1. See, for example, Fernand Braudel, The Identity of France , vol. 2: People and Production , trans. Siân Reynolds (New York: Harper & Row, 1990), pp. 176-180, esp. 176-177.

2. Leymarie-Couturier, "Histoire de la fondation de l'école de sages-femmes de Bordeaux," p. 116.

3. See AD G 3E13.280 (21 July 1796) and 3E13.281 (26 July 1797). Also continue

see AN MC XVI 971 (20 February 1808). This is the wedding contract of Coutanceau's son, which refers to this family property.

4. See, for example, AD G 3E13.282 (13 Thermidor An VI).

5. AN MC XV1971 (3 February 1808).

6. Cren, Médecin de la Garde Coutanceau . The letters from Larrey to his wife (years 1808-1809) are at the Val-de-Grâce Museum, carton 1302, dossier 2.

7. G.B.A. Coutanceau, Notice sur les fièvres pernicieuses (Paris: Crochard, 1809).

8. Cren, Médecin de la Garde Coutanceau , document no. 15.

9. A. Delacoux, Biographie des sages-femmes , p. 62 ("Coutanceau").

10. Bouthenot, "96 Planches sur les accouchements pour la nouvelle édition de l'ouvrage de Mme Coutanceau, 1821, Bordeaux." This manuscript is in the library of the Val-de-Grâce hospital, L1526.

11. AD G 5M550 and 5M552, "Procès Verbal," 5 August 1822.

12. Gabriel Pery, Recherches historiques sur l'école d'accouchement, l'hospice de la maternité et la clinique d'accouchement de l'hôpital St. André de Bordeaux (n.p., n.d.), pp. 19-20.

13. See, for example, AD G 6Fi 1830, poster.

14. Coutanceau, Instructions théoriques et pratiques , pp. 1-3.

15. The quotations here and in the next paragraph are from AD G 5M552, letter of 3 June 1818.

16. Ibid., "Procès Verbal."

15. The quotations here and in the next paragraph are from AD G 5M552, letter of 3 June 1818.

16. Ibid., "Procès Verbal."

17. Bouthenot, "96 Planches." These illustrations also include a scene of Mme Coutanceau handing out diplomas to her students.

18. In a debate on this subject, Lynn Hunt and Mona Ozouf have argued, in opposition to Carol Pateman, Dorinda Outram, and Joan Landes, that the Revolution did advance the cause of women.

19. See Yvonne Knibiehler and Catherine Fouquet, Histoire des mères du Moyen Age à nos jours (Paris: Montalba, 1977), pp. 154, 164.

20. Daly, Websters' . . . Wickedary , pp. 67, 87-88.

21. See, for example, Jonathan Spence's remarks in Mandell, Life into Art , pp. 149-50.

22. See the remarks of Elisabeth Young-Bruehl on Hannah Arendt in ibid., p. 195. break