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How to find a Ponts et Chaussées Department engineer

Are you looking for a Ponts et Chaussées (or Public Works) Department engineer?

 
Finding a graduate engineer from École des Ponts et Chaussées, whether civilian or from the corps

In the 18th century, there were only engineering corps students and engineers (the corps was created in 1716).
However, from the start, the School also accepted “free students” (observers), in particular many foreigners, although they were not officially admitted until 1825. They were not awarded a degree.

From 1851 onwards, the School offered entry by examination to students from institutions other than the École Polytechnique (a school created in 1804, which became the feeder institution for École des Ponts).
At different times, these students bore the title of external, titulary or civilian students and were awarded a degree on completion of their studies. Rather than Ponts et Chaussées civil engineers, the title they were permitted to use was civil construction engineer (1894).
It was only in 1934 that non-corps graduates were allowed to call themselves École des Ponts et Chaussées engineers.
Students with observer status continue to be admitted.

  • Po find the student you are interested in, go to the list in the “Downloads” section.
    It is possible to obtain information on their education and, possibly, their career.
  • Contact
  • The career files of engineering corps students are stored and can be accessed at the Archives nationales.
    Download the list-index ofIngénieurs-des-Ponts-Chaussées (1748-1932)"


It is more difficult to follow the careers of non-degree (observer) students and civil engineers who did not go into public service.
They often worked in private companies which are not always identified.
Many foreign civil engineers who returned to their country of origin had distinguished careers, but the archives are stored in their home countries.

Finding a conducteur (former title of state public works engineers or ITPE)

Conducteurs entered public service through examination, often as commis then conducteurs or State Public Works Engineers.
Some of them ended their careers with a title equivalent to “ponts et chaussées engineer 3rd class” or ponts et chaussées engineer 3rd or 2nd class, without ever attending the School.
In the mid-19th century, however, the School created a specific examination for conducteurs then for ITPE (after 1918), which enabled some of them to enter the School and obtain a degree.
They are considered as corps engineers.

In 1953, the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Tourism decided to set up the school which would become the École nationale des travaux publics de l’Etat (ENTPE) – National State Public Works School – to train ITPE.
 
Finding a former student of the Ecole Spéciale des Travaux Publics (ESTP)

This school was created by Léon Eyrolles, a Ponts et Chaussées conducteur, and trains public works engineers

Finding a former student of the École Centrale

This school trains engineers, some of whom, such as Gustave Eiffel, had careers similar to those of École des Ponts et Chaussées engineers (e.g. in the railways).