
Henri Bergson
Library
Bibliothèque littéraire Jacques Doucet, fonds Henri Bergson
Henri Bergson’s library includes works in several languages, in particular in English; exemplars of his own texts; books of philosophy, theology, etc. The largest part contains lecture notes in Bergson's handwriting.
Bergson’s will ordered the destruction of his personal papers, though some of them were conserved by the heirs of the philosopher. His office was taken over by his daughter Jeanne. When Jeanne died, the Bergson Archive was entrusted to the Bibliothèque nationale de France and to the Bibliothèque littéraire Jacques Doucet. The first received the manuscripts of printed works, the second the rest of the manuscripts, his personal library, and his office.
This original collection was enriched through donations made by people close to the philosopher, and by the library.
Bergson's library is listed in a handwritten inventory, made after its incorporation into the Bibliothèque littéraire Jacques Doucet.
The catalogue has been published on-line in the catalogue of the Système universitaire de documentation (Sudoc):
http://bljd.opac.sudoc.abes.fr/. An inventory of the manuscripts noted present in the works of Bergson library is also available. This inventory is in the catalogue of manuscripts of the high teaching (Calames): http://www.calames.abes.fr/pub/bljd.aspx#details?id=FileId-440.
External link: Bibliothèque littéraire Jacques Doucet Website: (http://www.bljd.sorbonne.fr/detailFonds.php?nom=Bergson).
Caterina Zanfi, La bibliothèque allemande idéale de Bergson
Bibliothèque idéale des lectures allemandes de Bergson, compilée à partir (1) de la bibliothèque personnelle de Bergson conservée à la Bibliothèque littéraire Jacques Doucet, (2) des registres des emprunts de la Bibliothèque de l'École normale supérieure de Paris, et (3) des œuvres allemandes citées dans les correspondances de Bergson.
Pour une présentation détaillée, cf. C. Zanfi, «La bibliothèque allemande idéale de Bergson», in Cl. Girardi (éd.), Annales bergsoniennes, IX, 2020, «Bergson et les écrivains», p. 281-301.