The Alliance Française was first organized in Paris in 1883.  A Federation of French Alliances was organized in 1902 to coordinate the programs and activities of existing Alliance Française groups worldwide, and to serve as a link with the Alliance of Paris.  The Minneapolis/St. Paul AF chapter is part of a network of 1,300 similar organizations found worldwide in more than 112 countries; 165 of these chapters are in the United States.  Each year the Federation organizes lecture and concert tours by prominent French visitors.  These are offered to the Alliances in the United States at a nominal cost. 

 The Alliance Française in Minnesota was started in the 1920s by a small group interested in the language and culture of France.  Led by University of Minnesota Professor Jacques Fermand, the group became a member of the Federation of French Alliances, and the AFMSP (Alliance Française de Minneapolis-St. Paul) pays annual dues to them.  By the 1950s, the chapter had approximately 100 members.  Currently, the AFMSP has approximately 975 members and an operating budget of $450,000.

 For many years, the Alliance sponsored informal French conversation groups, and in 1971, French classes were instituted, meeting in homes and colleges.  On October 29, 1975, the chapter was incorporated as a non-profit organization in the state of Minnesota.  The first meeting of the newly incorporated Board of Directors was November 15, 1975, at the home of Hélène Peters, for the purpose of adopting By-Laws.  In September 1976, the Board gave Marie-Rose Adams permission to establish adult classes; Saturday morning classes for children were established a short time later.  Fourteen teachers were hired in 1976, the approximate number of teachers hired each year in succeeding years. 

 The Alliance Française of the Twin Cities acquired space for an office and one classroom for the first time in September 1982 at Baker Court, 821 Raymond Avenue in St. Paul; the office was run by volunteers.  By 1985, the office had expanded to include two classrooms, a library, and a room for Professor Détaché Colette Saidane (later designated as Executive Director), who arrived from Paris in September to begin a six-year term, ending in 1991.  Staff also included a part-time secretary and part-time Director of Classes, and a policy of hiring only native French teachers was adopted.  The AFMSP remained at the Baker Court location until January 6, 1998, when it moved to 113 North First Street in the historic Minneapolis Warehouse District, the present location of the school and cultural center.

 Christian Chatton, who served as Executive Director/Détaché, from 1991-1997, urged the AFMSP to purchase a home of its own.   The French government agreed to contribute 750,000 French francs toward such a purchase, aided by a gift of $75,000 from Dr. Melva Lind, former AFMSP President and Board member. 

 Abdon Berthelot, third Executive Director/Détaché (September 1997-2001), contracted AFMSP teachers to teach in Twin Cities schools not teaching a foreign language, increasing exposure and awareness of the French language in the community.  Executive Director/Détaché Eric Damien served from September 2001 to September 2005.  Under his directorship, enrollment increased to more than 1,000 members, strengthening the financial status of the school.

 In Spring 2005, the Board of Directors voted to end its dependence on the French government by hiring a local executive director.  In September 2005, Twin Cities’ resident Elodie Sontgerath, who had served as AFMSP Education Director for two years, was hired. Under her leadership, a variety of cultural programs from Paris and local artists were offered to members.  In September 2007, the Executive Director position was changed to part-time status to help improve the operating budget. Karine Cantin, AF teacher since 1992, assumed the role in October 2007.