Linnean Society of Provence

The Société linnéenne de Provence (Linnean Society of Provence) is a French learned society of naturalists based in Marseille. It is one of the many Linnean societies named in homage to the Swedish naturalist Carl von Linné (1707–1778). The society is an association under the French law of 1901, dedicated to sharing and advancing knowledge about fauna, flora and geology. Its activities include conferences on the natural sciences, held at the Université de Provence Aix-Marseille I, Saint-Charles campus, as well as research projects carried out in collaboration with other institutions such as the Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Marseille and the Conservatoire botanique national de Porquerolles, with which it conducts a project for an atlas of the flora of the Bouches-du-Rhône. Members come from across the department and, since its founding, its activities have been spread over the whole department and even the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Since its creation in 1909, the society has published annual bulletins and organized conferences and outings aimed at promoting the natural sciences. The founding session took place on 22 April 1909 at the home of Elzéar Abeille de Perrin, the association's first president. Until 1914 it brought together mainly academics and amateur naturalists. The First World War slowed its progress, as evidenced by Volume III, covering 1914–1919, which contains only 16 pages compared with 276 for Volume I and 100 for Volume II. The association's activity was still markedly slowed during the interwar period. It was René Molinier (1899–1975), a specialist in plant ecology, who in 1945 gave it new momentum by organizing more regular outings and broadening recruitment. In 1959, for its fiftieth anniversary, the Société linnéenne de Provence counted 228 published articles. The society continues to operate today, publishing its bulletins and maintaining its role as a regional hub for naturalists in Provence.

The Société linnéenne de Provence was founded on 22 April 1909 as an association under the French law of 1901. Its founding session was held at the home of Elzéar Abeille de Perrin, who became its first president. The society is one of the many Linnean societies named in homage to the Swedish naturalist Carl von Linné (1707–1778). Until 1914, the society brought together mainly academics and amateur naturalists. The First World War marked a slowdown in its progress: Volume III of its bulletin, covering the years 1914–1919, contains only 16 pages, compared with 276 pages for Volume I and 100 pages for Volume II. The association's activity was still markedly slowed during the interwar period. In 1945, René Molinier (1899–1975), a specialist in plant ecology, gave the society new momentum by organizing more regular outings and broadening its recruitment. In 1959, for its fiftieth anniversary, the Société linnéenne de Provence counted 228 published articles. Since its creation, the society has published annual bulletins and organized conferences and outings aimed at promoting the natural sciences. It holds conferences on natural sciences at the Université de Provence Aix-Marseille I, Saint-Charles campus, and conducts research projects in collaboration with other structures such as the Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Marseille and the Conservatoire botanique national de Porquerolles, with which it runs a project for an atlas of the flora of the Bouches-du-Rhône. Members come from across the department, and its activities are spread over the whole department and even the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

• 1959

  For its fiftieth anniversary, the society counted 228 published articles.

• 1945

  René Molinier revitalized the society with more regular outings and broader recruitment.

• 1919

  Volume III of the bulletin, covering 1914–1919, contains only 16 pages, reflecting the slowdown caused by World War I.

• 1914

  Until this year the society mainly gathered academics and amateur naturalists.

• 1909

  Founding session held on 22 April at the home of Elzéar Abeille de Perrin, first president.

A regional learned society for naturalists in Provence, promoting natural sciences through publications, conferences and field research.

• Bulletins de la Société Linnéenne de Provence

  Annual bulletins published since 1909.

• Atlas of the flora of Bouches-du-Rhône

  A project conducted with the Conservatoire botanique national de Porquerolles.

1. 1Société Linnéenne de Provencelinneenne-provence.org
2. 2Société linnéenne de Provencefr.wikipedia.org
3. 3Société linnéenne de Provencewikidata.org