The Anthropology Department of the Institute of Civilizations at the Collège de France comprises the Laboratory of Social Anthropology and the Claude Lévi-Strauss Library.
Founded in 1960 by Claude Lévi-Strauss, then holder of the Chair of Social Anthropology at the Collège de France, the Laboratory of Social Anthropology has always taken a broad approach, addressing all major themes in ethnology and social anthropology. The research conducted there covers most regions of the globe, including Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, South and North America, Australia, Oceania, and India.
The laboratory is affiliated with three institutions: the Collège de France, the CNRS (UMR 7130), and the École des hautes études en sciences sociales. It has approximately fifty permanent members—researchers and faculty members—as well as about one hundred students working on their dissertations under their supervision.
The unit provides the scientific community with tools for research and dissemination. It houses the editorial offices of two EHESS journals ( L’Homme and Études rurales ) as well as that of a series published by Éditions de L’Herne titled Cahiers d’anthropologie sociale. The Laboratory of Social Anthropology offers its readers a documentation center comprising a research library specializing in ethnology and a documentary center for comparative studies (Human Relations Area Files (HRAF)).
The laboratory is directed by Alexandre Surrallés (director) and Frédérique Ildefonse (deputy director). Notably, Collège de France professors Philippe Descola and Nathan Wachtel have been affiliated with it.
The Claude Lévi-Strauss Library is a research library also under the supervision of the Collège de France, the CNRS, and the EHESS. Specializing in ethnology and social anthropology, it was also founded in 1960 by Claude Lévi-Strauss. Its history is inextricably linked to that of the laboratory, and the development of its collections is closely tied to the research themes of its teams.
