# Le Génie civil
**Wikidata**: [Q100865068](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100865068)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/le-genie-civil

## Summary

Le Génie civil was a French-language monthly magazine focused on civil engineering, published in France from November 1880 until October 1942. It served as a professional publication for engineers, architects, and construction professionals, covering technical developments, infrastructure projects, and innovations in civil engineering during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

## Key Facts

- **Title**: Le génie civil
- **ISSN**: 0016-6812
- **ISSN-L**: 0016-6812
- **Language**: French
- **Publication type**: Monthly magazine
- **Inception**: November 1, 1880
- **Publication period**: 1880 to October 1942
- **Founded by**: Emile Muller and Émile Trélat
- **Country of origin**: France
- **Commons category**: Le génie civil
- **Sitelink count**: 1
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID**: 34348662d

## FAQs

**What type of publication was Le Génie civil?**

Le Génie civil was a monthly magazine dedicated to civil engineering topics, serving as a professional journal for engineers, architects, and construction industry professionals in France.

**When was Le Génie civil published?**

The magazine was first published in November 1880 and continued publication until October 1942, spanning over six decades of continuous publication covering the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

**Who founded Le Génie civil?**

The magazine was founded by Emile Muller and Émile Trélat, both notable figures in the French engineering and architectural communities.

**What was the ISSN of Le Génie civil?**

The magazine had the ISSN 0016-6812, with 0016-6812 serving as the linking ISSN for the publication.

**In what language was Le Génie civil published?**

Le Génie civil was published entirely in French, reflecting its focus on the French engineering community and domestic infrastructure developments.

**Where was Le Génie civil published?**

The magazine was produced in France and focused primarily on French civil engineering projects, though it likely covered international developments in the field as well.

## Why It Matters

Le Génie civil represents an important historical record of French civil engineering achievements during a period of tremendous technological advancement in construction, infrastructure, and urban planning. The magazine documented the evolution of engineering practices, from the late Industrial Age through the early modern era, capturing critical developments in bridges, railways, buildings, and public works that shaped modern France.

The publication served as a vital knowledge-sharing platform for French engineers and architects, helping to disseminate technical knowledge, promote best practices, and showcase innovative projects. Its existence spanning over six decades (1880-1942) means it witnessed and recorded major historical events including the Third Republic, World War I, the interwar period, and the early years of World War II.

For historians and researchers studying the history of engineering, architecture, or French industrial history, Le Génie civil provides primary source documentation of technological progress, construction methodologies, and the professionalization of civil engineering as a discipline in France.

## Notable For

- **Long-running publication**: Over 60 years of continuous publication from 1880 to 1942
- **Technical focus**: Dedicated specifically to civil engineering, distinguishing it from general interest magazines
- **Professional significance**: Served as a primary publication for French engineering professionals
- **Historical documentation**: Captured the evolution of French infrastructure during the Third Republic
- **ISSN registration**: Officially catalogued with international standard serial number for academic referencing

## Body

### Publication History

Le Génie civil was established on November 1, 1880, by founders Emile Muller and Émile Trélat. The magazine emerged during a period of intensive infrastructure development in France, when the country was expanding its railway networks, building new bridges and public buildings, and modernizing urban areas under the guidance of Baron Haussmann's urban planning legacy.

The publication continued without interruption until October 1942, bringing its run to a close during World War II. This over sixty-year publication history places Le Génie civil among the longer-running technical publications in French engineering history. The magazine's timeline corresponds with significant periods of French history, including the Third Republic (1870-1940), the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War, World War I, the interwar period, and the early years of the Vichy regime.

### Founders and Editorial Leadership

The magazine was founded by two notable figures in the French engineering and architectural communities. Emile Muller was a prominent engineer who contributed to the professionalization of civil engineering in France. Émile Trélat was similarly distinguished in architecture and engineering education. Their collaboration in establishing Le Génie civil reflected a broader movement in late 19th-century France to formalize engineering as a professional discipline and create dedicated publications for technical knowledge exchange.

