New-York tribune., 1903-03-01
THE MusEE SOCIAL OF PARIS.
An Account of It's History and Work-A
Bureau of Information.

In a recent communication to the American In
sttute Of Social Service, OF New-York, M Cheysson
describes the origin of the Musee Social of Paris,
at a dinner given by the Count Chambrun to jules
Sieefried Charles Robert and himself This Social
Museum, which incorporated on August jl'
1884, is necessary outgrOWth of those eXpositlons
in Paris where social economy was first puolcly
recognized as true science. and, like other sci
ences to have need of machinery and workrooms
After having made its appearance at the Universal
Exposition, in 1867. with the new order of awards
this new science made so much headWay In the
next few years that by 1889 Group y. Social Econ
o1ny" had at the exposition Of that year warm
reception and the public learned to appreciate the
object lesson in industrial bettcrment which had
been prepared for It. The employers were SHOWN
to be full of soicitude for the workers, and each
side. with a mutual purpose in view. STUDIED 10
make noteworthy combinations that would INSPIRE
the interest and respect of the outside world
After the exposition of 1885, much regret was felt
and expressed that such q collection OF mdterlai
for social service should be dispersed and the idea
of q permanent museum to which the best or the
exhibits would be donated. was cordially fndorsed
by the exposition authorities. In order to carry
out this idea. however, the necessary funds and
fndependent aid were required. and thiS was ac-
compIished by the Count de Chambrun, Jules Sieg-
fried Charles Robert and Emile Cheysson. After
meeting at the counts house of these four :0en on
May 49, 1896 the working plans and constitution for
a social museum were at once elaborated ana SUD-
mitted to the government. and. by exceptional IA
''insttution of public utility The Count Cham
brun not only gave the Musee its own building
which is at No. Rue Las Cases. but also provided
all necessary equipments for library lecture rooms
and offices, while $4,000 annually given by him
through his life for operating expenses An en-
downent fund Of 100000 added TO this. and the
Musees future prosperity was assured by its being
made the counts residuary legdtee. In consequence
the Musee Social has to-day foundation of $eeOWc
and an annual revenue of $25.COO.
This French institute is essentially a bureau or
iuformation-that is. its name denotes. q mu-
scum where a methodcal collection OF material
concerning social questions is placed, absolutely
free for the use of the public. A service OF corrr.
SDondents keeps the MuSee advised regarding social
progress and also of institutions and laws worthy
of note. Delegates and commissioners make a
study on the spot of ali movements relating TO
ca pifal and labor strikes congresses Ia Dor unions
etc and also take up special studies OF some def
mite institutions for industrial beterment, such as
thrift societies. mutual benefit associations. etc
These reports and studies form the basis Of leCt-
monthly bulletins. but all the information secured
by the Musee is made directly accessible. at any
time by the library. where not only is the ma
terial properly classified and placed before the stu
dent but his wants are interpreted and adaptation
made to each ones special need.
It should not be forgotten that in work along
these same lines the American Institute of Social
Service has already won interest and co-operatioT
It's aims are the and its methods OF like kind
though modified to suit the New World and IFS
orders.