelt.nl/en/activities/william-j-vanden-heuvel-memorial-lecture/lecture-by-professor-giles-scott-smith-2/

14/09/2026

We’re excited to announce the new season of the European Forum on US History - now bringing together eleven European institutes to foster new conversations and collaborations on US history!

This monthly hybrid seminar series, organized in collaboration with leading research centers across Europe, provides a space for scholars at different career stages to exchange ideas, explore new approaches, and discuss some of the most innovative research in US history.

Our first speaker is Brooke L. Blower, Jon Westling Professor of History at Boston University. Her research focuses on American political culture, travel, and war in urban and transnational contexts, and she is the author of several award-winning books.

In her presentation, Blower explores the experiences of unwed, pregnant women migrating to the United States around the turn of the twentieth century. Drawing on US Immigration Service records, she examines the policing of gender and sexuality at the US border and the ways in which these women’s journeys shaped debates around immigration and the citizenship rights of babies born on US soil.

Date: 28 September 2026
Time: 17:00-18:30 CEST
Location: Online

Join us for this fascinating talk on migration, gender, borders, and citizenship.

For more information and registration, click here: https://www.roosevelt.nl/en/nieuws/european-forum-on-us-history-brooke-l-blower/

11/09/2026

On 9 September 2026, students from University College Roosevelt in Middelburg visited the RIAS as part of the Media & Race course, taught by Dr. Nancy Mykoff. The students were welcomed at RIAS by Gaetano Di Tommaso. This visit marked the first student visit of the new academic year.

The visit began with an introduction to the role and function of RIAS, its history, and the collections available at the institute. The RIAS team also provided the students with an explanation of how to use the microfilm machines and how to navigate the archives.

The students then had the opportunity to explore the collections themselves and search for sources relevant to their research papers. While a small number of students had previous experience working with physical archives and microfilm machines, for most of the group this was a new experience.
Particular attention was given to the digitally available New York Times archives, as well as archival collections relating to John F. Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt, civil rights organizations, and the role of the media in shaping American history.

During this visit, the students discovered more about American history and the different ways in which it can be studied and approached, including through oral and digital history.

It was a pleasure to welcome these students to the RIAS, and we hope to see them again in the future!

10/09/2026

The RIAS was well represented at the EAAS Biennial Conference in Bologna, with Damian Pargas, Gaetano Di Tommaso, Dario Fazzi, Femke Fakkeldij, and Bálint Honos all taking part.

Throughout the conference, they presented papers and chaired panels on topics ranging from environmental history and innovative teaching methods to antebellum Black citizenship, reflecting the breadth of research currently underway at the institute.

The biennial EAAS conference brings together American Studies scholars from across Europe to exchange ideas and strengthen connections across the field. This year’s conference explored how the concept of freedom has shaped the past, present, and future of the United States, and we were glad to contribute to that conversation.

Adres

Hofplein 16
Middelburg
4331CK

Telefoon

+31118678836

Website

http://www.roosevelt.nl/

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