Léonce, archivist, father, writer

Léonce did all of his career at the Archives Nationales. He was regularly promoted, until he became the General Inspector of the Archives, in 1941. He kept this post until he retired in 1956.
The fact that he reached this post shows that he was very much appreciated as an archivist.

Léonce was also a father. As I already said, with his wife Marguerite, they had 11 children. One daughter died very young, and one son died at the age of 26. All of his children were getting along quite nicely until one of them filed for divorce.

As a professional archivist, Léonce published a number of articles. But he also published several small books personally.
One of his extra-professional activity was its interest in the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. He became a member early and became the general secretary in 1919 and the general vice-president in 1947.

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul was created in 1833 by a 20 years old French student Frédéric Ozanam. Its goal is tackle poverty and disadvantages, and to provide assistance for those in need, materially or otherwise.

Frédéric Ozanam
(public domain source)

Léonce was very much interested in Frédéric Ozanam and published a small biography in 1956.

He was also interested in another organization related to Saint Vincent de Paul, the Daughters of Charity and he wrote a book on the history of this religious order in 1929, with an extended edition in 1951: "Filles de la Charité".
Up to 1964, the religious habit of the Daughters of Charity included a large "cornette" on the head.

(source)

I still remember, when I was young, seeing Daughters of Charity wearing cornettes in the street.

I have very fond memories of family reunions at the Le Chesnay house during my childhood. There we would meet my cousins that were living in the Parisian region.
One of my aunts, Anne, was living with her father in the house until his death.

For most of his life, Léonce was a heavy smoker. He became sick, probably of lung cancer, and died on Christmas day 1963.
In the weeks before his death, he was living with our family, and I still remember accompanying Léonce in one of his short walk outside. He was not a big talker, and our walks were mostly silent.

Next, I will talk about my parents, starting with my father Paul.

Continue to Part 15

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Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4
Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8
Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11 - Part 12
Part 13
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A Brief History of my Family in France - Part 14 - Léonce, archivist, father, writer

Léonce, archivist, father, writer