Series III. Correspondence Concerning Federation de l'Alliance Francaise, 1898-1935 (bulk 1902-1908, 1922-1933), inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The series includes correspondence concerning the Federation de l'Alliance Francaise aux Etats-Unis et au Canada and related organizations in France and the United States. The correspondence divides between two periods, from about 1900 to about 1915 and from 1921 to 1935. The gap relates to Hyde's relative lack of involvement in the Federation at that time.
For the earlier period, Hyde's correspondence is principally with the officers of the Federation, its affiliated chapters in various cities of the United States, and officers of the sponsoring Alliance in Paris. Much of this earlier correspondence is directed to or from L.V. Gofflot, the Secretary General of the Federation. Among the many correspondents are Felix Weill, J. LeRoy White, L. Fiedler, Henry Cachard, W.H. Perkins, Rene Millet, Camille Thurwanger, A. Bousquet, Maxime Ingres, Henry L. Rippe, F. C. de Sumichrast, Anatole Le Braz, Julien Tiersot, Vicomte G. d'Avenel, Robert Lebaudy, Alcee Fortier, M. Jusserand, George Lamouret, E.H. Goulesque, Frank L. Warren Jr., Camille Gorde, and Henry Bargy. In the later period, the bulk of the correspondence is with the Federation's President Frank Pavey and Secretary General Felix Weill.
The contents are primarily in French, though the later correspondence from Pavey is most commonly in English. The subject matter often concerns plans for lecturers from France to tour America, but administrative, governance, and financial matters are also discussed. The correspondence of 1922 includes reference to the reasons for Hyde reducing his activity in the Federation and his interest in re-engaging at that time.
Arrangement
The documents have largely been left as found by the processing archivist, with some changes. The material was largely ordered in reverse chronological sequence; this remains the case in most instances, though some documents wee re-arranged to a straight chronological order to facilitate use. Many folders originally had what seemed to be several documents of outlying dates; these were smoothed in most cases to focus folders on more narrow time periods. Also, many documents were fastened with pins, but these were removed.
Biographical / Historical
In 1902, Hyde perceived that there were various groups throughout the United States and Canada active in extending the knowledge of French language, literature and art in those countries. He consequently founded an organization linking all these societies together: the Federation of French Alliances in the United States and Canada (Federation de l'Alliance Francaise aux Etats-Unis et au Canada). Among the Franco-American societies affiliated with the Federation, and represented in this collection, was the l'Alliance Francaise de New York. A principal activity of the central organization was bringing French lecturers to tour the countries. Hyde became the first president of the Federation and the secretariat was located in the offices of the Equitable. In 1903, Hyde was succeeded in the presidency by Julian Leroy White of the Alliance Francaise of Baltimore. In subsequent years, with Hyde's departure from the Equitable and the United States, especially after about 1908, he was no longer involved with the Alliance or Federation, though he continued to be involved with cultural exchanges in France. In the early 1920s, new leadership of the Federation, notably President Frank D. Pavey, reached out to Hyde for financial assistance, eventually leading to Hyde's renewed engagement with the organization from 1922 forward.
Processing Information
The series was processed by archivists Jennifer Gargiulo and Larry Weimer.
Correspondence. Alliance Francaise de Paris (4 folders), 1898-1908, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Correspondence to Hyde from the Secretary General and others of the Alliance in Paris.
Correspondence. Federation de l'Alliance (4 folders), 1900-1908, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The first of these three folders holds undated documents, which appear to date from circa 1902-1908. The second folder of the set holds various documents found together by the archivist dating from 1904-1908. The third folder begins the more ordered run of dated documents, starting principally with 1902 (there is one document each from 1900 and 1901).
Correspondence. Federation de l'Alliance (7 folders), 1905-1906, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among the many correspondents are Frank L. Warren, Jr., Felix Weill, J. LeRoy White, Camille Gorde, L. Fiedler, A. Bousquet, Maxime Ingres, Henry Cachard, W.H. Perkins, Rene Millet, Camille Thurwanger, Henry L. Rippe, F. C. de Sumichrast, Anatole Le Braz, A. Piatt Andrew, Julien Tiersot, Vicomte G. d'Avenel, Coudert Brothers.
Copypress letterbook., 1906-1907 January, inclusive
Scope and Contents
About 500 sheets of outgoing correspondence from Hyde and Gofflot. Correspondent index at back of volume.
Correspondence. Federation de l'Alliance (2 folders), 1907-1915, inclusive
Documents Divers. Federation de l'Alliance (2 folders), 1898-circa 1907, inclusive
Scope and Contents
These two folders hold, among other documents, print matter related to the University of Grenoble's Committee of Patronage of Foreign Students, Alliance Francaise a Cincinnati, Bulletins, lists of lecturers, descriptions of the Alliance, and other documents concerning the Federation de l'Alliance Francaise aux Etats Unis et au Canada and the Cercle Francais de l'Universite Harvard (post-Hyde student years).