Periodic Reporting for period 3 - EHRI-3 (European Holocaust Research Infrastructure)
Reporting period: 2023-09-01 to 2025-02-28
In its final period, the EHRI-3 project has continued to play a crucial role in its overall aim: the provision of access to as many (hidden) archives as possible. It has also taken steps to grow EHRI’s network. By hosting fellows, and organizing workshops and seminars, EHRI-3 has enabled new and familiar researchers, archivists and educators to grow and disseminated their knowledge of the Holocaust. The accumulation and dissemination of knowledge about the Holocaust remains imperative as Holocaust denial and Holocaust distortion are still very present in today’s society.
Taking on one of the main challenges in the field of Holocaust research - the wide dispersal of sources and expertise across many institutions - has also led to EHRI’3 continued focus on archives located in non-public locations. The continual addition of micro-archives to the EHRI Portal, and the work done to connect micro-archives to bigger archives has facilitated access to those micro-archives for a wider public.
EHRI-3 may have concluded, but luckily the important work that has been done during its operational phase, will continue in the EHRI-ERIC, a permanent Holocaust Research Infrastructure. The EHRI Blog, EHRI Editions and the Massive Online Open Course are among the EHRI-3 results that will continue in the ERIC. The Blog gives contributors a chance to share their knowledge, the Open Course provides all those who are interested with information about the Holocaust. Both are examples of how EHRI’s societal importance will continue. The continual provision of information about this dark chapter of our shared history will contribute to the creation of more tolerant minds.
Taking on one of the main challenges in the field of Holocaust research - the wide dispersal of sources and expertise across many institutions - has also led to EHRI’3 continued focus on archives located in non-public locations. The continual addition of micro-archives to the EHRI Portal, and the work done to connect micro-archives to bigger archives has facilitated access to those micro-archives for a wider public.
EHRI-3 may have concluded, but luckily the important work that has been done during its operational phase, will continue in the EHRI-ERIC, a permanent Holocaust Research Infrastructure. The EHRI Blog, EHRI Editions and the Massive Online Open Course are among the EHRI-3 results that will continue in the ERIC. The Blog gives contributors a chance to share their knowledge, the Open Course provides all those who are interested with information about the Holocaust. Both are examples of how EHRI’s societal importance will continue. The continual provision of information about this dark chapter of our shared history will contribute to the creation of more tolerant minds.
Governing: The Project Management Board (PMB) and the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB)
Throughout the project, the PMB has continued to ensure that the project’s objectives were met and that all stakeholders were kept informed of relevant information. This was done through the organization of Work Packages, of which relevant outcomes were shared within the project via the notes taken during the monthly PMB meetings.
The SAB has provided the EHRI-3 project with strategic and independent scientific advice. As the board consisted of representatives from various fields (Holocaust research, archival sciences, digital humanities and humanities research infrastructures), various EHRI services (e.g. the EHRI Dashboard) have been created with users from various fields in mind.
Dissemination, Communication, Impact and Training
With regular updates through EHRI newsletters, social media channels and the EHRI Project website, EHRI-3 ensured its stakeholders remained engaged and informed. The Academic Conference that was held in Warsaw in June 2024, enabled new individuals to get acquainted with EHRI’s work, and it stimulated the creation of transnational connections.
By launching the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) in 2024, EHRI-3 continued to strive to reach a high number of learners. The MOOC, together with the organized seminars and workshops, ensured a successful continuation of EHRI-3’s training and education strategy. The inclusion of new user groups, such as educators, has been an important contribution to combatting Holocaust distortion and denial.
Supporting Expert Communities and Local Research
EHRI-3 organized in-person workshops for both of its Experts groups – The Information and Reference Services Group and The Holocaust Photographs Expert Group. These workshops facilitated cooperation between different fields of expertise. EHRI’s Mobile Experts Lab ensured various institutions received expertise and services befitting their needs.
Virtual & Trans-National Access
EHRI-3 has published five calls for applications to the EHRI Conny Kristel Fellowship. The increase in applicants from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe continued, showing EHRI’s growth in those regions. The provision of transnational access to archives at various institutions, as well as the personal expertise available at those locations, has enabled many researchers, archivists, museum curators and staff members of memorial sites to continue their research.
During this final project period, the EHRI Virtual Observatory was developed further. Continued improvements to various EHRI online resources have enabled more people to make use of EHRI’s services. The addition of more language options to access the Portal has increased EHRI’s global impact.
Archives & micro-archival communities
EHRI-3 organized workshops that exposed the archival community to new technologies and new tools, enabling them to stimulate growth in the field of digitized and digital collections of Holocaust materials. The workshops also stimulated growth of the archival community itself as they facilitated building new relationship across various institutions and organizations.
