French philosopher and sociologist (1854-1929). Autograph letter signed. Paris. 8vo. 1 p.
$ 127 / 120 €
(45236/BN31546)
To the lawyer Anatole Catusse, declining an invitation to dinner because of his earlier acceptance of an invitation to attend the "inauguration dinner of the Musée social". The letter can be dated with respect to the dinner that took place on Monday 25 March 1895. As Izoulet mentions, the Musée Social was funded by count Aldebert de Chambrun. - In the second part of the letter, Izoulet expresses his regret that Madame Marie-Maguerite Catusse couldn't attend a Latin thesis defense ceremony at the Sorbonne earlier that year because the "hall was full" when she arrived.
- Marie-Maguerite Catusse (1858-1928) was one of the closest friends of Marcel Proust's mother Jeanne Weil and a friend and longtime correspondent of Marcel Proust. - The Musée social was founded to preserve documents from the Social Economy pavilion of the 1899 Exposition Universelle. Over the years, the well-funded institution became an important center of research into a broad range of topics, including social housing, labor organization, and city planning. Based on its expertise and important supporters and members, the Musée social gained great influence over government policy in the 1st half of the 20th century. - With a tear to a fold slightly affecting the text..