The Audio-Visual Section

In 1908, 'Caritas Contact', the Congregational bulletin of the Sisters, was published for the first time. At that time, the work of the Sisters had already extended beyond Belgium. The aim of this bulletin was to provide information on the apostolate and the convent life of the Sisters both in Belgium and further field and to keep up contact between the Sisters. The editorial staff collected a store of visual material for each house or theme. This bulletin not only provided information on the apostolate, the religious life and work of the Sisters of Charity themselves, it also provided an insight into the local culture, particularly handicrafts, anthropology, and nature.

This laid the foundation of the present audio-visual section of the archives. Throughout the years it has been enriched with gifts from heritages or through the closure of houses and institutions and with the series of pictures used by missionary aid throughout the country.

The collection comprises more than 40,000 pieces: loose photos, albums, slides, postcards, film, video, negatives and sound tapes.