What was the educational path of your ancestors? School archives

Discover how to trace the educational path of your ancestors through school archives, registration records, diplomas, and old newspapers. Concrete tips to enrich your genealogical research.

Did you know that your ancestors may have left behind much more than just civil records?

The educational path of your ancestors can reveal entire aspects of their daily life: schools attended, degrees obtained, mentions in local newspapers… These archives offer another dimension to your genealogical research.

In this article, we revisit the history of education in France and give you all the keys to find traces of your ancestors' schooling in departmental, family, or online archives.

Post-Revolution Education in France, in a Few Dates

• 5 Nivôse Year II (December 25, 1793) : The Convention passes the text that makes education secular, free, and mandatory in France. Teachers replace priests and primary education is open to everyone. The Ministry of Public Instruction is created.

• 1794 : Universities are replaced by professional schools of law and medicine. The École Polytechnique and the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers are founded the same year.

• 3 Brumaire Year IV (October 25, 1795) : The Daunou law removes the obligation of education and sets up central schools for secondary education (where sciences are the main teaching).

• 1799 : Napoleon Bonaparte restores religious schools.

• 1802 : foundation of the first lycées.

• 1808 : Napoleonic decree on education → schools must follow the "principles of the Catholic Church".

• 1833 : municipalities with more than 500 inhabitants must have a school for boys.

• 1834 : women can, temporarily, head boys' schools or mixed institutions.

• 1850 : Falloux law → all municipalities must have a boys' school and a girls' school (if they can). Two types of education are possible: public and state-funded or free and provided by the Catholic Church.

• 1882 : Jules Ferry laws → education is mandatory from 6 to 13 years (or until obtaining the primary studies certificate established the same year). High schools remain paid and reserved for the bourgeoisie.

• 1904 : religious cannot teach in Catholic schools anymore.

• 1919 : Astier law → creation of specialized institutions for technical education.

• 1924 : girls can take the baccalaureate to access universities.

• 1968 : coeducation becomes the norm in all schools and the university is reformed for more autonomy in its administration.

• 1971 : school is mandatory until 16 years old.

💡 Good to know: 

Dive into your memories of past schools thanks to the online site L'École d'Autrefois. It talks about materials, diplomas, rewards, lessons, recess, and much more!

Where to Find Information About Your Ancestors' Educational Path

• In departmental archives (T series): theoretically, registration records concerning French schools, colleges, and lycées should be sent to the AD. However, in many municipalities, archives are stored in the school buildings' attics rather than in archives. Registration records are interesting because they group information about the student (dates, coordinates, information about parents…). Note that the waiting period for these archives is 120 years after the person's birth.

• Old local newspapers: at the time, local newspapers relayed diploma ceremonies. It is not uncommon to find your surname in old newspapers if an ancestor received their primary education certificate, their baccalaureate, or a university diploma. You can do this research in Gallica or on online old newspaper sites.

• In your family archives: a class photo, a diploma… Any document that can give you clues about an ancestor's educational path will be useful in your research.

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