The International Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies owes its existence to the initiative of a group of European and American scholars among whom one might name Yvon Belaval, Theodore Besterman, Roland Desné, Colin Duckworth, Jean Fabre, Lester Crocker, Georges May, Robert Niklaus, René Pomeau, Robert Shackleton and Franco Venturi. At that time the national or constituent societies hardly existed in the sense in which we know them today, but the Second World War was still in everybody's memory and a need was felt to affirm the international appeal of the Enlightenment heritage.

In 1963 the first International Congress was held at Geneva and Coppet. In the course of that founding congress the name of the Society was decided upon. Theodore Besterman, who had played an important part in organizing that gathering and who had undertaken the monumental edition of the correspondence of Voltaire, was elected president. His name remains connected with Studies on Voltaire and the Voltaire Foundation.

1967 saw the 2nd International Congress at St Andrews in Scotland. At the end of that congress a board was formed consisting of T. Besterman, president, L. Crocker, J. Fabre, and F. Venturi, vice-presidents, C. Duckworth, secretary general, R. Niklaus, treasurer.

In 1971 the 3rd Congress was held at Nancy with 340 participants from 20 different countries. The trend was set. A first directory of the members of ISECS, published in the form of a supplement to Dix huitième siècle, put the dix-huitiémistes on the map. The board elected at Nancy consisted of L. Crocker, president, J. Fabre, R. Shackleton and F. Venturi, vice-presidents; C. Duckworth, secretary general, R. Niklaus, treasurer.

In 1975 Yale was the venue of the 4th International Congress. It counted 540 participants and 236 papers. By that time there existed an American, a British, a Canadian, a Dutch/Belgian, a French and an Italian society. Elected to the board were R. Shackleton, president, Y. Belaval, F. Diaz and D. Greene, vice-presidents, J. Vercruysse, secretary general, R. Niklaus, treasurer. B. Fink was elected assistant secretary general in order to administrate more particularly the new continent.

Also in that year the first French/British Symposium was held, inaugurating a long series of bilateral (or trilateral) symposia under the patronage of ISECS (French/Italian, French/German, Italian/German, German/Russian, etc.).

In 1979 the 5th International Congress gathered at Pisa. Enrolled were 1100 participants from 22 countries and there were 350 papers. ISECS took on the aspect known to us today. Its constitution, approved in that year and still governing the Society's activities today, was in large measure the work of Robert Shackleton. The board elected in 1979 consisted of R. Pomeau, president, G. May, J. Vercruysse and E. Rzadkowska, vice-presidents, B. Fink secretary general, R. Desné, assistant secretary general, B. Fabian, treasurer.

Newly admitted to ISECS were the German, the Japanese and the Hungarian societies.

In 1980 the technical secretariat was transferred to Andrew Brown of the Voltaire Foundation, who also took on the charge of compiling the International directory.

1983 saw the 6th International Congress at Brussels with 380 participants and 360 papers. Elected to the board were R. Mortier, president, R. Darnton, P. Casini and J. Ehrard, vice-presidents, B. Fink, secretary general, R. Desné, assistant secretary general, A.-M. Chouillet, treasurer, R. Runte, assistant treasurer.

The technical secretariat also takes on the publication and distribution of a bulletin. Newly admitted to ISECS were the Austrian and the Tunisian societies, while the Chinese society became associated. Since then the following countries possess a constituent society: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and Tunisia.

In 1987 the 7th International Congress took place at Budapest, with 850 participants from 31 countries. The new board consisted of R. Darnton, president, F. Venturi, H. Mason and D. Smith, vice-presidents, M. Baridon secretary general, U. Janssens, assistant secretary general, A.-M. Chouillet, treasurer, J. Perkins, assistant treasurer.

1989 first East/West Seminar.

1991 saw the 8th International Congress at Bristol with 625 participants and 600 papers. Elected to the board were H. Mason, president, J. Schlobach, A. Postigliola and D. Smith, vice-presidents, M. Baridon, secretary general, U. Janssens, assistant secretary general, J. Perkins, treasurer, J. Mondot, assistant treasurer.

In 1995 the 9th International Congress took place at Münster. There is also a first North/South seminar at Dijon, and the Bulletin takes on its new form.

Michel Baridon, Secretary General 1991-1995

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