MAC AULIFFE (Léon). Born in Paris, 1876-1937. French physici - Lot 103

MAC AULIFFE (Léon). Born in Paris, 1876-1937. French physician, morphologist and anthropologist. Former assistant director at the École des Hautes Études. Important L.A.S. "Mac Auliffe" to a friend. Aboard the liner Andalucia [Spain], September 29 and October 1, 1930. 12 pp. in-8 on Blue Star Line letterhead. Very remarkable and virulent letter concerning the internal dissensions of the Société d'Anthropologie and the clashes pitting Mac Auliffe against Félix Regnault and several figures in the French anthropological milieu. Written in the aftermath of a stormy session at the Société d'Archéologie's plenary assembly, this long letter is a veritable indictment of the scientific intrigues, personal ambitions and doctrinal quarrels that were shaking the scholarly world at the time. Mac Auliffe begins by outlining the strategy he felt he should adopt in dealing with "Mendes Corrêa", whom he describes as an ambitious man who had sacrificed all intellectual independence "in order to attain the Portuguese Ministry of Public Instruction". He then denounces the international influences and alliances surrounding Félix Regnault and certain members of the Société. The heart of the letter concerns a scene of extreme verbal violence during a vote: "Having been accused, as you know, by Regnault of having performed a blackmail maneuver by asserting that since your vœu was not adopted, although I had supported it, I was considering my resignation..." Mac Auliffe goes on to explain the reasons behind his anger, refusing to allow anthropology to be reduced "to mere craniology and paleontology". He goes on to describe the altercation in great detail: "I ordered Regnault to withdraw his insult. He refused. I then told him that he deserved neither a sword nor a pistol shot, but that it would give me great pleasure to tell him out loud what everyone else was thinking, namely that he was a fool...". The author continues in a verbal escalation of rare violence: "We must destroy imbeciles like bedbugs. Their social role is too dangerous for me not to see it as my duty to subdue and annihilate them." The scene almost turns into a physical confrontation: "Félix Regnault wanted to throw himself at me..." Mac Auliffe further reports having declared to his opponent: "That no science would disgust me if I attached it to his sad face, because he possesses none." After "48 hours of reflection", he announced that he had decided to hand in his resignation to the Society's president, as he could no longer stand "this atmosphere of personal or international intrigue" and wished to retain "my absolute independence to the end of my life, insofar as it is possible". An exceptional collection in terms of its scope, freedom of tone and the violence of the comments made. A rare testimony to the internal rivalries of the French anthropological world between the wars, combining scientific quarrels, personal ambitions and school confrontations. A lively and fascinating manuscript, written on board a Blue Star Line liner during a sea voyage between Europe and Spain.