As we saw with the development of biometric passports after September 11, 2001, a crisis often allows the authorities to strengthen control of the population using the technology at its provision. Thus, if the identity card was particularly developed in France under the Vichy regime, we must remember that attempts have previously existed for special populations: the nomads in 1912, foreigners in 1917.
In 1916, the ID card is compulsory in the war zone controlled by the army. Thus, the region of Meaux (Seine-et-Marne) is directly affected by the new regulations. No one may enter the city without showing his papers. However, this poses a real problem of adaptation to the peasants from nearby villages used to go there at least Saturday, market day to sell their produce or buy what they need. An American, Mildred Aldrich (1853-1928), has left letters evidence of the life of a village during the Great War. She resided in Quincy-Voisins, eight kilometers south of Meaux. In a letter dated September 30, 1916, she described a few lines in the novelty of the circumstances in the village:
For several months now that the bridge over the Marne at Meaux * is retained and even those that go market can not pass through without showing their papers. This procedure is very complicated for them because the town hall opens at nine o'clock, closes at noon to open and close to three hours to six. As you can see, these times are when everyone is most occupied in the fields. The man or woman who must go to the market on Saturday to leave his job and make a long trip to Quincy - often many miles on foot - at a time when it is less easy to waste time.
To complicate matters, a new order came a few weeks ago. All men, women and children (over fifteen years) in the war zone should be from October 1, an identity card which must be affixed a photograph.
This regulation has led to embarrassment of the strangest. Many of these old farmers - and also young - had never been photographed. There is no photographer here. The photographer and the two Esbly ** Meaux probably could not take pictures of everyone and, with the uncertain weather, make the prints in the time allowed by the military authorities. A huge cry of protest was heard. All kinds of photographers were sent to the town. The town crier beating his drum like a madman to announce where the photographers are and their dates and schedules, and directs people to come together and be photographed.
*** Amelia Court was one of those selected locations and you would have liked to see these old farmers tanned face for the first time in a camera. Some results were funny, especially when the operator was overworked and pressed two faces on the same negative, which happened several times.
(from Mildred Aldrich, On the Edge On The War Zone , Boston, 1917, p. 207-208, trans. Mickaël Wilmart)
* The bridge over the Marne confusion of the author who must speak the bridge Cornillon on the channel of the same name, which allows entering Meaux from the south.
** Esbly: Common 5 km northwest of Quincy-Voisins and 6 km south-west of Meaux.
*** Amelia neighbor and home of the author.
Unfortunately I did not find an identity photograph obtained during these sessions. The photo illustrating this post is taken at the same time by Mildred Aldrich. This is a portrait of his servant, Amelia.
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