Comité des Étudiants Américains de l'École des Beaux-Arts Paris

The Comité des Étudiants Américains de l'École des Beaux-Arts Paris (C.E.A. à l’E.D.B.A.; The Committee of American Students of the School of Beaux-Arts, Paris) was, as the name indicates, an organization of American art students at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris; American alumni of the school were also involved. It was active as a war and war-relief charity during World War I; operating from at least 1916 through the end of the war. The group was strongly Francophile. Among other activities, they raised funds through the production and sale of art-postcards.

The Comité des Étudiants Américains de l'École des Beaux-Arts Paris, an organization of American art students at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, was set up as a war and war-relief charity in support of the French cause in World War I; operating from at least 1916 to early 1919. American alumni of the school were also involved.

A primary focus of their charitable activities was providing help to fellow art students who were serving in the armed forces, and to those students' families. They also supported other efforts, including more directly military causes.

The committee raised funds by organizing the production, exhibition, and sale of art-postcards; created by professional French artists, as well as by students. Later, they also published a periodical; the Gazette de l'Ecole des Beaux-Arts. The group had other sources of funding as well.

As well as their charitable activities, and fund-raising for those activities, the group's efforts and products helped to express and promote sympathy for France (and occupied Belgium) during the war; particularly among Americans. This was one of many efforts by Francophile Americans in France and the United States in support of the French and Allied cause; both before and after their own country entered the war.

Notable American architect and École des Beaux-Arts alumnus Whitney Warren was one of the organization's founders. Another key organizer was (Frank) Ronald Simmons (1885-1918), the son of a wealthy Rhode Island industrialist, who became a very close friend of Edith Wharton. After his sudden death from influenza, he became the basis for the character of "Boylston" in her War novel "A Son at the Front" (written in 1919, published in 1923). War charity work, and the involvement of Americans in it, are mentioned; but the Comité is not described specifically.

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