My latest discovery: an old expat newspaper in Paris
From Jenn Bragg: The ‘American Register’ was an excellent resource for foreigners in Europe
I am really developing a fascination with old Paris, or vieux Paris as it’s known.
As I continue to write this Substack newsletter, I keep stumbling upon long-forgotten gems from history that are so interesting. My favorite is learning more about the photographer Eugène Atget, who captured thousands of photos through his lens as vieux Paris was disappearing.
Recently, while browsing the French National Library’s website, I discovered that there used to be a newspaper printed in Paris and London for an American audience.
The newspaper was called the American Register. It was published on Saturdays from 1868 to 1904. It published lists of Americans registered in Paris and across Europe, and also featured advertisements for businesses, hotels and a bit of news from ‘back home’ in the US and around the world.
A printed description of the newspaper described its weekly offerings for quite a wide-ranging audience.
The American Register…is of the greatest importance to Business Firms, Hotels, Pensions, Academies, Professors, Couriers, Parties Wanting Places, etc. who desire American custom and patronage.
Let’s go back in time
Before I go any further, let me establish some context.
A lot of Americans traveled from the US to Paris after the Civil War (1861-65).
Why? Part of the reason is that during the latter part of the 19th century, Paris started to modernize to become the globally-renowned city we know today. Plus let’s not forget it hosted the World’s Fair with the completion of the Eiffel Tower in 1889. I can imagine richer Americans reading all about it in the domestic newspapers and wanting to see it for themselves.
Also, word was spreading from across the Atlantic that something of an artistic revolution was happening in the French capital. (Think French Impressionism.) Hundreds of American artists sailed to Paris (long before commercial flights) to study at big art schools and private studios.
What’s inside this newspaper?
The American Register had all kinds of interesting things to read about.
Let me highlight some of them:
Lists of registered Americans
On the front page of the newspaper was an exhaustive list of Americans who were registered in Paris and other cities in Europe. For example:
You’ll see nearly all of them were staying or living in hotels, which was a common thing to do back then, even for longer stays. Interestingly, it lists their names, cities of origin and hotel name.
Hotel Advertisements
The paper also had an extensive list of hotels, pensions and other housing situations where Americans could stay, sometimes with charming descriptions of their offerings. With so many Americans arriving, there were also lists of hotels where people could stay (back then it was very common to live in a hotel) — from Paris to Morocco and Greece.
There were also more specific housing advertisements that appealed to those who were coming to Paris to learn or hone their art skills, as I mentioned earlier:
News from home
All kinds of news were also contained in these pages.
In an edition from January 1899, there was a little report about the US obtaining archival papers regarding the Louisiana Purchase from nearly a century earlier. Other news included updates on US foreign policy in Central America and Asia. Some of the language reflected the close-minded perspectives of the day, such as an article about ‘the pygmies from darkest Africa’ or describing Filipinos as ‘savages’. Eesh.
On the lighter side, there was a section on ‘items of interest’ like these gems:
Shop/business advertisements
All kinds of advertisements were in these pages, too. From jewelry to champagne to nail services and pharmacies where the employees speak English and serve an anglophone clientele. Below are a few pharmacy ads, including one offering the delivery day or night of oxygen! (I’m imagining some old, wheezing, high-maintenance rich lady with her mink stole and traveling companion requiring oxygen in the middle of the night…)
Mail deliveries
Finally, we have to remember that this was a time wayyyy before the technology we have today. Back then, the mail was delivered via ships that carried passengers across the Atlantic. Outgoing mail would be sent via ship and train, depending on the destination. The American Register gave specific details of where one could drop letters off and the deadlines for doing so. As a former letter writer myself, I find this particularly interesting! Imagine hustling through the streets of Paris in 1899 to have a letter sent with the next batch going out!
Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. I’m so fascinated by what life was like during the Belle Époque, when Paris really put itself on the map. I’m sure if I were alive then and had the financial means, I, too, would be sailing on the Cunard to Europe.
Sources:
Bibliothèque Nationale de France
Metropolitan Museum of Art: history of American artists in Paris
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I loved this. Wouldn’t it be great to just go back for a weekend? It must have been incredible to be in Paris at that time.
Reading this also made me long for the time where all our information was found in publications. I remember when I was living in Paris in the 90’s and I’d pick up my copy of “Expatica”. It could be found at most bars and restaurants. Especially those where us foreigners hung out. It was great information and also brought our community together.
Today is easier and so much more connected but the excitement of what’s coming up is gone. There’s no more anticipation.
This was very fun to read. 👌