ii6 The Zeeuwsch Genootschap and the Formation of its Correspondence Network
analysing phase proved ambitious to complete in the first five years of the ZGW's
existence, as the topics of the incoming letters and papers varied greatly, which
made it hard to compare or compile the information into a narrative. This was
mainly due to the ZGW's lack of specialisation, resulting from its broad interest in
'Arts and Sciences. Nevertheless, the ZGW managed to develop rapidly in terms
of members in the first five years of existence and disseminated the incoming
knowledge through publications, oral transmissions, and letters.
The well-preserved records of the ZGW allow for further research using 'big
data, as many primary sources have remained unexplored. These unexplored
sources include the meeting minutes, which showcase who attended meetings
and what was discussed. The inclusion of these sources in the future is especially
important when applying SNA methods. The dataset used in this paper is incom
plete, and thus the results of SNA are skewed. This results in a large part of the
network remaining invisible. Furthermore, through expanding the scope of the
research a more coherent image of the establishment of the ZGW's network can
become visible. It would especially be interesting to see if the ZGW managed to
expand its international network after 1771.
Moreover, academies in general would be suitable for historical 'big data' re
search as they provide a clear point of departure and often possess well-preserved
primary sources. This type of research could provide a deeper understanding of
the scholarly community in the 18th century. This article has made a small step in
analysing the social network of the ZGW and how it contributed to the creation
of knowledge. However, there is the potential for much more comprehensive re
search on academies and the history of knowledge through the use of 'big data.
