Yvelines Archive Case Study One

Tip Before Starting
The purpose of this page is to give you an example of an archive in France that has already uploaded images of their military registration records. For this purpose, the site of reference will be the Yvelines Archive site as it should be easy to access the records and accomplish this exercise.

Something to be aware of most of the archival web pages are in French. However, if you do not speak or read French well you use google chrome with google translate feature on your page. In the upper right of your google chrome browser at the edge of the web page address.

If it is your first time using it you may have to download it to your browser.

If you have used it in the past it may ask with a dialog box what you would like to do with the page. Selecting English will allow the page to show you a version you may read. Be aware though that some of the pages do not translate well and may not give the complete meaning of the page it is translating.

Case Study
For the first case study, we will use the Yvelines Archives, as of the writing of this case study May 2023 it is one of the more modern sites with navigation that works consistently. The person to find is Loise Gilbert Jean Mayer. He was born in Versailles on 12 March 1850.

1. Go to the Yvelines Archive on Google Chrome, because the options are available to translate the page with Google Translate. Which will make navigation easier for those who are not fluent speakers.

2. Once on the site find the tab that says ‘Research’ or ‘Rechercher.’ Don’t click on this tab just place the mouse over it and hover. If you do accidentally click you should still be able to find the steps below or you can go back and try again.

3. A submenu should appear as you hover. Look under the ‘Digitized Archives’ or ‘Archives Numérisées’ section, find and select ‘Military Enlistment Records’ or ‘Registres d’incorporation militaire.’

4. These sets of records may have various names for registration including commonly conscription or incorporation registers to name a few. This page also has in French a few videos to describe the collection in addition to the written information presented. It explains why the collection is titled ‘Seine-et-Oise military enlistment registers.’ In brief, Seine-et-Oise was an older jurisdiction that no longer exists but encompassed this area and areas currently known as Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint Denis, and Val-d’oise. It also explains the three divisions of these records which each are in the second case study to help familiarize and allow easier use in the future. Before digging into these records to clarify jargon, when it says classes, the year a man turned 20 years old would determine which class, he was in. For example, a man born in 1870 would be part of the 1890 class. ‘Classes 1867 to 1877’ are convenient because on this site they have alphabetical tables and the accompanying registration or matriculation registers. Though not digitally and searchable indexed the alphabetical tables are the original indexes by name. ‘Classes 1878 to 1921’ and ‘Classes 1871 to 1921’ these sets are transitional between forms and the alphabetical indexes are no longer present as the primary form of index. As on this set, the records are indexed by the name of the subject. There are some in these sets that are not available to be viewed by digital images but the information may be viewable by derogation which is an abstract or extract of sorts. The page that would have more information on the details has not been available while writing this guide and case studies. There will be one additional case study for these sets since they overlap.

5. Back to this case study based on the information known about the individual. That he was born in 1850, the search should begin in the Class 1867 to 1877. Since his 20th birthday would have been in 1870. With this in mind please select the green button that reads ‘Search Military Enlistment Records’ or ‘Efectuer une recherche dan les Registres d’incorporation militaire.’

6. A new page will open and you will see three tabs listing the three sets discussed previously in step 4. The tab is currently pink and labeled ‘Classes 1867 to 1877’ select it.

7. Keep in mind this is the first set that is not digitally indexed. Find the ‘Alphabetical table of personnel numbers’ or ‘Table alphabetical des matricules’ for 1870 and open it. It should be found on page 2 with the reference number ‘1R31.’ When you have found it select the view icon which is an eye.

8. It will open up the collection of digital images of the written index. Look for the last name ‘Mayer.’ The entry will be found in image 29/30. Here is the link to the image. His name matches ‘Gilbert Jean Mayer’ and his matriculation number is listed as ‘1151.’

9. Now using the number go back to the collection sets and find for 1870 the ‘4th corps register, Versailles’ or ‘Registre matricula 4éme corps, Versailles.” The reference number should be ‘1R34’ if it matches select the view images.

10. Image collection should open and is in numeral order. Using the matriculation number ‘1151’ find Mayer’s entry. It will be on image 1/160. For some reason the image was not found here is a direct link.

11. Looking at the image a general overlay of information. Louis Gilbert Jean Mayer lived in Argenteuil, Versailles. He was the son of Louis Mayer and Marie Anne Jossier, who also lived in Argenteuil. He was born on 12 March 1850. He received his orders on 12 August 1871. This record then gives details of where he was assigned to the 5th battalion on the 1 battle or campaigned and gives his new matriculation number as he enters the service for the nation ‘5031.’ He had a period of service in the 13th artillery regiment from 20 August to October 1877. The date when he was released from service and the reasons. If you look at the columns at the top of the image there are numbers to give you a better idea of the record. The below numbers correspond to the information in his row based on the numbered columns.

1. Outside column = 1151

2. Number of order= 4

3. Location of Residence= Versailles, Argenteuil

4. Last name, first name, and information= Mayer, Louis Gilbert Jean son of Louis and of Marie Anne Jossier, living at Argentecuil, in the same township department of S. and O., born the 12 March 1850 at Argenteuil, township of the said department of S. and O., resident of Argenteuil

5. Professions= Composition 30

6. Height

7. Degree of instruction= 12

8. Dates and indication of the decision taken by the Board of Revision= [illegible] 12 August 1874

9.  1) Weapon to be assigned = [?], 2) Bataillon = 5, 3) Campaign or Battle = 1, 4) New Number of Matriculation for service= 5031 10.

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