EHRI-3 contributed to the preservation of micro-archival communities by identifying a guideline that assists with incorporating hand written material in digital editions. The organized workshops created and fostered connections between micro-archives and EHRI’s network. By promoting sustainability and continually offering support, EHRI-3 strived to preserve micro-archives themselves, as well as access to micro-archives.
Data Integration and Continual Development of EHRI Services
The EHRI Data integration lab continued to ensure that information from new institutions was added to the EHRI Portal. It also ensured that existing information was updated where applicable. Updates in methodology contributed to the process of both data identification and data integration.
EHRI-3 continued to focus on further developing services created earlier in the project. Ensuring that these services are ready to be sustained beyond this EHRI project has been a focus point as well. The establishment of working groups, groups that can further take on various tasks started during this project, was discussed to ensure that the created services will continue to exist.
Throughout the project, the PMB has continued to ensure that the project’s objectives were met and that all stakeholders were kept informed of relevant information. This was done through the organization of Work Packages, of which relevant outcomes were shared within the project via the notes taken during the monthly PMB meetings.
The SAB has provided the EHRI-3 project with strategic and independent scientific advice. As the board consisted of representatives from various fields (Holocaust research, archival sciences, digital humanities and humanities research infrastructures), various EHRI services (e.g. the EHRI Dashboard) have been created with users from various fields in mind.
Dissemination, Communication, Impact and Training
With regular updates through EHRI newsletters, social media channels and the EHRI Project website, EHRI-3 ensured its stakeholders remained engaged and informed. The Academic Conference that was held in Warsaw in June 2024, enabled new individuals to get acquainted with EHRI’s work, and it stimulated the creation of transnational connections.
By launching the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) in 2024, EHRI-3 continued to strive to reach a high number of learners. The MOOC, together with the organized seminars and workshops, ensured a successful continuation of EHRI-3’s training and education strategy. The inclusion of new user groups, such as educators, has been an important contribution to combatting Holocaust distortion and denial.
Supporting Expert Communities and Local Research
EHRI-3 organized in-person workshops for both of its Experts groups – The Information and Reference Services Group and The Holocaust Photographs Expert Group. These workshops facilitated cooperation between different fields of expertise. EHRI’s Mobile Experts Lab ensured various institutions received expertise and services befitting their needs.
Virtual & Trans-National Access
EHRI-3 has published five calls for applications to the EHRI Conny Kristel Fellowship. The increase in applicants from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe continued, showing EHRI’s growth in those regions. The provision of transnational access to archives at various institutions, as well as the personal expertise available at those locations, has enabled many researchers, archivists, museum curators and staff members of memorial sites to continue their research.
During this final project period, the EHRI Virtual Observatory was developed further. Continued improvements to various EHRI online resources have enabled more people to make use of EHRI’s services. The addition of more language options to access the Portal has increased EHRI’s global impact.
Archives & micro-archival communities
EHRI-3 organized workshops that exposed the archival community to new technologies and new tools, enabling them to stimulate growth in the field of digitized and digital collections of Holocaust materials. The workshops also stimulated growth of the archival community itself as they facilitated building new relationship across various institutions and organizations.
EHRI-3 contributed to the preservation of micro-archival communities by identifying a guideline that assists with incorporating hand written material in digital editions. The organized workshops created and fostered connections between micro-archives and EHRI’s network. By promoting sustainability and continually offering support, EHRI-3 strived to preserve micro-archives themselves, as well as access to micro-archives.
Data Integration and Continual Development of EHRI Services
The EHRI Data integration lab continued to ensure that information from new institutions was added to the EHRI Portal. It also ensured that existing information was updated where applicable. Updates in methodology contributed to the process of both data identification and data integration.
EHRI-3 continued to focus on further developing services created earlier in the project. Ensuring that these services are ready to be sustained beyond this EHRI project has been a focus point as well. The establishment of working groups, groups that can further take on various tasks started during this project, was discussed to ensure that the created services will continue to exist.
In its final stage, the EHRI-3 project continued its in-person as well as its virtual outreach. The organized workshops, seminars, webinars have created new connections and they have fostered existing ones. By organizing events specifically focused on educators, EHRI-3 has contributed to the field of Holocaust education, which has an imperative role in combatting Holocaust denial and Holocaust distortion. Educating, training, provision of access, these were a few of EHRI-3’s focus points. The important work done during this project will continue in the EHRI-ERIC, the permanent Holocaust Research Infrastructure that was established in January 2025.