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LOCAL Tuesday 21 May 2024

Adriaan Laclé Peter Scholing Receives Recognition

One of Aruba’s richest men in the as “Caribbean Information
twentieth century Professional of the Year”

of the famous La Quinta Carmen
manor—now a restaurant. Though
he himself never lived in the beautiful
manor, his own house also reflected
his success and good taste. Today
his house still stands in good condi-
tion and can be found in the back
streets of main street Oranjestad.
Regarding his personal life, it has
been said that he was married
twice during his lifetime. He had
his first daughter during his first mar-
riage but lost his wife soon after her
birth. During his second marriage,
he fathered 16 children. However, it
has been said that only 11 of those Mr. Peter Scholing from the National close collaborations followed with
Library of Aruba and the driving force the first partners: the National Ar-
17 made it past 18 years of age.
Perhaps two of his most well-known behind Coleccion.aw, was named chives of Aruba, UNOCA, the Na-
the 'Caribbean Information Profes-
tional Archaeological Museum of
daughters are Maria Monica Laclé
(Oranjestad)—The name Adriaan and Maria Veneranda Laclé, who sional of the Year' during the 53rd Aruba, the Monuments Fund Foun-
Laclé may ring a bell to locals as one went on to marry successful brothers Acuril conference held in Guyana. dation of Aruba, and Plantage Zorg
of the bigger roads on the island, but Eloy Arends and Maximilian Arends, en Hoop. In this way, the Coleccion
about a century ago, Adriaan Laclé respectively. Their houses are still Acuril is an association of libraries, Aruba platform grew to become the
was a rich businessman, well-known standing; Eloy and Maria Monica’s museums, and archives in the Ca- largest digital archive with informa-
for his generosity, wealth, and taste. mansion functions as a townhall, ribbean region. During their annual tion about Aruba in Papiamento.
used to host civil marriages, while conference, a special recognition
Adriaan was born in 1866 and was Maximilian and Maria Veneranda’s is given to an information specialist Besides being part of the Coleccion
the eldest of six children. Not much house stands on the opposite side for their excellence in their work. This Aruba platform, Mr. Peter Scholing
is known about his childhood up- of the road to them—though cur- time, Mr. Peter Scholing from Aruba represents Aruba as the President of
bringing or any of his earlier busi- rently under renovation after years received this honor and recognition Memory of the World for Latin Amer-
ness ordeals, but during his hay day left in ruin.q from Acuril for his pioneering work in ica and the Caribbean (MOWLAC),
he often helped people get loans, establishing “Coleccion Aruba”, a which is a United Nations program
was a well-established trader, and Source: De Kolibrie op de Rots (en unique platform in our region. to preserve the history of countries
owned several plots of land. In fact, meer over de geschiedenis van Aru- as the memory of our world. Mr.
he commissioned the construction ba) by Evert Bongers. Thanks to the pioneering work of Mr. Scholing is also a member of the
Peter Scholing, the Coleccion Aruba National Commission of UNESCO
platform, available at coleccion. in Aruba.q
aw, was created. This innovation
in culture in Aruba is the result of
a close collaboration between 11
institutions containing information
about Aruba's history and culture.
This collaboration became possible
when, at the National Library of Aru-
ba, Mr. Scholing began digitizing the
library's collection, gradually making
this information accessible via their
website and also via Archive.org, a
digital archive that provides universal
access to information. Subsequently,