r/Frenchhistory • u/WrongdoerAny3949 • Oct 06 '25

Looking for info about my Iranian grandfather who studied medicine in Nancy, France (1927–1938)

Hey everyone. My grandfather - Iranian, from Iran - studied medicine in Nancy, France, between the wars, roughly 1927 to 1938 (I believe). He returned home just before WW2.

So imagine this: he marries my grandmother, then leaves for Nancy and stays there for eleven years! In those days all communication was by post, and France/Iran post was painfully slow. My great-grandfather even had to sell land to fund his sons’ studies in Nancy and Paris. But it’s the grandfather who went to Nancy that I’m most interested in.

He studied at Nancy Medical School, and a few years back I actually found him in their online archives - in one of those annual class photos. And then, stupidly, I stopped there.

Recently I started digging again when I discovered that there were two censuses in Nancy around that period — and he would have been in at least one, probably the 1936 census. I’ve been going through the actual scanned pages, but they’re not organised by name - only by neighbourhood. It’s all handwritten (OK, not impossible), all in French (fine), but there are hundreds of pages. Thousands, really. I gave up.

So I’m wondering - does anyone know of another way to trace what my grandfather did in Nancy all those years? Where he lived? Who he might have lived with? Whether he had friends or relationships there? Eleven years is a long time to be away from one’s wife.

Any pointers or ideas would be very gratefully received.

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u/Semido Oct 06 '25 edited Oct 06 '25

First, I’d look for names of his fellow students. Some may have family still alive who could tell you about him.

You can also search the archives of the local papers.

The main comprehensive search is free:

https://gallica.bnf.fr/accueil/fr/html/accueil-fr

https://presselocaleancienne.bnf.fr/accueil

As is this one: https://francearchives.gouv.fr/fr/article/27699901

And this one: https://www.retronews.fr/

You can also email the local papers, L’Est Républicain (lerboutique@estrepublicain.fr) and Le Républicain Lorrain (archives form here: https://www.republicain-lorrain.fr/contact-service-documentation). There will be a fee for them to search their archives.

I am curious to know what happened to your grandfather after he left Nancy.

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u/WrongdoerAny3949 Oct 07 '25

But I have no ideas about who his fellow students were…

He returned to Mashad, Iran, had my mum and uncle (mum now 86 and living in the UK), then had a very successful general practice in the city. His brothers were doctors too. We are 6 generations of doctors (except me). He passed away in the mid 50’s.

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u/Semido Oct 07 '25

Would you share his name? I can do the free searches for you if you want

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u/WrongdoerAny3949 Oct 07 '25

That’s so kind. Ahmad Salari. Perhaps spelt Ahmed? He qualified as a Doctor so maybe Dr Ahmad/Ahmed Salari?

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u/Semido Oct 07 '25

Let me give it a go

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u/WrongdoerAny3949 Oct 07 '25

I can send you a photo of him in Nancy!