The project to create the museum came from a meeting of Jules Siegfried, Léon Say and Émile Cheysson with count Joseph Dominique Aldebert de Chambrun in 1894.

"[4] The Musée social brought together followers of Frédéric Le Play and others who were interested in improving the well-being of the masses while promoting private initiative, going beyond the timid reforms being considered by the government.

The most conspicuous role of the institute was in bills related to urban planning, including maintaining a green belt around Pairs where the old fortifications had stood, managing the expansion of cities and providing social housing.

[2] Between 1894 and 1914 over 500 members of the Musée social wrote leaflets and brochures, gave lectures, studied conditions abroad and responded to all requests.

Under pressure from economists and the followers of Louis Pasteur the institute moved from supporting a philanthropic approach to handling social issues to one of greater state intervention.

[5] In 1903 the architect and influential urban planner Eugène Hénard proposed using the land reserved for the obsolete Paris fortifications as the basis for a belt of parks.

[10] Hénard wanted to develop better radial thoroughfares, and to take the opportunity presented by demolition of the old city fortifications to build a ring road and new parks and housing.

[11] This was supported by the Musée Social, which in 1910 asked citizens to vote in the forthcoming elections for candidates who backed the parkland and urban conservation programs.

He received strong support from the Musée Social and from other urban planners, but was opposed by real estate investors who feared the impact of his planned 75,000 apartment units.