Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Museum of Living History was created in 1937 by the Association for Living History, under the leadership of Jacques Duclos, a communist activist. It opened on 26 March 1939 in an Italian villa built in 1874 for Théophile Sueur, mayor and industrialist of Montreuil. The inauguration coincides with the 150th anniversary of the French Revolution, and the museum is then led by Jean Bruhat. Its initial collections cover the French Revolution, workers' struggles and world wars, with various donations and acquisitions.

During the Second World War, collections were hidden in Seine-et-Marne to protect them. The museum reopened in 1946 with new rooms dedicated to the occupation, liberation, and a hall on Karl Marx. He also preserves objects related to Jean Longuet, grandson of Karl Marx. In the 1960s and 1970s, a decline in attendance led to its semi-closure, before a complete renovation in 1988. He then reopened with an exhibition on Jean Jaurès and the French Revolution, obtaining the status of museum controlled by the Direction des musées de France.

Today, the museum houses archives and iconographic collections of the French Revolution in the 1960s, including FCP funds (Jacques Duclos, Daniel Renoult), socialists, and libertarian communists. A space is dedicated to Ho Chi Minh for his anti-colonial fight. The museum publishes historical works, organizes exhibitions, and offers educational workshops for schools, in partnership with associations such as Citizenship Jeunesse. Its themes cover the French Revolution, colonization, urban housing, and the Resistance.

The collections include prints, manuscripts by Jean Jaurès and Louise Michel, sketches by Steinlen, and archives of the Resistance. The museum plays a resource role for researchers and historians, while raising public awareness of social struggles and labour history. Its anchor in Montreuil, a city marked by industry and social movements, makes it a key place to understand the history of the Parisian suburbs.

Labeled "Musée de France", it is located at 31 boulevard Théophile Sueur, in the Seine-Saint-Denis department (93). Its exact address and official website (www.museumhistoryvivante.fr) make it an accessible place for visitors and researchers.

External links