### Classification and Format

Le Génie civil was classified as a monthly magazine, meaning it published twelve issues per year. This regular publication schedule allowed the magazine to maintain consistent coverage of ongoing projects, emerging technologies, and industry developments. As a specialized publication, it fell within the broader category of magazines but served a distinctly technical audience rather than general readership.

The magazine was published in French, reflecting its primary audience of French-speaking engineers, architects, construction contractors, and infrastructure planners. This linguistic focus meant the publication played an important role in developing and standardizing French engineering terminology during a period when technical vocabulary was evolving rapidly.

### ISSN and Cataloguing

The magazine was assigned International Standard Serial Number 0016-6812, with 0016-6812 serving as the linking ISSN. This international standard identification number facilitates library cataloguing, academic referencing, and bibliographic searches. The assignment of an ISSN indicates the magazine was recognized as a significant publication within the international publishing ecosystem and was distributed through channels that required standardized identification.

The Bibliothèque nationale de France (National Library of France) assigned the identifier 34348662d to the publication, facilitating its inclusion in French national bibliographic records and ensuring its preservation as part of France's documentary heritage.

### Country of Origin and Context

As a French publication, Le Génie civil originated in France during a period of intense national investment in infrastructure. The late 19th century saw France undertaking major railway expansion, constructing iconic structures like the Eiffel Tower (1889), and developing urban infrastructure in Paris and other major cities. The magazine served as a platform for documenting and discussing these projects within the professional community.

France's position as a center of engineering innovation during this period meant that French civil engineers were engaged in projects of international significance. The magazine would have covered not only domestic projects but also French engineering contributions abroad, colonial infrastructure developments, and technical collaborations with other nations.

### Relationship to Broader Publishing Landscape

Le Génie civil existed within a broader ecosystem of French technical and scientific publications. Its classification as a magazine places it within the periodic publication category that includes journals, bulletins, and specialized technical periodicals. The magazine's focus on civil engineering distinguished it from more general scientific publications or engineering journals that might cover multiple disciplines.

The publication's sitelink count of 1 indicates limited digital presence or Wikipedia coverage, suggesting that while significant within its field, the magazine has not received extensive modern digital documentation. The commons category "Le génie civil" indicates some photographic or archival documentation exists in Wikimedia Commons, potentially including images of the magazine covers or related materials.

### Publication Timeline and Historical Events

The magazine's publication span (November 1880 to October 1942) encompasses several critical periods in French and world history:

- **1880s-1890s**: The Third Republic's consolidation, continued industrial expansion, and preparation for the 1889 Exposition Universelle
- **1900s-1914**: Belle Époque period of relative stability and continued engineering advancement
- **1914-1918**: World War I, which would have significantly impacted engineering priorities and publication content
- **1920s-1930s**: Interwar reconstruction and modernization efforts
- **1939-1942**: World War II and the German occupation of France, during which the publication ceased

The cessation in October 1942 likely reflects the constraints imposed by wartime conditions on French publishing, including paper shortages, censorship, and the broader disruption of normal commercial activities under occupation.

### Physical Characteristics and Distribution

While specific details about print run, page count, or physical dimensions are not provided in the source material, as a monthly magazine of this period, Le Génie civil would typically have been printed on standard paper sizes common to French publications of the era. The magazine would have been distributed through subscription and newsstand sales, reaching engineering professionals, technical libraries, educational institutions, and government agencies involved in public works.

### Legacy and Research Value

Le Génie civil serves as a primary source for historians studying the history of French engineering, construction technology, and infrastructure development. The magazine would contain technical articles, project descriptions, engineering calculations, equipment reviews, and professional correspondence that document the state of civil engineering knowledge and practice during its publication period.

For researchers investigating the professionalization of engineering, the development of construction techniques, or the history of specific French infrastructure projects, the magazine represents an invaluable archival resource. Its complete run from 1880 to 1942 provides continuous documentation of over six decades of engineering practice in France.

## References

1. general catalog of BnF