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Foundation's Board

      The Foundation was set up in Geneva on the 10th of August 1973 by Marguerite Gautier-van Berchem. Its aim is to "promote the study of Arabic and Islamic archaeology, history, geography, art, epigraphy, religion and literature and of all studies related to the Islamic and Arabic civilisation, in particular those within the framework of the Max van Berchem archives".

      Currently, the Foundation's Board consists of the following members :

  • Guy van Berchem, President (member since 1977, president since 1984),
  • Costin van Berchem, Treasurer (member since 1995),
  • Olivier Vodoz, Secretary (member since 1973),
  • Charles Genequand, President of the Scientific Committee (member since 1990, scientific collaborator since 1981),
  • Alain Dufour (member since 1985),
  • Louise Martin-van Berchem (member since 1998).

      The first board meeting of the Foundation, presided by Marguerite Gautier-van Berchem, was held on the 14th of September 1973 with the following members in attendance:
  • Bernard Gautier, Marguerite van Berchem's husband (member from 1973 to 1985),
  • Jacques van Berchem (member from 1973 to 1975),
  • Horace van Berchem (member from 1973 to 1977),
  • Marc Auguste Borgeaud (member from 1973 to 1978),
  • Olivier Vodoz (member from 1973),
  • Denise Werner (member from 1973 to 1977).

      Over the twenty-five years of its activity, the Foundation's Board, which has generally been made up of a few people related to the van Berchem family as well as outside persons, has also included the following members:
  • Denis van Berchem (member from 1984 to 1994),
  • Gaspard Bodmer (member from 1998 till his death in 2000),
  • Olivier Fatio (member from 1975 to 1977),
  • Jean-Pierre Jéquier (member from 1977 to 1998),
  • Marcel Naville (member from 1978 to 1998).