# CHS

> facility in Paris

**Wikidata**: [Q2945114](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2945114)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chs

## Summary
CHS (Centre d'histoire sociale du XXe siècle) is a French research institute located in Aubervilliers, near Paris, dedicated to the social history of the 20th century and contemporary worlds. Founded in 1966 by Jean Maitron, it operates as a joint unit (UMR 8058) under the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne. The facility serves as a specialized hub for investigating social movements, syndicalism, and labor history, currently housed at the Campus Condorcet.

## Key Facts
- **Full Name**: Centre d'histoire sociale du XXe siècle (also known as Centre d'Histoire Sociale des mondes contemporains)
- **Short Names/Aliases**: CHS, CHSMC, CHS-MC, UMR 8058, Centre d'histoire sociale, Centre d'histoire du syndicalisme, Centre de recherches d'histoire des mouvements sociaux et du syndicalisme
- **Inception Date**: 1966
- **Founder**: Jean Maitron
- **Primary Location**: 5 cours des Humanités – 93300 AUBERVILLIERS, France (Campus Condorcet)
- **Parent Organizations**: National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, Institute of Human and Social Sciences
- **Classification**: Research Institute, French UMR (Unité Mixte de Recherche)
- **CNRS Research Group ID**: UMR8058
- **French National Research Structure ID**: 200212725C
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: no2004090898
- **GND ID**: 4017909-6
- **ISNI**: 0000000403705858
- **ROR ID**: 04zjb4t38
- **GRID ID**: grid.469394.5
- **VIAF ID**: 157191194
- **IDR ID**: 055290388
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/1230jvbc
- **Website**: https://histoire-sociale.cnrs.fr (Language: French)
- **Social Media**: Bluesky handle @chs-umr8058.bsky.social; LinkedIn: centre-d-histoire-sociale-des-mondes-contemporains; Canal U channel: chs
- **Member Of**: Collectif des centres de documentation en histoire ouvrière et sociale
- **Wikipedia Language Coverage**: French (fr)
- **Sitelink Count**: 1
- **Yale LUX ID**: group/f49772c5-2df9-4e05-b282-e06c35792e9e
- **HAL Structure ID**: 569256
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID**: 987007449246805171

## FAQs
**What is the primary research focus of CHS?**
CHS specializes in the social history of the 20th century and contemporary worlds, with a particular emphasis on social movements, labor history, and syndicalism. Unlike general history departments, it concentrates specifically on the evolution of social structures and collective actions.

**Which institutions govern and support CHS?**
The institute operates as a joint research unit (UMR 8058) under the dual supervision of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne. It is also affiliated with the Institute of Human and Social Sciences.

**Where is the facility physically located?**
The CHS is situated at the Campus Condorcet in Aubervilliers, France, specifically at 5 cours des Humanités. While often associated with Paris, its precise street address places it in the Aubervilliers municipality.

**How can researchers access CHS's digital presence and documentation?**
Researchers can visit the official French-language website at histoire-sociale.cnrs.fr or follow their updates on Bluesky and LinkedIn. The institute also maintains a presence on Canal U and is indexed in major academic databases like HAL and Yale LUX.

## Why It Matters
CHS represents a critical infrastructure for preserving and analyzing the history of labor and social movements in France and beyond. By consolidating resources under the CNRS and University of Paris 1, it provides a stable environment for long-term, high-risk historical research that might otherwise be fragmented. Its role as a member of the "Collectif des centres de documentation en histoire ouvrière et sociale" highlights its function as a central node in a network dedicated to worker and social history. The institute's extensive use of unique identifiers across global library systems (ISNI, ROR, GRID, VIAF) ensures its scholarly output is universally discoverable and citable. Founded by the renowned historian Jean Maitron, it carries a legacy of rigorous investigation into the mechanisms of social change, making it indispensable for understanding modern societal structures.

## Notable For
- Being founded in 1966 by the prominent historian Jean Maitron.
- Operating as a specific French UMR (Unité Mixte de Recherche) designated as UMR 8058.
- Hosting a specialized collection focused on social movements and syndicalism.
- Maintaining a physical presence at the modern Campus Condorcet in Aubervilliers.
- Possession of a comprehensive set of international identifiers including GND, ISNI, and ROR.
- Serving as a joint entity between the CNRS and the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne.
- Maintaining a dedicated French-language digital footprint and social media presence.
- Being recognized in the Yale LUX digital library system.

## Body
### Identity and Classification
The entity known as CHS is formally identified as the Centre d'histoire sociale du XXe siècle, with alternative designations including Centre d'Histoire Sociale des mondes contemporains and Centre d'histoire sociale du XXème siècle. In academic and library contexts, it is frequently referred to by its short names: CHS, CHSMC, CHS-MC, or UMR 8058. It is classified as a research institute and specifically as a French UMR (Unité Mixte de Recherche). The organization is recognized globally through multiple authority files, including the Library of Congress Authority ID (no2004090898), the German National Library GND ID (4017909-6), and the ISNI (0000000403705858). Additional unique identifiers include the ROR ID (04zjb4t38), GRID ID (grid.469394.5), VIAF ID (157191194), and the French National Research Structure ID (200212725C). It is also cataloged with an IDREF ID (055290388) and a National Library of Israel J9U ID (987007449246805171).

### History and Founding
The institute was established in 1966, a date confirmed by references to the French National Research Structure ID. Its founding is attributed to Jean Maitron, a significant figure in the field of social history. The entity has maintained its operational continuity since its inception, evolving into a key center for the study of social movements. The HAL Structure ID (569256) references data as recent as July 18, 2025, indicating ongoing activity and documentation.

### Organizational Structure and Affiliations
CHS operates as a collaborative entity, functioning under the parent organizations of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, and the Institute of Human and Social Sciences. It holds membership in the "Collectif des centres de documentation en histoire ouvrière et sociale," a collective dedicated to documentation in worker and social history. The CNRS Research Group ID is listed as UMR8058, reinforcing its status within the national research framework.

### Location and Facilities
The facility is physically located in Aubervilliers, France, rather than within the city limits of Paris proper, though it is often described as a facility in the Paris region. The specific street address is 5 cours des Humanités, 93300 AUBERVILLIERS. The building is situated on the Campus Condorcet. The street address data was last verified on April 17, 2023. The location is further detailed as being on "cours des Humanités" with the qualifier "5" for the street number.

### Digital Presence and Communication
The institute maintains an official website at https://histoire-sociale.cnrs.fr, which is primarily in French. For social media engagement, CHS utilizes a Bluesky handle (@chs-umr8058.bsky.social) and a LinkedIn page (centre-d-histoire-sociale-des-mondes-contemporains). It also operates a Canal U channel identified as "chs." In the digital library space, the entity is indexed in the Yale LUX system with the ID group/f49772c5-2df9-4e05-b282-e06c35792e9e. The Google Knowledge Graph ID is /g/1230jvbc.

### Academic and Research Scope
The primary purpose of CHS is to conduct research on the social history of the 20th century and contemporary worlds. Its specific areas of focus include the history of social movements and syndicalism. The entity is distinguished from general universities by its exclusive focus on research rather than teaching. It is recognized across one Wikipedia language edition (French), reflecting its specific national and linguistic relevance. The entity is mapped to the schema.org type "ResearchOrganization" and is associated with the Wikidata item Q31855.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. French National Directory of Research Structures
4. HAL
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
6. OpenAlex