Jeanne Scelles-Millie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeanne Scelles-Millie
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Jeanne Millie
12 September 1900 Algiers, French North Africa
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| Died | 22 March 1993 (aged 92) Saint-Maurice, Val-de-Marne, France
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| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Architectural engineer |
Jeanne Scelles-Millie (born September 12, 1900 – died March 22, 1993) was a talented French engineer and writer. She was born in Algeria and lived there for many years. Jeanne was very interested in bringing people of different faiths together. She wanted Christians, Jews, and Muslims to understand each other better. She also wrote several books filled with amazing folk tales and legends from North Africa.
Contents
Her Life Story
Jeanne Millie was born in Algiers on September 12, 1900. Her family was French. She often said she felt like a "woman from both shores," meaning she connected with both French and Algerian cultures.
In 1924, Jeanne made history! She was the first woman to graduate from the École Spéciale des Travaux Publics (ESTP) in Paris. This made her the very first female architectural engineer in France. She was also the first woman to manage construction projects in Algeria.
Jeanne married Jean Baptiste Scelles. Together, they were a progressive Catholic couple. In 1934, they started a group called the Union of Monotheistic Believers. Their goal was to bring Muslims, Christians, and Jews together. They held weekly discussions about religious topics. Jeanne and Jean helped important religious scholars meet and talk.
Jeanne Scelles-Millie also worked hard to help Algerians gain more social, cultural, and political freedom. She even started schools that taught both French and Muslim traditions.
During World War II (1939–1945), Jeanne was part of the French Resistance. This was a secret group that fought against the occupation of France. She worked with the Resistance in Algeria and later in France. Her husband, Jean Scelles, was even put in prison in 1941 for being part of the Resistance.
Jeanne Scelles-Millie moved to France in 1957. She continued to publish many collections of folk tales and legends from North Africa. She passed away in Saint-Maurice, Val-de-Marne, on March 22, 1993.
Before they died, Jean and Jeanne Scelles created the Fondation Scelles in 1993. They left all their property to this foundation. The foundation became officially recognized in 1994 and continues their work.
Her Writings and Stories
Jeanne Scelles-Millie loved collecting and sharing stories. She published several books of folk tales and poems.
Sahara Tales
Her book Contes sahariens du Souf (published in 1964) is a collection of stories. These tales were told by Arab storytellers from the Kabylie region, near the Sahara Desert. Some of these stories were even meant for children. They were told to her by young people, around 15 or 16 years old. The book includes notes and a glossary to help readers understand the stories better.
Medjdoub's Poems
In 1966, she published Les Quatrains de Medjdoub le Sarcastique. This book contains 340 short poems called quatrains by a poet named Medjdoub. Many of these poems had never been published before. The book also tells about the poet's life and his thoughts on life, religion, and women. The poems are presented in their original language and with translations.
North African Tales
Her 1970 book, Contes arabes du Maghreb, is a collection of 45 stories. These stories were told to her by five different storytellers from Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The stories come from the Arab tradition, not the Berber tradition. Since the storytellers were educated, the tales show influences from written Arabic literature. This book is valuable because it shares new cultural information.
Mysterious Tales
Contes mystérieux d'Afrique du Nord, published in 1972, is another collection of North African stories. These are allegorical tales, meaning they use symbols to teach a lesson. They came from religious families or families of judges and farmers. After each story, Jeanne included notes that discuss other tales with similar themes.
Dialogue Between Faiths
After she passed away, a book called Algerie, dialogue entre christianisme et islam was published in 2003. In this book, Jeanne shares her reasons and beliefs for supporting the Algerian people's fight for social, cultural, and political freedom. It shows her deep commitment to understanding and peace between different cultures and religions.
