Mathilde Schneider
Franco-American Museum of the Château of Blerancourt
France
Transatlant-ism: essence of a museum
Unique museum in the world dedicated to relationships between two nations, the Franco-American
museum in the chateau of Blerancourt (Picardy, France) is a transatlantic museum in its mission, its
history, its collections and its current functioning.
When Anne Morgan create the museum in 1924, she wants to sustain a transatlantic history : on one
hand, France’s participation in the American Revolution thanks to the collaboration between
Washington, Franklin, Jefferson and Louis the 16th century, Lafayette or Rochambeau; on the other
hand American humanitarian and military aid in France during WWI.
Thanks to her Francophilia, she is very involved as the founder of the American Committee for
Devastated France in Blerancourt from 1917 to 1924, helping the local people with a solid moneyraising system in USA to support the work of 5 headquarters in France. After 1922, she’s keen to
commemorate this heritage by a remembrance tourism thanks to the museum and devoted tours.
Since 1924, the collections have increased to 15000 items divided between history and arts,
enhancing crossing sees and exchanges between France and USA from the 17th century to nowadays.
Thanks to major objects and memorabilia as the only original American Field Ambulance of 1917,
more than 2,000 photos from the ACDF, and great artworks as G.Washington by Houdon, paintings by
C.Hassam, Calder or R.Brooks, the museum is focused on history and fascination from both sides of
the Atlantic.
Nowadays, it carries on this transatlantic functioning with the American Friends of Blerancourt based
in New-York City, a travelling exhibition about Anne Morgan in several cities of USA, and many
partnerships with American museums.
Therefore, the museum puts on display the legacy of Atlantic crossings and its influence in our dailylife. It makes the audience able to visualize this transatlantic world through many fields and ages.