Michel Marie François (; 31 August 1906 – 11 July 1981) was a French

archivist An archivist is an information professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to records and archives determined to have long-term value. The records maintained by an archivist can cons ...

palaeographer Palaeography ( UK) or paleography ( US) (ultimately from , , 'old', and , , 'to write') is the study and academic discipline of historical writing systems. It encompasses the historicity of manuscripts and texts, subsuming deciphering and dati ...

and historian.

Biography

Michel François joined the

École Nationale des Chartes The École Nationale des Chartes (; ) is a French ''grande école'' and a constituent college of Université PSL, specialising in the auxiliary sciences of history, historical sciences. It was founded in 1821, and was located initially at the A ...

in 1927 and graduated first place in the 1931 class with a thesis entitled ''Histoire des comtes et du comté de Vaudémont au Moyen Âge'', which earned him the Molinier prize and was published soon after by the Lorraine Archaeological Society. François gained his doctorate from the

École pratique des hautes études The (), abbreviated EPHE, is a French postgraduate top level educational institution, a . EPHE is a constituent college of the Université PSL (together with ENS Ulm, Paris Dauphine or Ecole des Mines). The college is closely linked to É ...

. His rank output led to his being appointed a member of the

French School of Rome French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), a ...

. He joined the

Palazzo Farnese Palazzo Farnese () or Farnese Palace is one of the most important High Renaissance palaces in Rome. Owned by the Italian Republic, it was given to the French government in 1936 for a period of 99 years, and currently serves as the French e ...

in 1932 after his military service. After he returned to France, he joined the manuscripts cabinet of the

Bibliothèque nationale A library is a collection of books, and possibly other materials and media, that is accessible for use by its members and members of allied institutions. Libraries provide physical (hard copies) or digital (soft copies) materials, and may be a p ...

on 1 January 1934, where he wrote, with Philippe Lauer, a valuable guide to sources of the religious history of France in the manuscripts department. He was appointed to the Archives nationales on 1 May 1935. Attracted to teaching, he supplied

Robert Marichal Robert Marichal, (20 March 1904 – 23 October 1999) was a 20th-century French palaeographer and archivist. Career A student at the École Nationale des Chartes, Robert Marichal obtained his archivist palaeographer degree in 1927 with a thesis ...

from 1942 to 1945, then a POW in Germany, to the chair of language and French literature from the Middle Ages at the

Institut catholique de Paris The Institut catholique de Paris (, abbr. ICP), known in English as the Catholic University of Paris (and in Latin as ''Universitas catholica Parisiensis''), is a private university located in Paris, France. History: 1875–present The Institut ...

. In 1942–1943, he provided locum for

Charles Samaran Charles Samaran (28 October 1879 – 15 October 1982) was a 20th-century French historian and archivist, who was born in Cravencères (in the Gers) and died at Nogaro (also in the Gers), shortly before his 103rd birthday. Biography Having gra ...

in his Latin and French palaeography conference at the École pratique des hautes études. He joined the French army at the start of

WWII World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

; he was arrested and imprisoned in 1942. He was awarded the

Commander of the Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

in 1969. On 3 November 1949, he was appointed master of conference of medieval history at the

Institut Catholique de Paris The Institut catholique de Paris (, abbr. ICP), known in English as the Catholic University of Paris (and in Latin as ''Universitas catholica Parisiensis''), is a private university located in Paris, France. History: 1875–present The Institut ...

; He became an assistant professor in 1952 and professor in 1955. Finally, on 1 October 1953 he succeeded

Charles Perrat Charles Perrat (14 January 1899, Lyon – 4 July 1976) was a 20th-century French paleographer, professor at the École Nationale des Chartes. An archivist, he was also a member of the Société des Antiquaires de France The Société des Antiquair ...

to the chair of history of political, administrative and judicial of France at the École des chartes. He also taught at the Sorbonne from 1954 to 1977, an introductory course to historical research, renamed "course of historiography and archiving" in 1967. In 1964, at the death of Alain Dain, he was elected dean of the Faculty of Arts of the Institut catholique and member of the

Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres The () is a French learned society devoted to history, founded in February 1663 as one of the five academies of the . The academy's scope was the study of ancient inscriptions (epigraphy) and historical literature (see Belles-lettres). History ...

in 1969. On 1 October 1970 he was appointed director of the École des Chartes in replacement of Pierre Marot.

Publications

François’s books include; * History of the Counts and County of Vaudémont (1935) * Correspondence of Cardinal de Tournon (1946) * Cardinal François de Tournon, Statesman, Diplomat, Patron and Humanist (1951) * Letters of Henry III, King of France (four volumes) (1959-1984).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Francois, Michel French librarians French medievalists French archivists French palaeographers École Nationale des Chartes alumni Members of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres Commanders of the Legion of Honour Commandeurs of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Gregory the Great Officers Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 1906 births People from Vosges (department) 1981 deaths