Nancy municipal archives

Nancy’s municipal archives is a public institution in the city of Nancy, France. It serves as a municipal archive for materials from the Middle Ages onwards. It is located at 3 rue Henri-Bazin in Nancy.

Nancy municipal archives
Map
48°41'44.981"N, 6°11'26.063"E
AffiliationService interministériel des archives de France
Websitehttp://archives.nancy.fr/accueil/

Building's History

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Industrial Origins

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Shoe-making was an important industrial activity in Nancy during the 19th century, especially the work of shoe trader Isaac Gaudchaux-Picard, who set up in the tannery district to manufacture his own products.

The industrial shoe-making sector experienced a booming success, with the support of the Spire family, from 1870 onwards. Charles-Édouard Spire bought the premises situated on 5 faubourg Sainte-Catherine (now rue Henri-Bazin) on November 9, 1878, from Raphaël Michiniau, another shoe-maker. Two years later, the factory was completed.

The Spire Firm

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The factory in 1909.

The building faced some challenges. A fire on August 15, 1899[1] had catastrophic socio-economic impacts on the 400 factory workers. For two years, production was moved to avenue de Strasbourg.[2] A new building was approved by the city in 1900[3] and the factory was entirely rebuilt by the architect Félicien César the following year. A 25 meters high chimney was added, joining the others in the industrial Meurthe-canal neighbourhood at the beginning of the 20th century.

 
André Spire in 1927.

In 1902, Paul Spire took over the management of the factory and hired André Coblentz. From this point onward, the company went by "Spico". This was the most prosperous period for the business. Paul Spire became a member of Nancy's chamber of commerce.[4] As a committee member for International Exhibition of the East of France in 1909, Spire's factory was presented as a model for the industry.[5]

During the First World War, Paul Spire was drafted.[6] His elder brother André Spire oversaw the factory and took over the familial business. When managing the factory, André, faced economic as well as structural issues. The factory temporarily relocated to the outskirts of Paris and then to Limoges, only to return to Nancy in 1922. Following the end of the war, productivity declined and the business faced strong union activity in the shoemaking industry, including frequent strikes. Manufacturing ceased in 1935.

List of archivists
Responsable Début Fin
Henri Lepage 1864 1874
Emile Roussel 1874 1881
Vacancy 1882 1905
Paul Denis 1906 1937
Vacancy 1938 1967
Michèle Renson 1968 2005
Daniel Peter 2005 2018
Pascale Etiennette 2019 2022
Sébastien Rembert 2022 current

References

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  1. ^ "Incendie de l'usine Spire". L'Est Républicain. 15 August 1899..
  2. ^ "Exposition en ligne : Histoire du 3 rue Henri-Bazin"..
  3. ^ "Autorisation de travaux à Nancy". L'Immeuble et la Construction dans l'Est: 414. 29 April 1900..
  4. ^ Spire 1910.
  5. ^ Louis Laffitte (1912). Rapport général sur l'Exposition internationale de l'Est de la France, Nancy, 1909 : l'essor économique de la Lorraine. Paris. p. 555.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link).
  6. ^ "Dossier légion d'honneur". Léonore..