Josée and René de Chambrun Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Josée and René de Chambrun Foundation is a non-profit charitable foundation based in Paris
, France
.
Recognized by the French government as a nonprofit organization on October 19, 1959, the Foundation was founded by René de Chambrun
(1906-2002), a lawyer at the Court of Appeals of Paris and of the New York State Bar Association
and a descendant of Lafayette
, as well as a Chevalier (knight
) of the Légion d'honneur
and honorary president of the Sons of the American Revolution
in France, and his wife, Josée Laval (1911-1992), the only daughter of Pierre Laval
. René de Chambrun's mother Clara Longworth de Chambrun
(1873-1954) was the sister of Nicholas Longworth
The original administrators of the Foundation included Maurice Renand, a tax inspector who was the son of Georges–Eugène Renand, chairman of the la Semeuse de Paris, first manager of La Samaritaine
, chair of the Cognac-Jay Foundation, director of the administrative services of the Presidency of the Council in 1942, and a close collaborator of Pierre Laval (1943-1944). His son Georges succeeded Rene de Chambrun as head of the foundation. François Cathala, a descendant of Pierre Cathala and close friend of Pierre Laval, was also an early administrator.
The seat of the organization was changed by decree from Courpalay
, Seine-et-Marne
to au 6 bis, place du Palais Bourbon 75007 in Paris on December 18, 2003.
The main goal of the foundation was the historic preservation
of the Château de la Grange-Bléneau
, the home of Lafayette from 1802 until his death in 1834, and the conservation of the collections inside it. The castle was purchased in 1935 by Louis de Lasteyrie, a cousin of Lafayette descendant René de Chambrun. The new owners discovered, in an attic, the files of Lafayette. They were classified as historical files in 2003. Visits are limited to researchers and historian
s.
The foundation also holds the private archives of Pierre Laval and owns the Château de Châteldon, which belonged to the Laval family, along with two medieval houses in the village (maison sergentale and ancienne Pharmacie) as well as 34 percent of crystal manufacturer Baccarat
. René de Chambrun was shareholder and president; in 1989, the Foundation sold off a portion to the Taittinger Group
, preserving only a minority interest.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Recognized by the French government as a nonprofit organization on October 19, 1959, the Foundation was founded by René de Chambrun
René de Chambrun
René de Chambrun , was a lawyer at the Court of Appeals of Paris and of the New York State Bar Association and a descendant of Lafayette, as well as a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, and honorary president of the Sons of the American Revolution in France...
(1906-2002), a lawyer at the Court of Appeals of Paris and of the New York State Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association , with 77,000 members, is the largest voluntary bar association in the United States.-History:The State Bar was founded with a constitution that dates to 1877...
and a descendant of Lafayette
Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette , often known as simply Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer born in Chavaniac, in the province of Auvergne in south central France...
, as well as a Chevalier (knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
) of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
and honorary president of the Sons of the American Revolution
Sons of the American Revolution
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is a Louisville, Kentucky-based fraternal organization in the United States...
in France, and his wife, Josée Laval (1911-1992), the only daughter of Pierre Laval
Pierre Laval
Pierre Laval was a French politician. He was four times President of the council of ministers of the Third Republic, twice consecutively. Following France's Armistice with Germany in 1940, he served twice in the Vichy Regime as head of government, signing orders permitting the deportation of...
. René de Chambrun's mother Clara Longworth de Chambrun
Clara Longworth de Chambrun
Clara Eleanor Longworth de Chambrun, Comtesse de Chambrun was an American patron of the arts and scholar of Shakespeare.- Life :...
(1873-1954) was the sister of Nicholas Longworth
Nicholas Longworth
Nicholas Longworth IV was a prominent American politician in the Republican Party during the first few decades of the 20th century...
The original administrators of the Foundation included Maurice Renand, a tax inspector who was the son of Georges–Eugène Renand, chairman of the la Semeuse de Paris, first manager of La Samaritaine
La Samaritaine
La Samaritaine was a large department store in Paris, France, located in the First Arrondissement. The nearest metro station is Pont-Neuf. It is currently owned by LVMH, a luxury-goods maker. The store, which had been operating at a loss since the 1970s, was finally closed in 2005 because the...
, chair of the Cognac-Jay Foundation, director of the administrative services of the Presidency of the Council in 1942, and a close collaborator of Pierre Laval (1943-1944). His son Georges succeeded Rene de Chambrun as head of the foundation. François Cathala, a descendant of Pierre Cathala and close friend of Pierre Laval, was also an early administrator.
The seat of the organization was changed by decree from Courpalay
Courpalay
Courpalay is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
, Seine-et-Marne
Seine-et-Marne
Seine-et-Marne is a French department, named after the Seine and Marne rivers, and located in the Île-de-France region.- History:Seine-et-Marne is one of the original 83 departments, created on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution in application of the law of December 22, 1789...
to au 6 bis, place du Palais Bourbon 75007 in Paris on December 18, 2003.
The main goal of the foundation was the historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
of the Château de la Grange-Bléneau
Château de la Grange-Bléneau
The Château de la Grange-Bléneau is a castle in the commune of Courpalay in the Seine-et-Marne département of France.-History:Recorded since the 13th century, the castle has belonged to several families: Courtenay, Aubusson-La Feuillade and d'Aguesseau. Ownership passed from Henriette d'Aguesseau...
, the home of Lafayette from 1802 until his death in 1834, and the conservation of the collections inside it. The castle was purchased in 1935 by Louis de Lasteyrie, a cousin of Lafayette descendant René de Chambrun. The new owners discovered, in an attic, the files of Lafayette. They were classified as historical files in 2003. Visits are limited to researchers and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
s.
The foundation also holds the private archives of Pierre Laval and owns the Château de Châteldon, which belonged to the Laval family, along with two medieval houses in the village (maison sergentale and ancienne Pharmacie) as well as 34 percent of crystal manufacturer Baccarat
Baccarat (company)
Baccarat Crystal is a manufacturer of fine crystal glassware located in Baccarat, France. The company owns two museums: the Musée Baccarat in Baccarat, Meurthe-et-Moselle and the Galerie-Musée Baccarat, on the Place des États-Unis in Paris...
. René de Chambrun was shareholder and president; in 1989, the Foundation sold off a portion to the Taittinger Group
Taittinger family
Taittinger is a French wine family who are famous producers of Champagne. The estate is headed by Claude Taittinger , a member of the consultative committee of the Banque de France...
, preserving only a minority interest.