Edith Bernardin

Edith Bernardin (21 July 1903 – 15 August 1994) was a French librarian and historian.

She was appointed to the National Academic Library of Strasbourg (BNU) where she headed a department of the and supervised the restitution of books that the Nazi regime had looted in Alsace during the Second World War .

She was awarded the knight of the Legion of Honor and a commander of the Ordre des Palmes académiques.

Early life and education Bernadin was born in Vernaison on 21 July 1903, the daughter of Henri Louis Bernadin and Isabelle Humbert. Her educational studies were conducted at the University of Paris and the University of Lyon.

Career She started as an intern at the Bibliothèque nationale et universitaire de Strasbourg (National Academic Library) in 1928, and over time was promoted to librarian, curator, and chief curator. Starting on 27 August 1939, Bernardin was responsible for storing the library's documents to protect them from the Nazis.

In 1945, Bernardin returned to Strasbourg and took part in the reorganization of the Bibliothèque nationale et universitaire. She was responsible for directing the service for the restitution of books that the Nazi authorities had looted during the annexation of Alsace by the Reich. Her mission was to sort the works that the German administration of the library had abandoned three years earlier at the Liberation of Strasbourg in 1944, and then to identify their legitimate owners. She was brought into contact with the librarian who was supervising the books subcommittee within the Commission for Artistic Recovery in Paris. This work continued until the office closed on 15 June 1950.

From 1962 until her retirement in 1973 Bernardin was chief curator at then library.

While retired she continued her historical research on civil status in Strasbourg during the French Revolution.

Honors and awards She was awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honor and the Ordre des Palmes académiques.