INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE : COURRIERES MINING DISASTER

[marie-france.conus AT univ-montp3.fr]

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

9-10-11 October 2006



10 MARCH 1906: 
THE COURRIÈRES MINING DISASTER… 
AND AFTER? 


Call for Papers 

10 March 1906: coal-dust explosion at the Compagnie de Courrières: 1099 dead. 
As part of the commemoration of the centenary of the disaster, the Mining 
History Centre in Nord Pas-de-Calais, is organising an international 
conference in Lewarde in October 2006. The aim of this interdisciplinary 
conference is to place this mining accident in its historical, political, 
social, cultural and economic context, and to improve knowledge, in the light 
of this dramatic event, of the history of industrial risks in Europe.

I. THE DISASTER OF 10 MARCH 1906 AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

The events which made up the disaster must be re-examined in the light of all 
the information available today: coal-dust explosion process, conduct of 
rescue operations, safety plan, etc. The human dimension of the disaster 
represents another major field of investigation. Rigorous research centred on 
the different actors in the drama (deceased, survivors, widows, children, 
etc.) is needed. Papers may focus on the anthropological phenomenon of 
confrontation with death and disappearance. Or perhaps on the symbolism of 
state funerals, or other funeral ceremonies, etc. Lastly, parliamentary 
debates, official inquiries into the accident and the strike movement that 
followed the disaster are other possible fields of research. Comparisons with 
other mining disasters are also welcome. 

To place the disaster in its economic context, we envisage a number of 
approaches: e.g. the evolution of conditions of production, the level of 
training of managers and workers. Comparisons between the Compagnie de 
Courrières and other large mining companies would be of interest. The 
financial aspects pertaining to reparations for damages suffered have yet to 
be explored in any depth: financial balance of compensation, subscriptions 
and corresponding financial aid. On a broader level, we will try to analyse 
the state of scientific knowledge about dust using comparative approaches 
with the major coal-producing countries (Great Britain, Germany, United 
States, Belgium, etc.).


II. THE DISASTER IN AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.

Through its national and international impact, the disaster served as a 
tragic window onto the mining world. We could examine the differences in 
journalistic treatment by country or according to the type of press medium. 
How were the means of expression, way of life and work of miners 
retranscribed by the press?  We might look more closely at the theme of 
remembering the disaster: monumental heritage, booklets, songs, pamphlets, 
oral memory, novels, plays or films inspired by the disaster, etc. are areas 
worthy of interest. Lastly, a comparative analysis of commemorations of 
Courrières and other mining disasters would be interesting.

To what extent did the disaster set a legal precedent concerning industrial 
safety? What conclusions were drawn from it for the mining industries in 
different countries? How were underground emergency services structured after 
the Courrières disaster? A comparison between the disaster and other mining 
accidents could offer considerable insight into the exemplary character or 
special features of this accident, the respective roles of dust, firedamp and 
electrical wiring, etc. We might also draw parallels with the resources that 
the public authorities have available today for drafting prevention and 
emergency policies on industrial safety.


STEERING COMMITTEE

Members of the Mining History Centre’s staff scientific team
André Dubuc, Managing Director
Agnès Paris, Curator
Virginie Debrabant, Archivist
Gérard Dumont, Associate Professor of History on secondment
Representatives of the Mining History Centre’s Scientific Committee
Serge Benoit, Associate Professor of History at the University of Evry
Arnaud Berthoud, Emeritus Professor of Economic Philosophy at the University 
of Lille I
André Brossard, Former Chief Mining Engineer
Marie-France Conus, Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of 
Montpellier III
François-Xavier Debrabant, Legal Historian
Gustave Defrance, Former Director of Schools of Mining in Douai and Alès
Alexis Destruys, Former General Secretary of Houillères du Nord et du 
Pas-de-Calais (mining employers’ association)
Henri Duchâteau, Former Chief Mining Engineer
Jean-François Eck, Professor of History at the University of Lille III
Jean-Louis Escudier, Head of CNRS research at the University of Montpellier I
Gérard Gayot, Director of IFRESI (Federative institute for research on 
economies and societies)
Odette Hardy-Hémery, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Lille 
III
Yves Le Maner, Historian
Michel Poilevé, Former Chief Mining Engineer


PROPOSALS FOR PAPERS 
Proposals for papers, of around one page, including titles and positions of 
authors, must be sent by 15 September 2005 to:
Mme Virginie Debrabant, Centre Historique Minier, BP 39 59287 LEWARDE, 
France; email: vdebrabant AT chm-lewarde.com.

The steering committee will make its decision during September 2005. Talks 
will be limited to 20 minutes. The Conference Proceedings will be published 
by the Mining History Centre.