Women and Philanthropy

To mark International Women's Day, the Pasteur Museum has chosen to look back in time and pay tribute to two powerful, generous women who supported the founding of the Institut Pasteur: Cécile-Charlotte Furtado-Heine (1821-1896) and Marguerite Boucicaut (1816-1887).

The busts of these great women, produced respectively by Guilbert Ernest (1848-1913) in 1890 and Henri Chapu (1833-1891) around 1888, are on display in the Salle des Actes alongside Tsar Alexander I and Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil. While the work on the historical building is being carried out, they are being kept in external storage in north Paris. In autumn 2024, they were cleaned to restore them to their original glory. The cleaning process was carried out by Anaïs Gailhbaud, a restorer specializing in sculpture.

Busts of Mme Furtado-Heine and Mme Boucicaut packed on a pallet during work on the collections

Bust of Mme Furtado-Heine before restoration (left) and after restoration (right)

Bust of Mme Boucicaut before restoration (left) and after restoration (right)

Every item that is restored provides an opportunity to tell its story and keep alive the memory of those individuals who contributed to the development of the Institut Pasteur.

Cécile-Charlotte Furtado-Heine was born into a wealthy family and became a major philanthropist who was involved in several charities. She contributed to the founding of the Institut Pasteur with a donation of 60,000 francs following the international appeal for funds in 1886.

During the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, she supported the Red Cross and organized ambulance services. In 1884, she funded a children's hospice in the 14th arrondissement in Paris, where a street was named after her. In recognition of her charitable works, she was awarded the Legion of Honor on July 13, 1887 and promoted to the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor on June 6, 1896.

©BNF, Mme Furtado-Heine named Officer of the Legion of Honor, June 21, 1896, Le Petit Journal, illustrated supplement

©Archives nationales, Certificate of promotion to the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor awarded to Mme Furtado-Heine on June 8, 1896

Alongside her husband Aristide, Marguerite Boucicaut, known as "a great woman who did much good," was involved in the launch of the first department store in Paris, Au Bon Marché, before turning her attention to social and humanitarian causes. She supported the Institut Pasteur by making a first donation of 250,000 francs to Louis Pasteur in May 1886 while she was still alive, and bequeathing 100,000 francs when she died.

An anecdote by Sacha Guitry in the Journal by Jules Renard tells the story of the meeting between Louis Pasteur and Marguerite Boucicaut:

"Pasteur went to the house of the widow Mme Boucicaut, owner of Au Bon Marché. The servants were reluctant to let him in. "It's an old man," said the maid. "Are you the same Pasteur who worked on rabies in dogs?" the maid asked. "Yes," said Pasteur. He went in. He explained that he was going to found an institute. As he spoke, his features began to light up, and he became animated and impassioned. "That is why I have given myself the task of coming and bothering charitable people such as yourself. The smallest offering..." "Of course!" said Mme Boucicaut, just as embarrassed as Pasteur. And other pleasantries. She took a pocketbook, signed a check and gave it, folded, to Pasteur. "My thanks, Madame," he said. "You are too kind." He glanced at the check and began to sob. She sobbed with him. The check was for a million."

The anecdote is true, even if Sacha Guitry, with his typical theatricality, exaggerated the size of the check – which was nevertheless for 250,000 francs.