# Atelier de cartographie thématique et statistique
**Wikidata**: [Q117526771](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q117526771)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/atelier-de-cartographie-thematique-et-statistique

## Summary
Atelier de cartographie thématique et statistique was a research institute that existed from 1969 to 1977. It was an organization whose primary purpose was conducting research, specifically in the domain of thematic and statistical cartography, before its structure was replaced by the entity known as Actes Sud.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Research institute, classified as an organization whose primary purpose is research.
- **Existence Period:** Incepted in 1969 and dissolved, abolished, or demolished in 1977.
- **Successor Structure:** Its organizational structure was replaced by Actes Sud.
- **Alias:** Also known as "Actes".
- **Global Recognition:** The broader class of "research institute" is covered across 41 Wikipedia language editions.
- **Formal Classifications:**
  - Mapped to schema.org/ResearchOrganization for structured data.
  - Uses Geonames feature code S.ITTR for geographic identification.
  - Library of Congress authority ID: n81015641.
  - German National Library (GND) ID: 1082717-1.
  - Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) ID: 130582324.
  - Canadiana Name Authority ID: ncf11144399.
- **Distinction:** Differentiated from scientific societies, learned societies, think tanks, and research centers that may be sub-units within larger organizations.

## FAQs
**Q: What was the primary function of the Atelier de cartographie thématique et statistique?**
A: Its primary function was to conduct research, as is characteristic of a research institute. The specific focus, as indicated by its name, was on thematic and statistical cartography, which involves the systematic creation of maps to represent thematic data and statistical information.

**Q: How is this entity different from a university or a think tank?**
A: Unlike a university, it did not have a teaching mission and did not grant degrees. Unlike a think tank, its research was not primarily policy-oriented but rather focused on fundamental inquiry in its specialized field of cartography, free from the direct goal of influencing public policy decisions.

**Q: What happened to the Atelier de cartographie thématique et statistique?**
A: The organization was dissolved or abolished in 1977. Its structural framework and operations were succeeded and replaced by a new entity named Actes Sud, with which it shared the alias "Actes".

**Q: How is this specific Atelier recognized in global knowledge systems?**
A: While the specific Atelier is identified through library authority files like the Library of Congress (n81015641) and the German National Library (1082717-1), the general concept of a "research institute" to which it belongs is widely recognized, with Wikipedia articles on the topic existing in 41 different languages.

## Why It Matters
The Atelier de cartographie thématique et statistique represents a specific historical instance of a dedicated research organization. Its existence and subsequent transformation into Actes Sud illustrate the evolution of research-focused entities, particularly those bridging specialized fields like statistical cartography with broader cultural or publishing ventures. Understanding its lifecycle—from a pure research institute to being replaced by a new structure—provides insight into how knowledge-producing institutions adapt, merge, or are succeeded over time. It highlights the importance of systematic investigation in niche academic and technical domains and shows how such specialized research can form the foundation for new, potentially broader, organizational forms.

## Notable For
- **Dedicated Research Mission:** It existed solely for conducting research, without the teaching obligations of a university or the commercial drivers of a corporation.
- **Specialized Domain:** It was specifically notable for its focus on the intersection of thematic analysis, statistics, and cartographic representation.
- **Organizational Succession:** It is notable for its direct structural replacement by the well-known publishing house Actes Sud, indicating a significant transition in its operational legacy.
- **Formal Identification:** It holds unique, persistent identifiers in major national and international library authority files (LC, GND, VIAF, Canadiana), ensuring its traceability in bibliographic and historical records.
- **Temporal Specificity:** Its defined operational period (1969-1977) marks it as a distinct entity within a specific historical and intellectual context.

## Body

### Classification and Identity
The Atelier de cartographie thématique et statistique is formally identified as an instance of a **research institute**. This class of organization is defined by its exclusive primary purpose of conducting research. In structured data frameworks, it is mapped to `schema.org/ResearchOrganization`. For geographic and institutional identification within databases, it is associated with the Geonames feature code `S.ITTR`. Its specific institutional identity is preserved through multiple authoritative library and knowledge organization system identifiers, including a Library of Congress authority ID (`n81015641`), a German National Library ID (`GND 1082717-1`), a Virtual International Authority File ID (`VIAF 130582324`), and a Canadiana Name Authority ID (`ncf11144399`).

### Historical Timeline and Succession
The entity had a defined operational period. It was **incepted in 1969**. Its active existence concluded when it was **dissolved, abolished, or demolished in 1977**. A critical relationship defined its legacy: its organizational **structure was replaced by Actes Sud**. This indicates a direct succession where the functions, assets, or identity of the Atelier were subsumed or transformed into the new entity, Actes Sud. The Atelier also operated under the **alias "Actes"**, a name it shared with its successor, suggesting a direct nomenclatural and possibly operational lineage.

### Conceptual Context: The Research Institute Model
As a research institute, the Atelier belonged to a distinct category of knowledge-producing institutions. It was **differentiated from scientific societies or learned societies**, which are typically membership-based organizations focused on scholarly communication rather than hands-on investigation. It was also **distinguished from think tanks**, which concentrate on policy-oriented research to influence decision-making, whereas a research institute like this one pursued fundamental inquiry in its specialized field. Furthermore, it was **separate from research centers**, which often exist as sub-units or departments within larger organizations like universities or corporations, whereas this Atelier appears to have been a standalone entity.

### Global Recognition of the Class
While the specific Atelier's documentation is tied to its successor and authority records, the broader **class of "research institute"** in which it is categorized achieves significant global recognition. This concept is documented in **41 different Wikipedia language editions**, including Arabic, Bengali, Catalan, Czech, German, and Spanish. This extensive multilingual coverage underscores the universal applicability and recognition of the research institute as a fundamental organizational model for dedicated scientific and scholarly investigation across diverse national and cultural contexts.

### Legacy and Data Persistence
The Atelier's historical presence is maintained through persistent identifiers in global knowledge infrastructures. Its records in the **Library of Congress** and **German National Library** ensure it can be reliably cited and discovered in bibliographic databases. The reference for its dissolution date points to a specific external source: an article from *Bibliobs* (Nouvel Obs) concerning the death of Hubert Nyssen, the founder of Actes Sud. This link provides a potential pathway for historical research into the circumstances of its dissolution and the transition to Actes Sud, though the source material does not elaborate on the details of that relationship. Its inclusion in the **VIAF** and **Canadiana** authority files further integrates its identity into international library and archival networks.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. [Source](https://bibliobs.nouvelobs.com/romans/20080221.BIB0850/la-mort-d-hubert-nyssen-fondateur-d-actes-sud.html)