Ministerial letter notifying the appointment of Paul Magès as Chevalier of the National Order of Merit (1968)

In this document

This official letter originates from the Ministry of Industry, dated Paris, 15 May 1968 p. 1. It is addressed to "Monsieur Paul MAGES, Engineer at the Société Citroën, 35, avenue Edouard Branly, Chaville (Hauts-de-Seine)" p. 1.

The Minister writes: "I have the honour to inform you that, upon my proposal, you have been appointed Chevalier in the National Order of Merit" p. 1. He adds that he is "happy to have been able to thus recognise the titles you have earned for this distinction" and concludes with "the expression of my very warm congratulations and my distinguished consideration" p. 1.

The document bears a printed header "Ministère de l'Industrie" and the calligraphed mention "Le Ministre", a stamp affixed over the date, as well as an unidentifiable handwritten signature. Two typewritten lines located between the header and the body of the text are too faint to be read, as is a brief mark in the left margin: no elements from these are retained here.

The name of the signatory minister is not specified in the transcription.

Context

The National Order of Merit was created in France in 1963 to reward distinguished merits acquired in a civil or military capacity. The rank of Chevalier constitutes its entry level.

In 1968, Paul Magès is an engineer at Citroën, where he started in August 1925 and where he would remain until his retirement in September 1974 (autobiographical notes ; photographs of retirement). He has been working since the 1940s on the hydropneumatic suspension — first drawings as early as 17 February 1944 (hydropneumatic suspension drawings) — the flagship system of the DS presented on 6 October 1955. This recognition therefore occurs mid-career, while his inventions already equip several models of the brand and contribute to the technical influence of the French automotive industry — an element which, generally speaking, often motivates this type of ministerial distinction for engineers in the sector.

Archivist's perspective

This letter constitutes a piece of institutional recognition rather than technical: it does not describe any invention, but attests to the symbolic value granted to Paul Magès' work by the public authorities p. 1.

It seems that this document has the value of an important biographical testimony in the Magès collection, marking a stage of official notoriety distinct from the engineer's usual patents and test reports. The poor legibility of certain passages (detailed header, typewritten lines, identity of the signatory) however limits the complete reconstruction of the exact circumstances of this appointment.

This piece can be compared to other archives relating to this same distinction, if they exist in the collection, notably any letters of congratulation or the official notification in the Journal Officiel.