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Naude

Name: Gabriel Naude

Achievements: Library science

Born: February 3, 1600; Paris, France

Died: July 30, 1653; Abbeville, France

Field & Discipline: Library Science

Language: French

Father: Gilles Naude

Mother: Marguerite Descamin

Siblings: Gilles; Charlotte

Spouse: None

Children: None

Education: College du Cardinal-Lemoine; College d'Harcourt; College de Navarre; University of Paris

Major Work:

"How to Set Up a Library"

Life & Times:

Naude had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and by the time he left university was an expert in dozens of subjects and was perhaps the most capable bibliographer in France. In 1622 he was invited by Henri de Mesmes, councilor to King Louis XIII, to take charge of his famous family library of over 8,000 volumes.

During the years with de Mesmes, Naude met many intellectuals, including [met] Grotius* and the brothers [met] Dupuy*

In 1627, Naude published "How to Set Up a Library," effectively the first modern treatise on library science. Based on Naude's experiences as a librarian and a practicing scholar, the book advised private collectors to set down certain rules concerning the choice of books, the means of procuring them, and their arrangement in a "useful and attractive manner.”

To Naude, the ideal library should cover all fields of knowledge including not only standard editions of classical authors but also the major scholarly and scientific writings from all ages and all countries. He said the ideal librarian would be familiar with the intellectual traditions of mankind, and then would collect every book that might possibly be of use.

He also argued for free access of all scholars to private libraries, at a time when only three "public" libraries existed in Europe: the Ambrosian in Milan, the Bodleian in Oxford, and the Angelica in Rome. The magnificent library in Paris of [knew] de Thou*, (administered from 1617 by the Dupuys, his cousins,) was briefly open to the public and served as a meeting place for French scholars during the 1620s. It was at De Thou's that Naude met such important thinkers as [met] Gassendi* and [met] Peiresc*.

In 1628, Naude published a historical work, "Addition to the history of Louis XI,” which described in glowing terms the revival of classical learning in France during the second half of the 15th century under Louis XI. In 1630, on the strength of this book, the Papal Nuncio at Paris offered Naude a place in his "official family" as librarian and Latin secretary.

Naude accompanied his new patron to Rome, where he spent 12 years before being summoned back to Paris. He established wide correspondence with both French and Italian intellectuals, joined several Italian literary academies, and in 1639 published his most successful work, "Political Considerations on the Coup d'Etat." This manual of statecraft, heavily influenced by [influenced by] Macchiavelli*, [influenced by] Richelieu* and the utopian philosopher [influenced by] Campanella*, defended the right of sovereigns to act outside the law in the interests and security of the state.

In 1642, Cardinal Richelieu insisted Naude return to Paris to take charge of his private library. When Richelieu died a few months later, his replacement, [librarian to] Mazarin* kept Naude on as his personal librarian, and gave him the task of building an exhaustive library that soon would rank among the richest and most complete in Europe. In a little over 18 months, Naude bought over 6,000 volumes, and supervised every detail in the construction of the library wing at the Mazarin mansion.

Over the next few years, Naude traveled through Europe collecting books. During a year in Italy, he bought 14,000 volumes. By 1648, he had collected 40,000 volumes. With Mazarin's blessing, he composed a library motto: "Enter all who wish to read.” From January, 1644 the library was open to all.

Adapting a library cataloguing system developed earlier, Naude classified books by subject (e.g. theology, medicine, law, history, philosophy, mathematics, the humanities) and then by appropriate sub-divisions. In 1648, Mazarin's position was threatened by the uprising of the nobles (the Fronde civil war) and in 1649 all Mazarin's property was confiscated. Naude remained as librarian, but in 1652, the 40,000-volume library was sold at public auction.

Immediately after the sale, Naude was invited by [librarian to] Christina of Sweden*, who had bought many of Mazarin's books, to become her private secretary at Stockholm. He remained at the Swedish court as librarian and philosopher through 1652, but, with Mazarin back in power, he left for France in June, 1653. He fell ill en route and died at Abbeville.

In 1664, diarist [translated by] Evelyn* took Naude's ideas to England by publishing an English translation of Naude's "How to Set Up a Library,” and arranged his own private library of 4,000 books in accordance with Naude's system.

Extra Connections: Influenced [influenced] Leibniz*

He was an admirer of [a fan of] Montaigne*

Assessment: His ideas formed the basis of modern library practices

Oneliner: Gabriele Naude, first modern librarian

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