Centre des Archives diplomatiques de Nantes

The central repository of papers produced by French diplomatic and consular missions overseas. Note that the archives of former French colonies (from the years during which they were colonies) are not held at this archive.

Address
17, rue de Casterneau 44000 Nantes

Website
Main website in French and a more limited version in English.

Telephone
(33) 2 51 77 24 59

Fax
(33) 2 51 77 24 60

Email
archives.cadn@diplomatie.gouv.fr

Schedule & hours
Monday to Friday, 9-6. Annual closure during the last two weeks of September.

Working language(s)
French, some English

Layout
The archive is accessed through a gate from de Casterneau. After leaving a passport at the guardhouse on the left, proceed into the courtyard; the reading room is on your right. The entrance hall contains lockers, a room with vending machines and a telephone, and an unused exhibition room. The reading room itself is attractive and comfortable. Choose a place at one of half a dozen tables on the left (the room accommodates about three dozen researchers at a time). Each station has a light and power outlet. As the room is fairly dimly lit, workplaces near the windows are desirable, particularly for photographing documents. Archivists in charge of the reading room work from a circular desk in its centre. Behind this desk (on your right as you enter the room) are the shelves containing catalogues and handlists and a table on which to consult them. Beside this area is a smaller room, which contains microfilm and microfilm readers. Various reference books and periodicals are held on open shelves on the walls of the reading room. A computer terminal gives access to the internet.

Directions
The archive building, its street, and the quarter itself, are quiet and nondescript but easy to find. For a map and directions, see the CADN website. From the train station, take bus n°12, direction La Colinière, and get off at the "Dalby" stop. From place du Commerce in the middle of town, take bus n°11, direction Jules Verne, and get off at the "Casterneau" stop.

Description of holdings
CADN's major holdings include the Foreign Ministry records of The archive also contains material concerning the central administration of the foreign ministry, photographs and visual material, and microfilms of Foreign Ministry material that is held in other French archives. For a more detailed survey of holdings, consult these PDF summary files on the CADN website.
 * all French diplomatic and consular missions overseas
 * French delegations to international organizations and commissions
 * the French protectorates in Tunisia (1881-1956) and Morocco (1912-56)
 * the French mandate in Syria (1920-46)

History of the archive
The Nantes archive opened in 1987. Previously (presumably), its material was held at central Foreign Ministry archives.

Catalogues & finding aids
CADN's catalogues are print only, and therefore must be consulted on site. Most but by no means all of the material at CADN has been catalogued. Every year, new finding aids are released, often produced with the assistance of student archivists carrying out internships in Nantes. It is worth asking archivists about the state of cataloging for each particular series--sometimes a draft catalogue (not yet on public display) can be consulted.

Languages of materials
Most material is in French.

Classified material
Archivists apply time restrictions diligently, which range from 100 to 70 to fewer years depending on the nature of the material. Researchers can apply for an exception (derogation) from the Foreign Ministry; this process typically takes some weeks.

Future of the archive
CADN continues to release catalogues of its collections.

Access
(what permits, identity documents, or letters of reference do you need to present? how far in advance must you begin to register?)

First visit
(what happens when you first come to the archives?)

Permitted and prohibited items

 * Permitted: laptop computers, cameras
 * Prohibited: scanners are prohibited in theory, though their use has been observed

Document ordering
(how do you request documents? how many can you order at a time?)

Ordering classified material
(what special permission is necessary?)

Document delivery
(how long does it take for documents to arrive? where are they delivered?  how many can you consult at a time?  what do you do when you are finished with an item?)

Photocopying, photography, microfilming
(what are costs, permits, and page limits? how long do you have to wait?)

Key forms
(what are the main forms that the archive uses? if possible, provide links to copies or post copies directly)

Archive staff
(people you've found particularly helpful; no invective)

Scholars
(scholars who are familiar with this archive)

Food
Nantes is a good place to eat, but the area around the archives is a bit of a culinary wasteland. Vending machines in the "lounge" sell drinks, coffee, and the like. There is a grocery store to the west, where de Castelnau meets rue des Chalâtres. Further north on des Chalâtres, at a roundabout, there is a bar that serves lunch. East of the archives, on Route de Sainte-Luce, there is a bakery that sells sandwiches. The park on Ernest Dalby, just south of the archives, is a nice spot to eat lunch.

Lockers
Tokens are provided to lock the small lockers at the entrance to the archive.

Washrooms
The archive's washrooms feature sleek, space-age design.

Transportation
Public transportation in Nantes is excellent. Two buses pass within two minutes of the archives--details here. The walk from the tramway is a bit longer--fifteen minutes. Bicycles are an excellent way to get around, and can be rented inexpensively at any municipal parking garage (there is one next door to the train station).

Internet access
Free internet access is available via a computer terminal in the reading room.

Bookstore
A small number of publications, produced by the friends of the archives and the archivists, are available for purchase in the reading room.