Herta Mohr Building officially opened!

On 8 October the Herta Mohr Building, the new home of the ASCL, was opened. After the official speeches and spectacular drum performances, presentations took place in the lecture rooms of the various world institutes that are gathered in this part of the Humanities Campus. Jos Damen, head of the African Library, received a sculpture from our Research Master student Panashe Madamombe, which he had commissioned especially for the ASCL during his fieldwork in Zimbabwe (thank you Panashe!). Researcher Lidewyde Berckmoes and photographer Marieke Maagdenberg launched their inspiring book TRACES and the accompanying photo exhibition, sharing precious stories about Burundi and exploring how young people of Burundian heritage in Belgium and the Netherlands relate to conflict past and present in Burundi. The photo exhibition can be seen in the corridors of the ASCL until the end of 2024.

This is the first university building in Leiden to be named after a woman. Herta Mohr (1915-1945) studied Egyptology in Vienna and moved to Leiden in the 1930s, where even as a student she became well known for her research on tomb chapels. She persevered with her research during World War II, but because of her Jewish origin, she was taken to Westerbork transit camp in 1942. Sadly, she died far too young in Bergen-Belsen early 1945. 

Read more about the opening of the Herta Mohr Building
 

See more pictures of the opening, click on a photo to enlarge it:
(Photos: Harro Westra)