The Archives of the Generalate preserve documents concerning the history of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

It was John Baptist De La Salle himself who compiled and preserved his personal documents and those relating to the foundation of the first schools established in favour of poor children, generating what can be considered the original core of the Lasallian Archives, to the advantage of which the activity of the Society of the Christian Schools in France contributed, especially in the 18^th century when Pope Benedict XIII recognised the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools with the Bull of Approbation of 26 January 1725.

The Archives hold in particular documents concerning the foundation of the various Communities of Brothers and the various schools, established on the basis of the teaching methods and Christian education of St. John Baptist de La Salle, constituting one of the most important documentary sources for the rich and complex history of pedagogy in Europe from the 17^th century onwards.

Each Community sent part of the documentation produced, first to the Archives of the District of reference and then to the Archives of the Mother House where the Secretary General collected the main documents that the various Communities were required to correspond, such as the “Chronicle“, which was an annual obligation, copies of the foundation charters of each school, lists of Brothers with their employment, “statistics“, administrative papers, as well as correspondence with the Superiors.

The Archives are organised in the following sections:

A – Precursors and contemporaries of St John Baptist de La Salle
B – Saint John Baptist de La Salle
C – Period of the Institute in the Ancient Regime (before 1799)
D – General History of the Institute
E – General Administration of the Institute
G – The Personnel
H – Formation and Vocation
J – Mission
K – Education
L – Spiritual and Religious Life
M – Culture, Studies, Science, Art
N – Regional and local documents
P – Photographies
R – Microfilm
T – Treasures of the Institute
V – Cartography

Research in the Institute Archives is free of charge and can be conducted directly by interested parties. In addition, the archivist also responds to requests by email at archive@lasalle.org

Requests must comply with the Archives regulations.