During the conference of the International Association of Labour History Institutions (Paris 1986) Lars Wessman, a member of the Scandinavian delegation, asked me to make an informal speech on the reorganization of the IISH. Since I hardly expected anyone to be interested in this subject, I felt no reservations and was pleased to agree. After consulting our Parisian host, Prof. Alain Prost, we informed all those present that there was to be an exchange of ideas on the IISH reorganization.