Conversations on the occasion of the book “125 years The Factory: cardboard in Nieuweschans” – Willem Friedrich

The ”Nieuweschans” was ”founded” in 1870.  In 1888 the ”Dollard”  In 1995 the managing director at the time, Mr Piet Gruppelaar, asked Willem J. Friedrich: ”Would it be something for you to describe 125 years of cardboard in Nieuweschans?” Willem did not have to think long.  A beautiful book came into being, from which various photos and detailed descriptions about “the Dollard” emerged.

The ”cherry on the cake” is formed by this film:

Title: 
125 jaar De Fabriek : karton in Nieuweschans
Author:
Willem J. Friedrich
Publication:
Nieuweschans : Triton Karton
Year:
1995
ISBN:
90-900-8218-2

In Hou t was Groningers – the title says it all – tell about their lives in the past. This resulted in interesting, recognisable and sometimes moving stories, which were broadcast by RTV Noord. These television reports generally lasted about seven minutes and were supported by suitable visual material from the collection of GAVA and the Groninger Archives, which can be viewed via filmbankgroningen.

The complete and unedited interviews with these Groningers last on average over an hour.  The stories are also extensively summarised and presented in fragments, in Dutch. The interviews are usually in the Groningen language. This is the language in which the interviewees can best express themselves and feel comfortable with. The setting in which the interviewees tell their stories is also designed for this: their own living rooms, sitting in easy chairs. These unedited interviews can be viewed here by searching for the name of the interviewee.

The stories in Hou t was are eyewitness reports and do not necessarily reflect historical reality. They are people’s personal memories, but that does not make them any less valuable. Their lives have conformed to them.