THE HISTORY OF THE ALLIANCE FRANCAISE OF PROVIDENCE 1901-2010.

The Alliance Française whose present headquarters are located on the Boulevard Raspail in the Latin Quarter of Paris was founded in 1883. At that time France was consolidating its huge colonial empire in Africa and Asia. The idea of spreading the French language and culture to the colonies was known as “La Mission Civilisatrice”. The French Government and the creators of the Alliance Française felt that other nations with a large French Speaking population should also be given an opportunity to partake of “Le Patrimoine Culturel du pays”. The creation of the Alliance Française was also the “laic” response to the “mission evangélisatrice” undertaken by the Christian churches with their missionaries throughout the empire.

In 1886 a delegate was appointed to organize, under the patronage of the Alliance de Paris, a society of French professors in Providence, Rhode Island. Mr. James Hyde formed the Alliance Française in our City in 1901. One of the first members was Mary C. Wheeler, who was the founder of the school that still bears her name today. Ms. Wheeler became President of the Alliance in 1910 and served throughout the First World War.

During that conflict Alliance members made and sent to France about 60000 dressings and other medical supplies. Many of these were sent to Baroness Huard who had transformed her chateau into a hospital. After the war the baroness came to Providence and addresses our members.

In 1926 the Alliance had grown to 164 members as it celebrated its 25th anniversary. The Providence Journal extolled the organization for its infusion “o9f an invaluable cultural influence into the City”.

The 1930s saw the Alliance Française stage theatrical productions at Brown Faunce House. Mrs. Nicholson White and Mrs. Robert Beede sponsored French “farces” and organized cultural conferences on contemporary figures such as Sarah Bernhardt and Albert Schweitzer.

During World War Two and the German occupation of France (1940-1944) members established the “French Relief Work Room” and contributed money to aid French citizens in exile. A young soldier named Raymond Gaillaguet, who would become an Alliance member with his wife Denise, after the War, parachuted into occupied France and organized Maquis Resistance units to disrupt the Vichy government and prepare for the Liberation.

In 1945 Mrs. Charles A. Post of Barrington founded the first Junior Alliance in the United States. Four Charter members of the Teachers Council were Miss. Edith c. Erlenmeyer, Miss Laura Gilmore, both of Mary C. Wheeler School, Miss Charlotte Wetherell of Classical High School and Mr. Theodore Whitford of Moses Brown School.

At the time of its 20th anniversary (1963) there were 247 chapters of the Junior Alliance in the United States. However by the beginning of the 21st century the number of students of French in our high schools had diminished to the point where the Providence chapter had to be suspended. It is our hope that the “zeitgeist” (1) will change and that we will be able to reestablish this fine opportunity for our youth in the near future. During the period of the Junior Alliance’s greatest popularity Ms. Erlenmeyer, Ms. Vivienne Cote and Mrs. Denise Gaillaguet were instrumental in the maintenance and development of contests, projects in French to motivate the boys and girls. Their contributions during that time will never be forgotten.

In the 1970s Ms. Erlenmeyer inaugurated a “Société Privée” where members met in their homes to attend lectures by prestigious speakers. Following her long presidency were Ms. Suzanne Brode-La France, Mr. Didier Sartor, Ms. Dominique Coulombe, Ms. Sonia Galetti and Ms. Michele Small all from France. Later Ms. Mary Chace, Ms. Carolyn Parker, Professor Henry Majewski, Mr. Michael Herrera and Mr. Robert Mc Clellan were from the United States. Ms. Hai-La Kang from Korea also served several terms in office.

During the same decade a real connection was established with Brown University and Professor Majewski was able to obtain college sites for events and to attract faculty members to our organization. One of them was Professor Francois Hugot who created the “Comité De Relance” to enlarge the number of permanent members. In 1995 Professor Majewski started the School of French Language offering classes in French taught by native speakers.

In 1998 the Alliance Française established its permanent headquarters at the Music Mansion in Providence. In the same year Dominique Grégoire was elected President of the Alliance. During his decade as President Dominique has been instrumental in developing innovative cultural and social programs around cinema, music, lectures…as well as a Talent Show, the brain child of Ms. Odile Mattiauda, which gives every one an opportunity to exhibit their musical and literary prowess.

Around a new nucleus of young, energetic and talented people, Magali Boutiot (Executive Director) and Tracey Corporan (Coordinator of Language Academy) there is now a Renaissance of the Alliance in Providence. The creation of the League of French Speaking Organizations and the development of the Providence Language Academy as well as the new mediathèque bode well for a magnificent future of the French language and culture in our State. The creation of the choral group, the Alliance Comique and the Cercle de Lecture also attest of this renaissance of the organization.

N.B. This history is based on research by other dedicated members of the Alliance Française of Providence along the years. Unfortunately, Robert McClellan, the author, was not able to discover the identities of these people. However he wants to offer a sincere “Thank You” without individual recognitions.