History
1940
In July of 1940, Americans founded France Forever in response to the historic appeal made by General de Gaulle calling upon all Frenchmen and Frenchwomen to unite for the liberation of occupied France. In its seven years of existence it enrolled over 23,000 people of many nationalities and operated through a National Council and 56 chapters. One of the most active and successful of these units, the Boston Chapter, was organized in the summer of 1941. Its local leaders and membership included many persons who were to become founders and board members of the French Library.
Among the many activities of the Boston Chapter of France Forever under the leadership of Belle Rand, an extraordinary figure in French-American cultural relations, was the creation of a small lending library of French books and periodicals.
1945
Anticipating the post-war dissolution of France Forever and its chapters, Belle Rand and the chapter officers decided to make this library a permanent entity. They had no money at all, and the little alcove in the Newbury Street office was wholly inadequate, especially after the gift of a pre-war collection of 500 books formerly housed in the old French Consulate. The only other assets were the tireless determination of its officers and volunteer workers and the good will of the French Government who, through the New York office of the Conseiller Culturel and the Consulate General, continued to gift new books and periodicals.
It was finally incorporated on December 14th, 1945 as the French Library in Boston, Inc., a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational institution.
1949-1987
From 1949 until her death in 1978, Edna Allen Doriot was a driving force of the French Library in Boston.
Edna Started as a volunteer then spearheaded major fundraising efforts that led to a substantial endowment fund established in 1956 and the acquisition of 300 Berkeley Street. Edna Doriot is also credited for Katharine Lane Weems’ generous gift of the building at 53 Marlborough Street.
Edna Doriot was president of The French Library from 1966 until she passed away in 1978.
She was succeeded by her husband of 48 years, General Georges F. Doriot (1899- 1987), pioneer venture capitalist, legendary Professor Emeritus of the Harvard Business School, and one of the founders of l’Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires.
For the rest of his life he devoted himself to the organization his beloved wife had guided and promoted. General Doriot was named Commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur and Mrs. Doriot, Chevalier. They are one of the few couples ever admitted to this order.
2000
The Alliance Française is an international organization that aims to promote French language and culture around the world. Founded in 1883, the Alliance has 850 centers in 137 countries, on all five continents. The AF of Boston and Cambridge was founded in 1898.
In 2000, our two major organizations who shared the same educational mission for French language and culture entered into a managerial agreement and became housed under one roof at 53 Marlborough Street.
2005
In 2005, the French Cultural Center founded Accent on Success: our after-school program whose mission is to provide free French language instruction to students in Greater Boston’s most underserved schools. Thanks to generous donors, this community outreach program reaches over 150 students each year. Accent on Success currently operates in two elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools.
2010
May 2010, the French Library was renamed the French Cultural Center to better represent the scope of its offerings.
2011
In 2011, the French Cultural Center established the Mosaïque initiative to provide essential support for new cultural programming—today and for years to come. Cultural programs are at the core of our mission to promote the vibrant growth of the French language and Francophone cultures in New England.
Barbara Bouquegneau
President & Executive Director
Barbara has worked at the French Library for over 25 years. She holds two Master’s degrees, one in electrical engineering from her native Belgium, where she pursued research in bio-medical engineering, and another in film production from Boston University, that led her to produce a number of independent films. Barbara has been at the very heart of the French Library her whole career: from Film Assistant to President & Executive Director, Barbara has evolved through various positions such as Cultural Programs Manager, Director of Programs and Communications, and Chief Operating Officer. Her career has enabled her to forge many friendships and ties in the local Francophone and Francophile communities, as well as expand the French Library's list of cultural and business partners.
Barbara has represented the Alliance Française of Boston & Cambridge and was on the board of the Federation of Alliances Françaises USA for many years, filling in the position of Vice-President for the last couple years and chairing the One Book One Federation committee, whose mission is to support French literacy throughout the United States. An avid reader and film buff, Barbara often presents the French Library’s monthly ciné-club and relishes discussions with each enthusiastic audience. She will also gladly warm up our members for French karaoké singing!
She is committed to pursuing the extraordinary mission of the French Library and believes that the Francophone world is worth exploring in all its different cultures, and that this exploration makes one a better citizen of the world. She wishes that visitors of the French Library experience the welcome embrace of French and Francophone cultures together, as a community, and that they come out of their visit with something they learned.
Board
The French Library has an impressive list of supporters and advisors from the business, academic and cultural community of greater Boston. Our Board of Trustees is made up of both French and American members who are actively involved in our new strategic plan for growth. We greatly appreciate their efforts on our behalf.
Board of Trustees
(As of April 2023)
- Mr. Steven Galante, Chairman
- Mrs. Zeina Aoun
- Mr. Jean-Luc Boulnois
- Mrs. Barbara (Suki) de Bragança
- Ms. Catharine-Mary Donovan
- Mr. Jean-François Ducrest
- Mr. Pascal Girin
- Mrs. Hilary Grove
- Dr. Alyssa LeBel
- Mr. Nicolas Massard
- Mr. David Miller
- Mr. Gonzague de Montrichard
- Mr. Hervé Sedky
- Mr. Pierre Sorel
- Mr. Vincent Zelenko
- Mr. Alain Briottet, Trustee Emeritus
- Mr. Gérard Moufflet, Trustee Emeritus
- Mr. Patrick Prevost, Trustee Emeritus
- Mr. Eric Vogt, Trustee Emeritus
- Mr. Eric Ward, Trustee Emeritus
Our Partners
The French Library is proud to work with the following associations and government representatives.
