At the time, historical research was largely dominated by clergy and notables, who sought to find the roots of their traditions, families, parishes, towns, dioceses, and professions within the past.
Unlike official historians, these scholars focused on topics such as Étienne Marcel, Philip Augustus, the Fronde, Feudalism, the Inquisition, and the Revolution.
The journal revitalized religious history and effectively challenged official historical narratives with innovative approaches.
With a network of researchers, correspondents, 600 subscribers, and readers linked through the Bibliographic Society, the journal served as a counterweight to official historiography.
Over its 73 years of publication, the journal had four directors: Gaston du Fresne de Beaucourt (1866–1902), Paul Allard (1902–1914), Roger Lambelin (1922–1929), who saved it from bankruptcy, and Jean Baudry (1933–1939).