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Sophie de Vilmorin

16th arrondissement of Paris, 22 Jan 1931 – 15th arrondissement of Paris, 4 Dec 2009

6 facts1 source

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 22 Jan 1931

    Born in 16th arrondissement of Paris

  2. 4 Dec 2009

    Dies in 15th arrondissement of Paris, aged 78

Family

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Parents

During her lifetime

She lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around 16th arrondissement of Paris.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1930s · Sophie is born in 16th arrondissement of Paris

Music

Traditional and modern dances

Traditional dances like the bourrée and rigadoon were passed down through generations, while new international styles like the tango, fox trot, and Charleston became widespread favorites during the interwar period. At family gatherings, elders often performed traditional dances while young people watched.

Daily life

Traditional food preservation methods

To keep food fresh in homes without modern appliances, families used "garde-manger," which were ventilated cupboards or fine-mesh cages suspended in cool rooms, cellars, or kitchens. Meat was sometimes preserved by covering it in oil or searing it in a pan.

Getting around

Continuous London-Paris rail ferry service

Launched in 1936, the Night Ferry allowed passengers to travel between London and Paris by train without changing, as the rail cars were loaded onto a ferry boat to cross the English Channel.

The Second World War. The deadliest war in history, from 1939 to 1945: some 70 million people died. Brazil sent 25,000 soldiers to fight in Italy.Around the world · 1939–1945

The Second World War. The deadliest war in history, from 1939 to 1945: some 70 million people died. Brazil sent 25,000 soldiers to fight in Italy.

Chief Photographer's Mate (CPHoM) Robert F. Sargent · public domain

Getting around

Limited bus service frequencies

In the 1930s, bus services in French provinces were often sparse, frequently offering only one or two daily journeys in each direction.

Work

Immigrant labor in French mines

By 1930, immigrants made up 42 percent of the labor force in the French mining industry.

Getting around

Railcar improvements cut travel times

Between 1928 and 1939, modernized railcars reduced the journey between St Brieuc and Paimpol from 2 hours 50 minutes to 1 hour 55 minutes.