22 février 1917
Janvier 2000
Service de photographie et de cinématographie de l'Office national des recherches scientifiques et industrielles et des inventions
Laboratoire de photographie et de cinématographie du Centre national de recherche appliquée
Laboratoire de photographie et de cinématographie du Centre national de la recherche scientifique
Service photographique des inventions
Centre national de la recherche scientifique. Service de photographie et de cinématographie (France ; 1917-2000)
Le service photographique est dirigé à partir du 23 juin 1920 par le professeur Jean Comandon, dont les fonctions de directeur du laboratoire de photographie et de cinématographie prennent officiellement fin à compter du 1er octobre 1960.
En 1932, le Dr. Comandon est appuyé dans son travail par un assistant de laboratoire, M. Aufort, un agent temporaire, Mme Chavanel, et un opérateur, M. Paullet : on suppose que cet opérateur est à l’origine de la production d’un certain nombre de plaques de verre de la collection du laboratoire.
En 1938 le service est composé du Dr. Comandon, de M. Aufort et de M. Sauvageot, désormais à la photographie, puis de M. Pignol, qui sera remplacé en 1956 par Denise Fautret et Germaine Truffy.
Denise Fautret est responsable du service de 1960 juqu'à son départ en retraite en 1986.
Philippe Delangle est le dernier responsable du service, de 1986 à sa fermeture au début 2000.
En 1915, Paul Painlevé, ministre de l’Instruction publique, créé la Direction des inventions intéressant la Défense nationale, dotée d’un budget conséquent pour les inventions, et lui rattache la Commission d’examen des inventions intéressant l’armée, créée en 1877 et dont Jules-Louis Breton est nommé chef.
Est également créé le 22 février 1917 un service photographique des inventions, et le 11 novembre 1917 une section de cinématographie technique. Cette dernière a pour « but d’exécuter et de répandre des films destinés à l’instruction du fonctionnement et de l’usage de divers matériels de Guerre ».
En 1919, la Direction devient Direction des recherches scientifiques et industrielles et des inventions, à la tête de laquelle Jules-Louis Breton est maintenu.
L’organisme se transforme en 1922 en Office national des recherches scientifiques et industrielles et des inventions (ONRSII) et s’installe sur le site de Meudon, dans le Pavillon Bellevue. Les inventions sont présentées à une Commission supérieure des inventions et transmises ensuite à des comités techniques internes à l’Office, si elles sont jugées dignes d’intérêt.
Le professeur Jean Comandon (1877-1970) prend la direction du service photographique le 23 juin 1920. Pionnier des prises de vues à travers un microscope, le Docteur Comandon a commencé sa carrière auprès des établissements Pathé Frères, puis du banquier et mécène Albert Kahn et enfin, auprès de l’Institut Pasteur. Jusqu’à la fin de sa carrière, il partage son temps entre le laboratoire de Meudon et celui de Garches, financé par l’Institut Pasteur.
Rattaché aux services techniques de l’Office, le service de photographie et de cinématographie est installé dans une grande verrière qui surmonte l’aile gauche du Pavillon Bellevue.
En 1932, le professeur est membre de la Commission supérieure des inventions de l’Office mais ne préside pas officiellement un des comités techniques. Il est nommé chercheur à partir de 1931 par la Caisse des sciences et touche une allocation de recherches pour ses travaux.
Le service photographie reproduit « de très nombreux documents d’expériences réalisées dans les diverses sections de l’Office national des inventions » ; ces tâches sont assurées en complément des photographies et films de préparations microscopiques de microorganismes vivants que réalise le Docteur Comandon.
En mai 1938, le Centre national de la recherche appliquée remplace l’ONRSII et il est créé en son sein un groupe des laboratoires de Bellevue, que dirige de nouveau Jules-Louis Breton.
Le laboratoire de cinématographie fait alors partie des laboratoires d’essais, qui coexistent en parallèle des laboratoires de recherche, des services techniques et d’entretien et des services administratifs.
Jusqu’à la fin des années 1950, les travaux du laboratoire de photographie consistent en des prises de vue de différents formats, reproductions, épreuves sur papier, agrandissements de microfilms, reproduction au photostat, prises de vues, diapositives et agrandissements en couleurs alors que les travaux de recherche du professeur continuent en parallèle à Garches où est installé son appareil de microcinématographie.
En 1951, Jean Comandon est maintenu dans ses fonctions de directeur du laboratoire de photographie et de cinématographie et il est mentionné dans les décisions comme chef de service retraité. Ses fonctions prennent officiellement fin à compter du 1er octobre 1960. Le service de photographie et de cinématographie cesse alors d’apparaître dans les rapports d’activité du groupe des laboratoires de Bellevue.
C’est au sein des services techniques – qui s’efforcent d’aider les laboratoires dans leur gestion et leur fonctionnement courant – qu’apparaît désormais le Service photographie.
En 1964, la photographie est rattachée à la documentation, aux côtés de la bibliothèque centrale, des publications et de l’imprimerie, elle-même rattachée aux services administratifs qui forment avec les services techniques, les services généraux des laboratoires de Bellevue.
Le service est implanté au 2e étage du bâtiment 1 et non plus au Pavillon Bellevue. Il propose ses prestations aux laboratoires du site pour des conférences, des expositions, publications, préparation de catalogues…
Vers 1966-1967, les services de documentation ne relèvent plus des services administratifs mais sont directement rattachés aux services généraux.
À partir de 1969-1970, le service photographique s’installe au 1er étage du bâtiment B, fraîchement rénové.
Le service photographie continue de dépendre du groupe des laboratoires de Meudon, de l’Administration déléguée qui en prend la suite lors de la déconcentration administrative des années 1980 puis en dernier lieu, de la Délégation régionale Île-de-France Ouest et Nord, au sein des services communs.
Faute de travail suffisant suite au départ successif de plusieurs laboratoires du site de Meudon, le service photographique est définitivement fermé fin 1999-début 2000.
Seul un photographe subsiste alors sur le site de Meudon, Robert Villerot, auquel des missions ponctuelles comme le tirage d’un échantillon de plaques de verre, sont confiées jusqu’à son propre départ en retraite en 2008.
Les fonds produits par le Service de photographie et de cinématographie de l’Office et du Dr. Comandon, puis du Service photographie de Meudon sont alors intégrés aux collections de la photothèque du CNRS, installée sur le site depuis 1988.
Depuis 2017, la photothèque est intégrée dans le pôle Médiathèque de CNRS Images (unité d’appui à la recherche 2841).
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