Mes mémoires

The Work of Memory: embodiment, materiality and home in Jeanne Bouvier's autobiographical writings

“…As Bouvier wrote in her memoirs, it was the law that regulated the eight hour work day after the First World War, that allowed workers time for intellectual activities. 3 Moreover, it was also after the war that Georges Renard, professor of labour history at the Collège de France, took over the task of editing the publication of 58 volumes comprising La Bibliothèque sociale des métiers [The Social library of trades]. There were seven volumes on women in this collection, 4 but Bouvier was the only woman worker, who was asked to write the history of the lingères.…”

“…No, it is not possible for me to accept to write a book, I have always suffered by my ignorance.' 6 Despite the difficulties, Bouvier threw herself in the pleasures of research and produced a rare study of the French linen-goods industry in the twentieth century that has become an invaluable source in women's labour history. 7 'You have written a book and you will write others' 8 , Renard had told her when she delivered her manuscript and indeed research and writing became Bouvier's life-long passion.…”

“…6 Despite the difficulties, Bouvier threw herself in the pleasures of research and produced a rare study of the French linen-goods industry in the twentieth century that has become an invaluable source in women's labour history. 7 'You have written a book and you will write others' 8 , Renard had told her when she delivered her manuscript and indeed research and writing became Bouvier's life-long passion. Thus, even after she had written her four historical studies and had retired from a long working life, she went on working at the National Library: 'as soon as I had some free moments, I would go into the temple of wisdom […] I was envying the privileged ones who had acquired a solid instruction and could devote their whole time in doing research'.…”

“…Thus, even after she had written her four historical studies and had retired from a long working life, she went on working at the National Library: 'as soon as I had some free moments, I would go into the temple of wisdom […] I was envying the privileged ones who had acquired a solid instruction and could devote their whole time in doing research'. 9 Still throughout her life she had learnt how to 'be content with little' 10 and she thought that she was one of the few women who had passed their life in the industry but had discovered freedom in the spaces of the National Library.…”

“…'How I became a trade unionist' is a lengthy chapter in her memoirs recounting her adventures and struggles in the union but concealing and silencing many of its internal conflicts. 17 But apart from the pleasures that Bouvier felt in researching and writing, her five books are rare records of the memory of work written by a woman worker. Once published they were read by a wider community of readers interested in women's labour history, but have also become very useful references and sources for a number of academics and research students all over the world, now and then.…”