Saint Michael's College

Archives - Collections

Society Of Saint Edmund Archives
Local Administration
France (1930-present)

Physical Description
1.5 linear ft. (3 boxes)

Arrangement
Arranged into series:  Alliant-Sur-Tholon, Joigny, New Foundations, Pontigny, Toucy. 

History/Biography
The Society of Saint Edmund was founded in Pontigny, France in 1843.  In their earliest years, they worked around Pontigny, later expanding to western France, including Mont-Saint-Michel, Laval, and Chateau-Gontier.  In 1902, the Society was forced to give up its official status and many holdings in France, although personnel did remain and some of their works continued despite their unofficial status.*  Beginning in the 1930’s the Society attempted to resetablish a formal place in Pontigny.  The Society maintained personnel in Pontigny throughout the 1930’s and World War II.  Following the war, they purchased Pontigny and established a House there, maintainin a school as well as outside apostolates in Joigny, Tonnerre and Toucy, as well as in Alliant-Sur-Tholon.  In the 1970’s a group of men, some of whom were already ordained, expressed an interest in revitalizing the society based on the ideals of the early founders, and for a time this new foundation was quite active.  When this foundation ended, the society was left with only one remaining priest in France, Fr. Simmonet, who is retired after many years in service in the Diocese of Sens.

Scope/Contents
Note:  The files included in the Local Administration records are not the complete records of the Society’s business in France.  The records included in this sub-group are related only to the activities of the Society in France after 1930, the date the Society first established their Generalate in North America.  At this time, the French members of the Society became members of a local house whose works were local in nature, rather than the combination of local apostolic works and general administrative work the society undertook earlier in France.  Most files of the Society dating from before 1930 are located in the “SSE Historical Collection” record group.   
 
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Alliant-Sur-Tholon (1985-1992) The Society was entrusted with the Puisaye pastoral zone out of Alliant-Sur-Tholon from 1976-1992.   This series contains some general information from the parish.

1          General

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Joigny (1954-1970) The society was entrusted with the Joigny parish of St-Thibault’s from 1954-1970.  The Society was, for the most part, represented in Joigny by Fr. Ernest Simard.  This series consists of general administrative material as well as correspondence
1          Contracts
2          Correspondence           1954-58           with SG Purtill
3          Correspondence           1959-63           with SG Purtill
4          Correspondence           1964-69           with SG Galligan
5          Correspondence           1965-70           Miscellaneous
6          Correspondence           n.d.                  Simard
7          Financial material
8          Miscellaneous

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New Foundations  (1975-1981)
From 1975-1980, the Society of Saint Edmund saw a minor resurgence within France.  In 1970, Rev. Philippe Simmonet transferred from Joigny to Tonnerre, where he took up residence with the Diocesan priests of the region.  There he met Rev. Daniel Rousseau, who was attracted to the communal life.  He and others became interested in the original mission of the founders of the Society, which had been to rekindle the Catholic faith in the area.  Rev. Rousseau was joined by Pierre Dauvissat, who began his novitiate on June 15, 1975 with Jean Tribut, who had already begun his studies at seminary in Paris.  In April 1978, Rousseau and Tribut made their profession into the Society of Saint Edmund, signing the same register signed first in Pontigny in 1852.  The first profession of Pierre Dauvissat and Jean Luc Guilbert followed in September 1978.  Soon, Rev. Francis Gokey traveled to France to oversee the new foundations.  In early 1980, the new foundation had two novices, three seminarians and three priests, including Rev. Simmonet, who served as director of the Community.
By 1981, it became apparent that there were a series of problems within the French community and between it and the General Administration.  By May, the New Foundation had essentially disbanded—the priests had been incardinated into the diocese, the few remaining novices who wished to continue were discouraged, and Simmonet was given duties in the Diocese while remaining a professed member of the Society.

The correspondence that makes up the bulk of this series provides many details of the New Foundation.  Also included are some details on the ceremonies of professions, details about the individuals, as well as copies of publications they created.  Most materials were translated at the time they were received; the original and the translations are filed together in chronological order.  

