It was the Canadian family who insisted on translating a short text about our family history and making it accessible to the next generations. The children of my cousins living abroad, are eager to know their family history. In the American culture, there is a strong awareness of the importance of family roots, ancestor’s stories and the background of migration in general.
It was quickly decided upon that we would not limit a publication to my own account, but include also two other documents into it: an autobiographical essay about her childhood years by Tante Corrie van Leeuwen (1925-2008), and a similar account of Tante Anna van Leeuwen (1880-1966), one generation older. The texts together offer the memories of three different generations – with an important female perspective if you consider that my own account is based on memories passed on by Tante Teuns van Leeuwen (1918-2006).
The publication is not yet ready for print, the language still requires some editing and not all pictures have a high resolution. But in meantime I would like to share this little booklet on line, not only for our many overseas family members, but also for those living in the Netherlands. Twee van de teksten zijn Nederlands.