Roosevelt Institute for American Studies

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Nederland
Middelburg
Roosevelt Institute for American Studies

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 cent

er, 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/

04/06/2026

On 16 June 2026, the RIAS and the NASA Netherlands American Studies Association studies will host Emmanuel Destenay to present his new book, "Uncle Sam’s Little Soldiers: Patriotism, Mobilization, and the Americanization of Children (1914–1918)." Published by Cambridge University Press.

Emmanuel Destenay is working as a research fellow at Sorbonne University. His new book examines the unprecedented role American children played in supporting the nation and analyzes why educators, reformers, and public officials mobilized children’s hearts, minds, and energies as part of the broader wartime campaign for national unity during World War I.

Date: 16 June 2026
Time: 15:30–17:00 CEST
Location: Online

You can sign up via this link: https://www.roosevelt.nl/en/nieuws/book-presentation/

We hope to see you there!

04/06/2026

We would like to thank our research intern, Ylva Axelsson, for her contributions to the Blue History Network over the past few months.

Ylva is a Research Master's student in Colonial and Global History at Leiden University, with a particular interest in water history and water justice. During her internship, she played a key role in organizing and promoting the first edition of the Blue History Graduate Forum, creating a space for interdisciplinary exchange on Blue History.

In addition, she worked on an annotated bibliography on Water Archives, further contributing to the development of the field.

We are grateful for Ylva’s enthusiasm, dedication, and hard work, and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors!

03/06/2026

Call for papers now open: War and American Democracy

The relationship between war and democracy in the United States remains deeply relevant. This connection will be at the center of a conference we will host at the RIAS on 17–19 March 2027 in collaboration with Leiden University’s Institute for History.

The conference explores the contradictory dynamics of war in US history, including its role in both expanding democratic inclusion and reinforcing exclusion, coercion, and state power. It builds on recent scholarship that moves beyond traditional military history to examine the relationship between military operations, actors, institutions, and the broader fabric of modern societies.

We welcome proposals for papers on a wide range of topics, including race, gender, citizenship, political economy, military identities, democracy promotion, environmental change, war memory, and more.

To submit a proposal, please send a 500-word abstract and a brief biographical statement as a single PDF file to [email protected] by 28 August 2026.

Full details, including possible topics and submission requirements, are available via this link: https://www.roosevelt.nl/en/nieuws/call-for-papers-war-and-american-democracy/

02/06/2026

This week, we have the pleasure of welcoming research grantee Olivier Burtin, of Université de Picardie Jules Verne, to the RIAS.

During his research stay at the RIAS, Olivier is conducting research on the history of the US far right, making use of the extensive Right Wing Collection of the University of Iowa Libraries.

His project traces the development of far-right movements in the United States from the nineteenth century to the present, examining how their organizations and ideologies have continually adapted to changing political and social contexts.

The research covers a wide range of groups and figures, including the Silver Shirts of the 1930s, Gerald L. K. Smith’s Christian Nationalist Crusade in the 1940s and 1950s, and George Lincoln Rockwell’s American N**i Party and its successors in the 1960s and 1970s.

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

02/06/2026

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming a group of master’s students from Leiden University’s North American Studies program to the RIAS.

The visit began with a traditional Zeeuwse bolus and refreshments, after which the students were given a tour of the archive and an introduction to its collections. During the visit, our colleague Dario presented part of our extensive microfilm collection and introduced the students to the RIAS, its activities, and the resources it offers to support historical research.

The students also had the opportunity to share details about their own research projects and academic interests. This led to an engaging discussion about sources, methodologies, and research opportunities. Based on these conversations, the students received advice and recommendations on materials and resources available at the RIAS that could help them further develop their research.

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

29/05/2026

The European Forum on US History invites applications for its 2026–2027 seminar series!

The European Forum on US History is a rotating, hybrid seminar series, curated by eight European institutes that brings together scholars across Europe to foster historiographical exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative research on US history in global, transatlantic, and comparative perspective.

We welcome proposals for works in progress, new projects, and recently completed research.

The application deadline is on June 28, 2026.

For more information on eligibility and submission guidelines, please visit the website: https://www.ushistoryforum.eu/program-2026-2027

26/05/2026

We are pleased to introduce our research intern, Thomas Brinkman! Thomas is a second-year student in the Research Master's program of history at the University of Leiden, in the track Politics, Culture, and National identities from 1789 to the present.

His scholarly interests mainly focuses on the relationship between water injustice and the Western Native American Genocide, delving into the connection between the appropriation by mining companies backed by the Federal and State governments and Native American decline.

During his time at the RIAS, Thomas’ main task is to help catalogue, describe, and introduce the newly formed archive on the Oceanic Society that the RIAS received recently. This will give researchers the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the early history of US marine conservation.

Aside from this, Thomas is writing a bibliographical essay specifically examining how and why water was used as a tool of power and control in conflicts with Native Americans in California during the Gold Rush era.

We greatly appreciate Thomas’s dedication and are thankful for his valuable contribution!

21/05/2026

On 28 May 2026, the Cold War Research Network will host an online book presentation by Mario Del Pero, in cooperation with the RIAS.

Mario Del Pero will present his latest book, In the Shadow of the Vatican: Texan Evangelical Missionaries in Cold War Italy (Cambridge University Press, 2025), which tells the story of the Church of Christ mission from Texas that sought to promote religious freedom and American values in Italy during the Cold War.

Mario Del Pero is Professor of International History at Sciences Po in Paris, an award-winning author, and a commentator on US international politics for various media outlets.

Join us for his book presentation!

Date: Thursday 28 May 2026
Time: 16.00 – 17.30
Location: Online

For details and sign-up information, click here: https://coldwarresearchnetwork.nl/2026/04/07/online-book-presentation-in-the-shadow-of-the-vatican-texan-evangelical-missionaries-in-cold-war-italy/

21/05/2026

We are pleased to welcome Renata Duda from the University of Wrocław to the RIAS as a research grantee.

During her research stay at the RIAS, she is conducting research on the Vatican’s mediatory role in international conflicts, with particular focus on diplomatic relations between the United States and the Holy See. Her project examines how the Vatican has functioned as a second-track diplomatic channel from the Cold War period to contemporary efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Cuba.

She is also exploring how the upcoming 2026 US midterm elections and the growing political significance of Hispanic Catholic voters, including the Cuban-American community, may influence electoral dynamics and party competition in the United States.

We wish Renata a productive and successful stay at the RIAS!

20/05/2026

This week, we have the pleasure of welcoming research grantee Andrew Warnes from the University of Leeds.

During his stay, Andrew is working on the background behind Freedom from Want, the third of the Four Freedoms first announced by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941.

At the RIAS he is using archival materials to explore the connection between 1930s politics, American literature, and the role Eleanor Roosevelt played in shaping the concept of Freedom from Want.

This work will provide a substantial portion of his next book, 'American Literature and the Industrial Food Revolution', to be published as part of Wiley-Blackwell's thematic studies in American literature series.

We wish Andrew a wonderful stay at the RIAS!

Adres

Hofplein 16
Middelburg
4331CK

Telefoon

+31118678836

Website

http://www.roosevelt.nl/

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