Nine talks about voluntary associations and societies in nineteenth-century provincial France: their historical development and geographical distribution, their aims and activities, and their social, cultural and political significance. These talks reflect my own research interests as an historical geographer. 1. The 1789 Revolutionary concept of fraternity and its practical implementation in every-day life in provincial France. This will be followed by talks on two groups of associations and societies. 2, 3, and 4. Associations related to people’s working lives and livelihoods, persons and properties, such as volunteer fire brigades, mutual aid societies, crop and livestock insurance societies, agricultural cooperatives, and syndicates to defend vineyards against the phylloxéra. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Societies related to people’s leisure pursuits, such as amateur musical groups (choirs and brass bands), sports clubs (especially cycling, gymnastics, shooting and pigeon racing clubs), and peoples' libraries. Note: There will not be a talk on 14 February.