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Coomans-Eustatia maps collection

 Collection
Identifier: ubl294

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of ca. 200 map sheets, and an unspecified collection of facsmiles, reproductions, photographs, calendars, copies, appendices, correspondence and study materials of maps. The vast majority of the map collection is concerned with the Caribbean in general and the islands of the Netherlands Antilles in particular. Only 15 map sheets are related to other regions, largely to the Dutch East Indies.

Dates

  • Creation: 1579-ca. 2010

Language of Materials

Various languages

Conditions Governing Use

Regulations that apply during the use of these materials can be found on the website of Leiden University Library.

Biographical / Historical

Henny Coomans was born on 9 June 1929 in Amsterdam. He worked as a biologist in Curaçao, Amsterdam and New York. In 1974 he obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Amsterdam on the biographical thesis Life and malacological work of Hendrik Elingsz van Rijgersma (1835-1877): a Dutch physician and scientist on St. Martin, Netherlands Antilles. He published about biology, geology and the history of the Netherlands Antilles. Henny Coomans was maried twice. He was father of two daughters, from his first wife Lucy Loff (1928-1985). Shortly after his first wife's death, Henny Coomans remarried Maritza Eustatia (1940-2002). Maritza Eustatia was born in Curaçao on 18 February 1940. She studied library sciences and was librarian of the University of the Netherlands Antilles in Willemstad. She published about Antillian books and various subjects in relation to the Netherlands Antilles. Maritza Coomans-Eustatia died on 15 October 2002. The Coomans-Eustatia set up the Stichting Libri Antilliani, a foundation that stimulated the publication of works on the Netherlands Antilles. Henny Coomans was chair of this foundation. They were co-authors of St. Martin in maps & prints, one of the foundation's publications.

Extent

200 map sheets (circa), and an unspecified collection of facsmiles, reproductions, photographs, calendars, copies, appendices and correspondence

Abstract in Dutch

De collectie van ca. 200 kaartbladen heeft vrijwel uitsluitend betrekking op het Caraïbisch gebied en de Nederlandse Antillen. De collectie is verzameld door bioloog H.E. Coomans en zijn tweede echtgenote M.V. Coomans-Eustatia, bibliothecaris van de Universiteit van de Nederlandse Antillen.

Abstract in English

The collection of ca. 200 map sheets is almost exclusively concerned with the Caribbean and the Netherlands Antilles. The collection is gathered by biologist H.E. Coomans and his second wife M.V. Coomans-Eustatia, librarian of the University of the Netherlands Antilles.

Physical Location

Leiden University Library, Special Collections

Other Finding Aids

The maps in the collection are almost completely described in the online catalogue of the University Library. See also Alternative form.

Custodial History

In 2009, Henny Coomans donated the collection to the library of the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

After the closure of its library in 2013, the Royal Tropical Institute donated the Coomans-Eustatius Collection to Leiden University.

Accruals

No future additions are to be expected. Future acquisitions of maps of the Netherlands Antilles will be added to the general cartographic collection of Leiden University.

Existence and Location of Copies

About 100 maps, especially the older ones, are digitised and accessible via Maps (KITLV).

Related Materials

More maps of the Caribbean and the Netherlands Antilles can be found in the Bodel Nijenhuis Collection, the Dutch colonial map colllection of the Royal Tropical Institute, the Post-colonial map collection of the Royal Tropical Institute and the map collection of the Royal Netherlands Institute for Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV).

Bibliography

  • - Coomans, H.E., M.V. Coomans-Eustatia & C. Lo-Sin-Sjoe, St. Martin in maps & prints. Bloemendaal 2000.
  • - Kempen, M. van, In memoriam Henny Coomans (1929-2010), in: Oso 30(2011), 1, pp. 224-225.

General

The materials can be requested via the online catalogue. Except for the modern books, they can be consulted in the Special Collections Reading Room.

Processing Information

The map sheets in this collection received the following call numers:

  1. COLLBN 054-23
  2. COLLBN 054-24-001 t/m COLLBN 054-24-065
  3. COLLBN 054-25-001 t/m COLLBN 054-25-039
  4. COLLBN 054-26-001 t/m COLLBN 054-26-021
  5. COLLBN 054-27-001 t/m COLLBN 054-27-048
Title
Collection guide of the Coomans-Eustatia maps collection (1579-ca. 2010)
Subtitle
Collectie kaarten van H.E. Coomans en M.V. Coomans-Eustatia
Author
Martijn Storms, 2015
Date
2016
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Beschrijving is in het English.

Revision Statements

  • 16 September 2016: latest update

Repository Details

Part of the Leiden University Libraries Archives & Collections Repository

Contact:
Witte Singel 27
Leiden 2311 BG Netherlands
+31 71 527 2857