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French History, Politics, and Law

Special Collections holds French Revolutionary tracts as well as a large collection centering around the intersection between the history of French political institutions and the development of French law, but also includes many works on French and European history more generally.  The majority of the collection dates from the 19th century, but it includes over 200 items from the 13th to 18th centuries.

How to Use the Collection

With a few exceptions, the collections can be accessed and requested through the library catalog. Finding aids for individual collections are linked on this website. Materials are available for use in the Special Collections Reading Room (room 401) during regular hours. Materials do not circulate. 

Finding Aids for French History, Politics, and Law

Jacques Flach Collection.

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Biographical Sketch GeoffroiJacques Flach(1846-1919) was born in Strasbourg, France, the capital of the Alsace region, on February 16, 1846. His…

Rare Books

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The Rare Books Collection is the default designation for materials in Special Collections that are acquired as individual items. Like Special…

Related Exhibits

Geofroi Jacques Flach

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This site documents the journey of the library of Geofroi Jacques Flach from France to Missouri. He collected books over...

Selected Items

Some Remarks on the Apparent Circumstances of the War in the Fourth Week of October 1795

APPARENT CIRCUMSTANCES.pdf

"Published in 1795, Some Remarks on the Apparent Circumstances of the War in the Fourth Week of October offers a timely analysis of France's military…

Interesting Occurrences at the Temple during the Confinement of King Louis XVI

OF INTERESTING.pdf

"Written by Jean-René de Cléry, the valet who served King Louis XVI during his imprisonment in the Temple, Interesting Occurrences at the Temple…

Considerations on the present internal and external condition of France

ON THE PRESENT.pdf

"This anonymous pamphlet, published at the height of revolutionary upheaval, offers a sobering assessment of France’s condition both within its…

Quelques Notices pour L'histoire, Et Le Recit De Mes Perils

QUELQUES NOTICES.pdf

"Published on the eve of one of the French Revolution's most dramatic turning points, this pamphlet by Jean-Baptiste Louvet offers a deeply personal…

An Appeal from the New to the Old Whigs, In Consequence of Some Late Discussions in Parliament, Relative to the Reflections on the French Revolution

THE OLD WHIGS,.pdf

"In this powerful political treatise, Edmund Burke defends the arguments he made in his earlier work, Reflections on the Revolution in France,…

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