Notes from Alliance ’s Documents at the Historical Society going back to 1903
By former board member Nelly Childress, 2003 for our centenary.
NOTE: Nelly's research formed the basis of a display at the Constitution Center on Bastille Day. Hope you saw it!
The Alliance Française, a National Association for the propagation of the French language in the colonies and abroad, was founded in 1883 – a time of historical change for France. From its institution its purpose was to promote not only the French language, but also the culture of La belle France while strictly adhering to the exclusion of political and religious connections or associations. The groups thus formed throughout the world focus, to this day, on Literature, Art, History of France and of course on teaching the French language.
 In the beginning of the century the first Alliances in the United States were founded in Boston and Baltimore in 1901, in Rhode Island, La Fayette, Detroit and Worcester in 1902, in Cincinnati, Fall River, Lowell, New Bedford, Providence and Philadelphia in 1903.
The Alliance Française de Philadelphie owes its birth to Professor P. F. Giroud, who with the assistance of Mrs. Alexander J. Cassatt, Mrs. Robert Coleman Drayton and Mrs. Sidney W. Keith was able to assemble, in February of 1903, an organizing committee of over 40 people among whom were Mrs. Arthur Biddle, Mrs. George Biddle, Mr. Edwin Swift Balch, Mr. Thomas Willing Balch, and Mrs. John Cadwalader. The first meeting took place on March 9, 1903 at the Acorn Club, featuring Mr. Leopold Mabilleau from the Institute. Over 120 members met regularly every other Monday from November to May. Lectures, concerts, poetry readings were on the programs. In 1904 the first scholarship was awarded to the best university student majoring in French, for a summer at one of the schools in France. [Incidentally the first student who received the scholarship became a University Professor of French]. In 1906, the Alliance Française de Philadelphie started its evening classes charging a pittance. The Charter was signed in 1908 – the dream, as far back as 1908, was to have endowments that would allow the organization to acquire its own conference room, classrooms, and a library!
 Since then, membership has kept on increasing, to the point where our busy school may run out of classrooms. From its early days the Alliance Française de Philadelphie demonstrated graciousness and a particular friendly atmosphere, hosting receptions following each of its meetings, introducing French music into its programs, and extending a hearty bienvenue to members’ guests. To repeat what Mr. Giroud said almost a century ago When one is asked :what does one do at the Alliance Française, the best answer would be: come and see. Our web site today offers the initial insights. But come and try some of our events and / or classes.
And so it went on with lectures, musical programs, and two world wars. In 1946, members of the Alliance Française de Philadelphie responded to an appeal from the Alliance Française in Paris for CARE packages. France Amerique wrote:
Bravo, Alliance Française de Philadelphie! Responding to an appeal from President Thornton Oakley, the members of the Alliance collected $375 for CARE packages for France ! To Mr. Oakley and to all our Philadelphia friends, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! [statement translated from French]
 In 1949, Alliance’s president Thornton Oakley was a member of the Mayor of Philadelphia’s Reception Committee when the Train de la Reconnaissance Française, (the French Gratitude Train) came to Pennsylvania. – 49 railroad boxcars (one for each for the forty-eight states, and one for the District of Columbia to be shared with the district of Hawaii) laden with gifts, artwork, and treasured items from the people of France sent in gratitude and appreciation to the United States for the Friendship Train. The Friendship Train which the French people received from the United States in 1947. was loaded with carloads of food, medicine and supplies to help people recover after WWII - a wonderful gesture on the part of the people from the U.S. and France that further forged their brotherhood.
During the 50’s and the 60’s the activities of the Alliance were reported in both the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Evening Bulletin. One could read in the November 1st issue of the Evening Bulletin the following:
Mrs. Walter C Pew of Bryn Mawr will entertain at dinner (Nov 16) at the Barclay before the first [1960] meeting of the Alliance Française de Philadelphie.
Following the meeting Mrs. Emile C. Geyelin of Devon will give a small reception in honor of the guest speaker Mr. Claude Bourcier (Dean of Middleburg College) at the Art Gallery of Miss Jane Harper, 1923 Manning Street.
In 1965, as was the practice since 1959, a scholarship fundraising was held at the Academy of Music on November 8, featuring the very popular Charles Aznavour, singer composer, lyricist and actor. Each year the Alliance Française was sending a deserving Greater Philadelphia area student to school in France for a one-year study of French at the Alliance Française in Paris or any other recognized institution. This included roundtrip transportation + $1000 to be applied toward his/her studies. Thanks to one of the Alliance’s generous past presidents, Pierre Fraley, the scholarship fund was established that enables its continuation without interruption.
In the '70s the Alliance celebrated its 75th anniversary by sponsoring an exhibit of the works of Mary Cassatt and of Emlen Etting at the Art Alliance.
 In the 80s and 90s, our school became a major force in the Community and our events, like Bastille Day, attained high status. We brought in famous chefs from Paris like Jacques Cagna, had wine lectures on prestige wines like Bordeaux, and generally became one of the highest profile organizations in the City in our field.
And so we are beginning a second century of Alliance Française de Philadelphie, and we hope to be able to maintain or retain the presence of France together with the numerous other institutions that followed our lead, and to continue to cooperate with them in promoting a culture that we consider unique and a language that we love. |
