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Marcelle Parde materials

 Collection
Identifier: BMC-1976-20

Scope and Contents

The Marcelle Parde papers contains the personal and professional papers of Marcelle Parde, Professor of French Literature at Bryn Mawr College from 1919-1929. This collection, which ranges from 1919-1994 (with the bulk of the material coming from 1920-1950), contains a great deal of material pertaining to Parde’s life, including a biography, newspaper clippings, and correspondence.

The collection is divided into six series: “Series I: General Biographical,” “Series II: Jones Biography,” “Series III: Official Documents,” “Series IV: Correspondence,” “Series V: Bibliography,” and Series VI: Published Material.”

“Series I: General Biographical Material” contains copies of Bryn Mawr-specific material of Parde's life, including French Department course guides, newspaper clippings, and a College newsletter discussing the scholarship and lectureship established in her honor. “Series II: Jones Biography” contains notes on Parde's life compiled by her Bryn Mawr associate Pauline Jones. “Series III: Official Documents” includes copies of her Legion of Honor certificate and other governmental items. “Series IV: Correspondence” encompasses personal correspondence as well as secondary posthumous correspondence regarding Parde's legacy, with letters from her niece, Helene Parde-Coulliard, Pauline Jones, Harriet O'Shea, and Parde herself. This collection includes information on Parde's nephews, Maurice and Jean. “Series V: Bibliography” contains a bibliography. “Series VI: Published Material” includes two published books mentioning Parde, one honoring the 50th anniversary of WWII in Dijon and one detailing the status of the Lycee Marcelle Parde.

After teaching at Bryn Mawr, Marcelle Parde went on be the Director of the Lycee de Dijon, a secondary school for young women in France. She later founded and headed a Resistance unit at her school in France during World War II. The collection would be a valuable resource for those interested in the life of Marcelle Parde, the Bryn Mawr French Department, and French resistance against the Germans during World War II.

Dates

  • 1919 - 1994
  • Majority of material found within 1920 - 1950

Creator

Limitations on Accessing the Collection

This collection is open for research.

Copyright and Rights Information

The Marcelle Parde papers are the physical property of Bryn Mawr College Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors' heirs and assigns.

Biographical / Historical

Born in Bourgoin, France, Mlle. Parde came to Bryn Mawr in 1919 as Professor of French Literature. She taught there until 1929, at which time she returned to France. In 1935, after holding several positions in the French educational system, she was named director of the Lycee de Dijon, a secondary school for young women.

During the Second World War, M. Parde founded and headed a Resistance unit at her school, which was to provide the Allies with important information about German troop movements in her area. Arrested by the Gestapo in August 1944, she was deported to the German concentration camp at Ravensbruck. Several months later, in January 1945, she died of starvation in the camp.

On January 31st, 1946, the school of which she had been director was renamed the Lycee Marcelle Parde and on November 27th, the French government awarded her the Legion of Honor. A Bryn Mawr scholarship is named in her honor.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet

Language

English

Overview

Marcelle Parde (1891-1945) was a Bryn Mawr College French professor and leader of a French Resistance unit in WWII. This collection includes miscellaneous correspondence, newspaper clippings, memorabilia, and official documents.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Materials came from a variety of sources, including Bryn Mawr Professor of French Professor Pauline Jones and and other College staff in the curation of an exhibit on women in France.

Title
Marcelle Parde materials
Status
Completed
Author
Lorett Treese, Melissa Torquato, Cassidy Gruber Baruth
Date
2018 February 12
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Enlighs

Find It at the Library

Most of the materials in this catalog are not digitized and can only be accessed in person. Please see our website for more information about visiting or requesting reproductions from Bryn Mawr College Library

Contact:
Bryn Mawr College Library
101 N. Merion Avenue
Bryn Mawr 19010 USA US
610-526-6576