The French Institute was founded in 1979 to honor and preserve the French heritage of Assumption University and the region. The Institute is both an academic research facility and a center for French cultural activities. Although its main goals are to foster the conservation and study of the records of French ethnicity on this continent, the name French Institute (Institut français) was chosen for its ability to encompass the entire francophone world. The Institute is a leading place to study material relating to the nearly one million French Canadians who immigrated to the United States, especially New England, in the 19th and 20th centuries. As a research center, it acquires books and archival materials pertinent to its primary focus: the French presence in North America, with emphasis on New England. In 2004, the Institute's holdings were enriched by the acquisition of the Mallet Library and archives of the Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Amérique, another fine collection of Franco- Americana. The French Institute seeks to promote knowledge and awareness of francophone North Americans and francophone questions generally by organizing lectures and colloquia, publishing a newsletter and books, and participating in a variety of cultural projects. The Institute has published conference proceedings on various aspects of French-Canadian immigration to the United States, and it has provided English translations of texts to make them accessible to non-French speakers. It has also hosted many distinguished visitors, including the French Minister for Francophone Affairs, the Vice-Minister for International Affairs of Quebec, and scholars from Europe, Canada, francophone Africa, and Haiti. For questions, contact Prof. Leslie Choquette.