ESHS/HSS Annual Meeting

Natural History in Translation: Alcide d’Orbigny and Bolivia’s First International Students in France, 1833

• In Event: Andean Sciences Untranslated

English Abstract

In 1833, renowned French naturalist Alcide d’Orbigny prepared to return to Paris following seven years of exploration throughout South America. He spent a significant portion of this time in the nascent Bolivian republic, collecting plant, animal, and mineral specimens from various regions. Prior to departing Bolivia, d’Orbigny consented to escort five Bolivian youths to Paris, where they would pursue studies in mineralogy, chemistry, and engineering—fields the French naturalist considered essential for advancing their nation’s development and progress.

This paper draws on archival materials from Bolivia and France to follow the stories of the first five students that the young Bolivian republic sent to study in Paris. It discusses how, after returning to France, d’Orbigny shifted his attention away from the students to writing about his South American experiences and research. The study examines the concerns raised by Casimiro Olañeta, Bolivia’s representative to France, regarding the reported lack of attention given to the students. Olañeta’s observations elucidate the array of factors impacting the students’ academic experiences abroad, such as domestic and international political dynamics, financial constraints, and various social influences.

In addition to examining these external pressures, the paper also delves into the individual journeys of the students to illuminate the broader implications of their experiences for Bolivia’s evolving intellectual and scientific landscape. By situating the students’ stories within the context of shifting priorities—both d’Orbigny’s and those of Olañeta—the study offers new perspectives on the complex interplay between transnational education, knowledge exchange, and nation-building in the nineteenth century.

Author

• Marcia Stephenson, Purdue University