Rmi Mathis is a renowned French historian and curator, best known for his presidency of Wikimedia France from 2011 to 2014 and his tireless advocacy for free culture and the protection of public domain works. As a leading expert in 17th-century history, prints, and books, Mathis has made significant contributions to the field, earning him numerous awards and honors.
Born on November 20, 1982, Rmi Mathis is the son of Christian Mathis, a paleontologist. He graduated from the cole Nationale des Chartes in 2007 and went on to obtain his degree from the National School of Information Science and Libraries the following year. In 2010, he married Marie-Alice Mathis, a neuroscientist.
Mathis began his career as the head of the library of humanities and social sciences at Paris Descartes University from 2008 to 2010. Since 2010, he has been a curator for 17th-century collections at the Department of Prints and Photographs of the National Library of France. He is also the editor of the French academic journal on printmaking, Nouvelles de l'estampe.
As a respected historian, Mathis' research focuses on the 17th century, specifically the history of prints and books, Jansenism, and diplomatic history. His dissertation, written under the supervision of Lucien Bly and Olivier Poncet, explores the life and works of Simon Arnauld de Pomponne.
Mathis is the author of a book on Pomponne and Robert Arnauld d'Andilly, published in 2012. He has also contributed to Papers on French Seventeenth Century Literature and curated an exhibition on French prints of the 17th century at the Getty-BnF in 2015-2016.
For his outstanding contributions to the field of cultural heritage, Mathis was appointed a knight in the Order of Arts and Letters and in the Order of Academic Palmes.
Mathis is a passionate advocate for the legalization of freedom of panorama in France and strongly opposes the privatization of the digitization of public domain works. His work in the culture sector and free culture movement has earned him the nickname "Janus de la transmission" from Le Magazine littéraire.
Mathis was a member and chairperson of Wikimedia France, serving as president from April 2011 to October 2014. During his tenure, he worked tirelessly to promote the values of free knowledge and open access to cultural heritage.
Rmi Mathis' contributions to the field of cultural heritage have been instrumental in shaping the future of free culture and open access to knowledge. His advocacy and research have inspired a new generation of historians, curators, and cultural heritage professionals to continue the fight for the democratization of knowledge.
Through his work, Mathis has demonstrated the importance of preserving and promoting our cultural heritage for future generations. As a true champion of free culture, he continues to inspire and educate the public on the value of open access to knowledge.
Born in 1919
A medieval historian who wrote extensively on the social and cultural history of Europe, particularly the Middle Ages, and was awarded the Prix Goncourt for his work.
Born in 1886
A medieval historian who pioneered the field of social and economic history, known for his innovative approach to understanding the past through a multidisciplinary lens.
Born in 1902
A pioneer of the Annales School, he revolutionized historical studies by focusing on long-term social and economic structures rather than individual events, and is renowned for his three-volume masterpiece, "Civilization and Capitalism".
