Amsab - Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis Gent, Social history archive and museum in Ghent, Belgium.
The Amsab Institute for Social History in Ghent collects documents, photographs, posters, flags, and audiovisual materials documenting labor movements, environmental campaigns, peace initiatives, and other social struggles. The holdings span from the early 1800s to today and include personal papers, periodicals, and recorded interviews with people who lived through these movements.
The institute was established to preserve records of worker organizations, unions, and progressive movements across Belgium. Over time, it expanded to become a comprehensive archive documenting women's rights, migration policies, and LGBTQ history.
The institute holds materials documenting how social movements shaped daily life in Belgium and influenced communities across generations. Visitors can trace the stories of workers, activists, and ordinary people who drove changes in their neighborhoods and society.
The institute provides quiet study spaces for research and archival work in a focused, scholarly setting. Visitors should contact ahead to confirm opening hours and check that specific materials they wish to consult are accessible.
The archive holds a specialized collection on the LGBTQ movement in Belgium from the 1960s onward, including personal accounts, photographs, and campaign materials spanning decades. This documentation reveals how activists drove changes in law and public acceptance over time.
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