Box 1
1          Admission to novitiate
2          Correspondence 1975-76        with SG Gokey
3          Correspondence 1977-78        with SG Gokey
4          Correspondence 1978              with SG Leary
5          Correspondence 1979-81        with Fr. Gokey
6          Correspondence 1979              with SG Leary
7          Correspondence 1980              with SG Leary
8          Correspondence 1981              with SG Leary
9          Diocesan contracts
10        Financial Budget material
11        French Rite of Initiation…
12        Minutes 1978-81
13        Report of Reverend LaCharite Dec. 1980
Box 2
14        Miscellaneous
15        Personal budget
16        Publications      le Puisayen
17        Publications      Letter to the friends of the Society of Saint Edmund

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Pontigny (1930-1957)
In 1926, some members of the Fathers of Saint Edmund returned to Pontigny, the place of their founding, after a 25-year absence.  Once there, they regained charge of the parish of Pontigny, (although not the abbey.)  By 1936, they were able to reopen a novitiate at Pontigny with two novices from England.  In 1939, the French government took possession of the Abbey, which was later taken over by the Germans, who used it as a barracks.  The few Edmundites remaining were forced to live elsewhere, although they maintained their works as best they could.  When the war ended in 1945, Rev. Nicolle, Superior General of the Society, lost no time in reorganizing the Society in Pontigny.  The Society purchased the Abbey and four American members joined the members already in Pontigny.  Their major undertaking was the Franco-American College of Saint Edmund.  The school, organized like an American high school, had an initial enrollment of almost 50 boys from the surrounding area.  Running the school was not without problems however, and 1954, however the Society was forced to close the school.  Financial problems forced the Society to sell the Abbey once again.  Although Pontigny remains the ancestral home of the Society, no other attempt has been made to purchase it.

Folder List
1          Collected Materials
2          Correspondence           Miscellaneous   1941-54
3          Disposition of abbey (7-23-47)
4          Financial budget material 1930-54
5          Financial material (bills) 1947-54
6          Franco American College  Pamphlets, Brochures
7          Franco American College Students
8          List of those buried in the crypt
9          Notebook-- Fin Reports 1952-54/Notes on closing Franco-American College
10        Plans
11        Publications      The Mirror
12        Report of accident 1944
13        Spiritual Report            1948-1953
14        SG Correspondence Nicolle (1930-1936) with Aubin
15        SG Correspondence Nicolle (1930-1936) with Bouteloup
16        SG Correspondence Nicolle (1930-1936) with Cothias
17        SG Correspondence Nicolle (1930-1936) with Fricot
18        SG Correspondence Nicolle (1930-1936) with Garnier
19        SG Correspondence Nicolle (1930-1936) with Genty
20        SG Correspondence Nicolle (1930-1936) with LeFort
21        SG Correspondence Nicolle (1936-1946) with A. Couture
22        SG Correspondence Nicolle (1936-1946) with J. Couture
23        SG Correspondence Nicolle (1936-1946) with Fricot
24        SG Correspondence Nicolle (1936-1946) with House Members
25        SG Correspondence Nicolle (1936-1946) with Trahan
26        SG Correspondence Purtill (1946-1952) with House
27        SG Correspondence Purtill (1946-1952) with Nicolle
28        SG Correspondence Purtill (1946-1952) with Superior A. Couture
29        SG Correspondence Purtill (1946-1952) with Superior Nadeau
30        SG Correspondence Purtill (1952-58) with House
31        SG Correspondence Purtill (1952-58) with Nicolle
32        SG Correspondence Purtill (1952-58) with Superior Nadeau
33        Unpublished MSS “Etude d’ensemble sur un Sainte Anglais du XIIe…”
34        Unpublished MSS “A Hundred Years Ago at Pontigny” by J. McLaughlin
Ledger             Account Book  1926-38

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Toucy  (1976-83) 
The society was entrusted with the Puisaye pastoral zone out of St-Pierre Toucy from 1976-1983.  This series consists of correspondence from Rev. Philippe Simmonet. 
1          Correspondence 
Prepared By:  Elizabeth B. Scott                     January 13, 2005

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Maintained by Elizabeth Scott