French Pamphlet Collection
Abstract
The French Pamphlet Collection contains approximately 12,000 pieces dating from 1620 to 1966, covering many key episodes in the history of France. The largest part of the collection is made up of 7000 pamphlets from the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras, 1788-1815. These include government publications from the first ten years of the French Revolution, 1790-1799; over 1700 decrees and laws published from 1789 to 1795; and sixty-four Revolutionary journals in a series by Jacques-Rene Hebert of Pre Duchesne fame. Beginning with the call by Louis XVI for a national discussion of the agenda of the Estates General in 1788, pamphlets became a major form of expression during a period of uninhibited debate in France. Pamphlets and other printed ephemera also became more common on the eve of the Revolution when the old system of royal regulation of printing and book selling collapsed. In addition to the Revolutionary era, major strengths in the collection include pamphlets produced during the Fronde (1649-1652), as well as 19th century French plays. Oversize posters and broadsides from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries can be found in the collection as well. Some of these materials also chronicle France's involvement with the Middle East, centering on the conflict with the Ottoman Empire, 1900-1924.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
This collection is open for research.
French Pamphlet Collection, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials policy for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.
This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
The French Pamphlet Collection contains approximately 12,000 pieces dating from 1620 to 1966, covering many key episodes in the history of France.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The French Pamphlet Collection contains approximately 12,000 pieces dating from 1620 to 1966, covering many key episodes in the history of France. The largest part of the collection is made up of 7000 pamphlets from the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras, 1788-1815. These include government publications from the first ten years of the French Revolution, 1790-1799; over 1700 decrees and laws published from 1789 to 1795; and sixty-four Revolutionary journals in a series by Jacques-Rene Hebert of Pre Duchesne fame. Beginning with the call by Louis XVI for a national discussion of the agenda of the Estates General in 1788, pamphlets became a major form of expression during a period of uninhibited debate in France. Pamphlets and other printed ephemera also became more common on the eve of the Revolution when the old system of royal regulation of printing and book selling collapsed.
In addition to the Revolutionary era, major strengths in the collection include pamphlets produced during the Fronde (1649-1652), as well as 19th century French plays. Oversize posters and broadsides from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries can be found in the collection as well. Some of these materials also chronicle France's involvement with the Middle East, centering on the conflict with the Ottoman Empire, 1900-1924.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
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Processing Information
Processed by Melissa Lohrey, August 2011
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Jennie A. Levine Knies, August 2011
Arrangement of Collection
Organized as two series:
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: French Pamphlet Collection, Part I, 1620-1900 (null)
Subseries 1.1: Revolution to Napoleonic Era, 1620-1815
Contains 17th-century documents through the Revolution to the end of the Napoleonic Era in 1815. The 17th through 18th-century items include government documents from Louis XIII to Louis XVI. The Revolutionary period contains government documents which center on the first ten years of the Revolution, 1790-1799, and include over seventeen hundred decrees and laws published from 1789-1795. Among other Revolutionary journals are sixty-four in a series of the famous Pere Duchene by D'Herbois.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revolution to Napoleonic Era (Download PDF file of inventory for this series) | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
Subseries 1.2: 19th Century, 1800-1900 (108 items)
Contains one hundred eight 19th-century documents arranged chronologically, including oversize posters and broadsides. France and the Middle East begins in Series 2 in 1855.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19th Century Pamphlets (Download PDF file of inventory for this series) | series 1.2 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
Subseries 1.3: France and the Middle East, 1900-1924 (252 items)
Contains two hundred fifty-two documents mostly on the topic of France and the Middle East. These documents center on the conflict with the Ottoman Empire between 1900-1924, which includes World War I.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France and the Middle East (Download PDF file of inventory for this series) | series 1.3 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
Series 2: French Pamphlet Collection, Part II, French Revolution, 1750-1800 (approximately 2000 items)
This portion contains nearly 2,000 pamphlets, primarily from the period of the French Revolution, described at the item level.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Pamphlet Collection, Part II, French Revolution (Download PDF file of inventory for this series) | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
Related Material
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.