Julien Cain
Encyclopedia
Julien Cain was the general administrator of the Bibliothèque nationale de France
before the Occupation of France by Nazi Germany.
In August 1937, Cain was one of the hosts of the first World Congress of Universal Documentation
, held in Paris
, which met to further the goal of creating a World Brain
, an idea championed by H.G. Wells, and seen by some as one of the precursors to Wikipedia
.
In the summer of 1939, before the occupation began, he saw the impending danger clearly enough to order the evacuation of many of its most valuable items. Quite soon after the occupation began, Cain was removed from his post by the Vichy government
because he was Jewish and replaced by collaborationist Bernard Faÿ
. In February, 1941, Cain was denounced in Le Matin
and arrested. He was detained in French prisons until January 1944, when he was sent to Buchenwald. He was freed by American forces in April, 1945, when the camp was liberated. He resumed the administratorship of the Bibliothèque National, which he held until 1964.
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.-History:...
before the Occupation of France by Nazi Germany.
In August 1937, Cain was one of the hosts of the first World Congress of Universal Documentation
World Congress of Universal Documentation
The World Congress of Universal Documentation was held August 16–21, 1937, in Paris, France. Delegates from 45 countries met to discuss means by which all of the world's information, in print, in manuscript, and in other forms, could be efficiently organized and made accessible.-The Congress...
, held in Paris
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...
, which met to further the goal of creating a World Brain
World Brain
World Brain is a collection of essays and addresses the English science fiction pioneer, social reformer, evolutionary biologist and historian H. G. Wells written during the period 1936-38...
, an idea championed by H.G. Wells, and seen by some as one of the precursors to Wikipedia
Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a free, web-based, collaborative, multilingual encyclopedia project supported by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. Its 20 million articles have been written collaboratively by volunteers around the world. Almost all of its articles can be edited by anyone with access to the site,...
.
In the summer of 1939, before the occupation began, he saw the impending danger clearly enough to order the evacuation of many of its most valuable items. Quite soon after the occupation began, Cain was removed from his post by the Vichy government
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
because he was Jewish and replaced by collaborationist Bernard Faÿ
Bernard Faÿ
Bernard Faÿ was a French historian of Franco-American relations and an anti-Masonic polemicist. He knew the United States at first hand, having studied at Harvard, and translated into French an excerpt of Gertrude Stein's The Making of Americans and wrote his view of the United States as it was at...
. In February, 1941, Cain was denounced in Le Matin
Le Matin (France)
Le Matin was a French daily newspaper created in 1883 and discontinued in 1944.Le Matin was launched on the initiative of Chamberlain & Co, a group of American financiers, in 1883, on the model of the British daily The Morning News. The direction of the project was entrusted to the French...
and arrested. He was detained in French prisons until January 1944, when he was sent to Buchenwald. He was freed by American forces in April, 1945, when the camp was liberated. He resumed the administratorship of the Bibliothèque National, which he held until 1964.