France: The collection aims to be at the research level(supporting original scholarship). Strengths are the Middle Ages, the eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries. Newly available sets of primary sources (in microform, digital, or print), especially in convenient digital form, are highly desirable and, as budgets allow, particular effort is made to acquire them.

Former French colonies, e.g., in North and West Africa: Coverage is selective and representative of major trends and areas.

France: all historic time periods, including historic archaeology and the Middle Ages. Relevant materials may also be acquired by other selectors, such as the Medieval Studies selector, the Classics and Ancient History, or General History selectors.

Africa, the Indian Ocean, South-East Asia, Oceania: from European Colonization to the twentieth century. Relevant materials may also be acquired by other selectors,