Series V. Cercle Francais and Other, Related Scrapbooks, 1894-1905, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The series includes seven scrapbooks concerning the Cercle Francais de l'Universite Harvard, one concerning the Alliance Francaise, one that has documents concerning both organizations, and one that relates to the visit of Harvard professor Barrett Wendell to France in 1905. The Cercle scrapbooks range from Hyde's entry in the club in 1894 to the end of his active involvement with it upon his departure for France in 1905. The first five Cercle scrapbooks, through 1900, are especially rich with correspondence and other documents reflecting Hyde's deep involvement as an energetic officer of the club and as the financial source for the annual lecture series he instituted in 1898. After 1900, the Cercle scrapbooks are mostly clippings with some ephemera. Nonetheless, the Cercle scrapbooks provide rich documentation of the organization's activities for the years they cover, notably in the expansion of the Cercle under Hyde from a local club catering to its members to one having a national and international reputation and impact. In addition to documentation of the lecture series, including the national reach of the lectures, the scrapbooks document the annual plays performed by the Cercle. Later years include images of the casts in costume. The scrapbooks do not hold any official records of the Cercle, such as meeting minutes or financial reports.
The one volume of material concerning the Alliance Francais includes mostly clippings for the years 1900-1903, but there is also informative program lists and other ephemera related to the Alliance's activities for the first few years of its existence. The Barrett Wendell scrapbook holds primarily clippings with some ephemera.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
All but the scrapbook concerning the Alliance Francaise were a gift of James Hazen Hyde in April 1947. The Alliance Francaise scrapbook was a gift from Hyde in October 1948, along with related correspondence (see Series III).
Processing Information
The series was processed by archivist Larry Weimer.
Cercle Francais de l'Universite Harvard Scrapbook (Vol. 1), 1894-1898, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes, among other subjects, extensive documentation (correspondence, meeting transcript, legal opinions) concerning the 1897 conflict between the Cercle (i.e., Hyde) and Professor F.C. de Sumichrast, and Sumichrast's resignation as member and officer of the club. This event led to Hyde, then Vice-President, becoming President of the Cercle and the manner of his assertion of its independence of the Harvard French Department. Includes documents related to Hyde's creation of a $30,000 trust fund for lecturers, and the appearance of the first speaker, René Doumic, funded by the trust.
Cercle Francais de l'Universite Harvard Scrapbook (Vol. 2), 1898, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes, among many other subjects, a November 15 letter from Adolphe Cohn to Hyde describing the founding and early years of the Cercle (1886-89). Includes documents related to Hyde's activism as president at attempting to expand the Cercle's reputation nationally and internationally; these include correspondence with Ferdinand W. Peck, the Commissioner-General for the United States to the Paris Exposition of 1900, requesting space for the Cercle Francais at the U.S. exhibit.
Cercle Francais de l'Universite Harvard Scrapbook (Vol. 3), 1899, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among many other subjects, Hyde's efforts to have the Cercle represented at the 1900 Paris Exposition draw in U.S. Senator Thomas Platt and gain ground. Includes documentation of Edouard Roy's visit to the U.S. (Roy was the second lecturer funded by Hyde), including photographs of Roy on board a transatlantic steamer and the steamer's arrival (or departure). References to the Alliance Francais begin to appear in this volume as do Hyde's efforts to encourage the creation of other Cercles at other universities, including University of Pennsylvania.
Cercle Francais de l'Universite Harvard Scrapbook (Vol. 4), 1899, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes, among many other subjects, arrangements for the third lecturer funded by Hyde, Henri de Régnier. Hyde gets approval for the Cercle to be represented at the Paris Exposition; the scrapbook includes correspondence related to the arrangements.
Cercle Francais de l'Universite Harvard Scrapbook (Vol. 5), 1900, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other subjects, extensive clippings concerning the visit of Henri de Régnier to the U.S. Includes the cover page of "The Underwriter" insurance trade journal, featuring a profile photo of Hyde in connection with his appointment to the Legion of Honor; also many related clippings.
Cercle Francais de l'Universite Harvard Scrapbook (Vol. 6), 1900-1901, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other subjects, clippings related to the Cercle's medal-winning exhibit at the Paris Exposition, including an image of it from the press. Clippings related to Gaston Deschamps, the fourth lecturer funded by Hyde.
Cercle Francais de l'Universite Harvard Scrapbook (Vol. 7), 1901-1903, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other subjects, clippings related to the fifth lecturer funded by Hyde, Hugues Le Roux. Later pages of the scrapbook also include clippings related to Hyde's activities with the Alliance Francaise.
Cercle Francais and Alliance Francaise Scrapbook, 1898-1905, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes various documents related to the five lecturers selected and funded by Hyde in 1898-1902(René Doumic, Edouard Roy, Henri de Régnier, Gaston Deschamps, Hugues Le Roux), including itineraries, lecture topics, university contacts for lecture arrangements, publicity, and cabinet card photographs of Roy, Régnier and Deschamps. Includes similar documents for lectures arranged by Hyde under the auspices of the Federation de l'Alliance Francaise aux Etats-Unis in 1903-1905; lecturers represented are Leopold Mabilleau, André Michel, Anatole Leroy-Beaulieu, Vincent de Wierzbicki, Robert Dupouey, René Millet, and Frantz Funck-Brentano.
Alliance Francaise Scrapbook (Vol. 1), 1900-1903, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Clippings, membership lists, constitution and by-laws, invitations, lists of programs, and other ephemera. The circumstances of Hyde's election as president in 1902 are described in some English language clippings. (The binder refers to this as Volume 1 for the Alliance Francaise, but there are no other such volumes in the collection.)
Barrett Wendell Scrapbook, 1905, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Primarily clippings concerning the lectures in Paris of Harvard Professor Barrett Wendell. Also, an advertising piece for a performance of Barrett's play "Raleigh in Guiana." There are also a few Alliance Francaise documents in the scrapbook related to governance and Hyde's voting proxy.