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Paris student revolt collection
MS.M.016  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Processing History
  • Historical Background
  • Collection Scope and Content Summary
  • Collection Arrangement

  • Contributing Institution: Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
    Title: Paris student revolt collection
    Identifier/Call Number: MS.M.016
    Physical Description: 1.4 Linear Feet (1 box and 10 oversized folders) and 0.3 unprocessed linear feet
    Date (inclusive): 1968-1969
    Abstract: This collection comprises materials documenting the protests and general strike that took place in France in 1968 when Parisian students and workers protested against American involvement in Vietnam, as well as for a better educational system and working class rights. The collection includes periodicals, handbills, fliers and programs publicizing demonstrations. All items, except for one handbill (in English), are in French.
    Language of Material: French .

    Access

    The collection is open for research.

    Publication Rights

    Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

    Preferred Citation

    Paris Student Revolt Collection. MS-M016. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.
    For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

    Acquisition Information

    Acquired, 1971.

    Processing History

    Processed by Adrian Turner and Karen Rosen, 2002.

    Historical Background

    On May 3, 1968, student protesters from The University of Paris X--Nanterre met with students at the Sorbonne to discuss left-wing politics and the upcoming trial of the Nanterre students for earlier protests. As the crowd of students grew, authorities panicked and police were called in to surround the campus. Many students were arrested and the Sorbonne was closed. The National Union of French Students and the Lecturers' Union called a strike. This began a series of protests, riots, and strikes in which police brutally attacked protestors. The intransigence of the French government and the tactics of police resulted in strong pro-student sentiment in Paris, and during a demonstration major labor unions in France and the Communist Party all called for a general strike on May 13, 1968. The general strike soon spread to factories, French railways, industry, communications and education networks. The strike lasted through June 1968 when French President Charles De Gaulle called for a national referendum.

    Collection Scope and Content Summary

    This collection comprises materials documenting the protests and general strike that took place in France in 1968 when Parisian students and workers protested against American involvement in Vietnam, as well as for a better educational system and working class rights. The collection includes periodicals, handbills, fliers and programs publicizing demonstrations. All items, except for one handbill (in English), are in French. The newspapers are from independent (primarily socialist and worker's union) and student presses.

    Collection Arrangement

    This collection is arranged alphabetically by format, then title. Accession 2018.028, an unprocessed addition to the collection, is listed at the end of the finding aid.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Riots -- France -- Paris -- History -- Sources
    General Strike, France, 1968 -- Archives.
    Socialism -- France -- Paris -- History -- Sources
    Strikes and lockouts -- France -- Paris -- Archives.
    Fliers (Printed matter) -- 20th century.
    Newspapers -- 20th century.
    France -- Politics and government -- 1958-1969 -- Archives.
    Students -- France -- Paris -- Political activity
    Programs -- 20th century.
    Broadsides -- 20th century.