The Bertha von Suttner Project (BvS Project) functions as the main internet clearinghouse of materials related to Bertha von Suttner in English. The BvS Project originally began in 2012, as a collaborative effort that arose out of a conversation in the Peace Palace Library between Ms. Candice Alihusain (The Hague, Netherlands) and Dr. Hope Elizabeth May (Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA). Ms. Alihusain and Dr. May bemoaned the fact that few people knew of Bertha von Suttner. Noting that the Centenary of the Peace Palace (August 28, 2013) provided an opportune time to develop an educational project that focused on this important woman, the idea for the Bertha von Suttner project was born as part of a Peace Palace Centenary Project called "Piece of the Palace" created by Dr. May. Dr. Peter van den Dungen (Bradford, UK), an expert on peace history, joined the BvS Project shortly after its inception.
In its early years (2012-2015), the BvS Project focused on finding Bertha related material and making it available for the public via the internet. Candice Alihusain did much work in finding images of Bertha at various libraries in Europe, including the National Library of Austria. In 2014, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Death of Bertha von Suttner, Dr. May organized the first Bertha von Suttner Master Class with the Peace Palace Library, and with support from Central Michigan University. Subsequent Master Classes would be organized every year.
In 2016, the BvS Project embarked on a new journey, partnering with the Peace Palace Library and bringing to press the first complete English translation of Bertha's 1912 prophetic essay, The Barbarization of the Sky. This labor of love transformed the BvS Project and in 2017, Ms. Alihusain and Dr. van den Dungen left the project due to pursue other activities. Dr. Van den Dungen now works with The Bertha von Suttner Peace Institute, formed in 2017, in The Hague. The Bertha von Suttner Master Classes continued every year until 2019 with the Peace Palace Library in The Hague. The 2020 Master Class was cancelled due to Covid-19. The video archives of the Master Classes from 2014-2019 can be accessed here.
In 2019, the Bertha von Suttner Project became an initiative of the Cora di Brazzà Foundation which focuses on uncovering the untold stories of the peace through law movement as a means to promote meaningful and positive connection to the past via a focus on moral exemplars, such as Bertha von Suttner and Cora di Brazzà, who are archives of virtue.
For more information about the Bertha von Suttner project, contact us here. For information on supporting the Bertha von Suttner Project with a tax-deductible gift, please visit here.
In its early years (2012-2015), the BvS Project focused on finding Bertha related material and making it available for the public via the internet. Candice Alihusain did much work in finding images of Bertha at various libraries in Europe, including the National Library of Austria. In 2014, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Death of Bertha von Suttner, Dr. May organized the first Bertha von Suttner Master Class with the Peace Palace Library, and with support from Central Michigan University. Subsequent Master Classes would be organized every year.
In 2016, the BvS Project embarked on a new journey, partnering with the Peace Palace Library and bringing to press the first complete English translation of Bertha's 1912 prophetic essay, The Barbarization of the Sky. This labor of love transformed the BvS Project and in 2017, Ms. Alihusain and Dr. van den Dungen left the project due to pursue other activities. Dr. Van den Dungen now works with The Bertha von Suttner Peace Institute, formed in 2017, in The Hague. The Bertha von Suttner Master Classes continued every year until 2019 with the Peace Palace Library in The Hague. The 2020 Master Class was cancelled due to Covid-19. The video archives of the Master Classes from 2014-2019 can be accessed here.
In 2019, the Bertha von Suttner Project became an initiative of the Cora di Brazzà Foundation which focuses on uncovering the untold stories of the peace through law movement as a means to promote meaningful and positive connection to the past via a focus on moral exemplars, such as Bertha von Suttner and Cora di Brazzà, who are archives of virtue.
For more information about the Bertha von Suttner project, contact us here. For information on supporting the Bertha von Suttner Project with a tax-deductible gift, please visit here.