The Antwerp COR*-database: A unique Flemish source for historical-demographic research

Abstract

This note describes the origin, the history, structure and characteristics of a recently constructed Flemish (the Northern, Dutchspeaking part of Belgium) historical-demographic database. The so-called Antwerp COR*-database offers a unique combination of features: it spans nearly seven decades (1846 to 1920) and consists of information drawn from the population registers and the vital registration records (birth, marriage, and death) of the whole district of Antwerp. Every person whose family name starts with the letter combination COR* is selected in the database. The database covers three linked generations and contains micro-data on the individual level (life courses), intermediary data on family patterns, and macro-data on ecological characteristics.

Access to marriage and reproduction among migrants in Antwerp and Stockholm. A longitudinal approach to processes of social inclusion and exclusion, 1846–1926

“…The data should also be stored in a way that allows us to 're-construct' (parts of) the life courses of the migrants under investigation. Databases like the Antwerp COR * -database and the Stockholm Historical Database (SHD) meet this requirement (Geschwind & Fogelvik, 2000;Matthijs & Moreels, 2010). These databases allow following migrants through time and space and therefore ideally permit studying the interplay between structure and agency over time.…”

Family size and intergenerational social mobility during the fertility transition

“…The two main sources used to construct the COR*-database are the population registers and the vital registration records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) (Matthijs and Moreels 2010). The Belgian population registers are a high quality source that enables us to follow individuals, and their offspring, over time.…”

“…The letter combination that is the basis of this sample, namely COR*, satisfies a number of conditions: a good geographical distribution over the Flemish territory, socio-demographic representativeness, and language sensitiveness (especially with regard to foreign people) (Van Baelen 2007:5-15;Matthijs and Moreels 2010).…”

Rivalry, solidarity, and longevity among siblings

“…The data is a letter sample consisting of individuals whose surname began with -COR‖ and their co-residents (kin or non-kin) within a household. The database includes population registers and vital registration records, containing information on births, deaths, and marriages (Matthijs and Moreels 2010). We performed a data retrieval from the Antwerp COR*-database, which is stored in a series of tables in Microsoft Access 2010.…”