Institut d'histoire sociale, Research center in Paris, France
The Institut d'histoire sociale is a research center in Paris that preserves extensive collections of books, pamphlets, journals, posters, sketches, and photographs. These materials document social movements and activities, bringing together over 600 separate collections.
The institute was founded in 1935 by Boris Souvarine as an offshoot of the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam. It gradually established itself as an independent institution focused on preserving documents related to European labor and social movements.
The collection focuses on materials about labor movements, socialism, and political protests from the 19th and 20th centuries. These documents show how people came together in these movements and fought for change.
The collections are open to researchers and the general public through the library at the National Archives building. It is helpful to contact the center beforehand if you are looking for specific materials, as finding what you need may require some guidance.
In 1936, Soviet agents stole part of Leon Trotsky's archives that had been entrusted to the institute for safekeeping. This event shows how controversial and valuable the materials the center protected truly were.
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