The doctoral degree in science requiring a thesis was created in France by the decree of March 17, 1808, which reorganized the university under the First Empire. Initially consisting of two memoirs, one in astronomy, the other in mechanics, without need of original content, the thesis in mathematics evolved throughout the 19th century towards its current form, requiring original results on a freely chosen mathematical topic. The 242 theses in mathematics defended in France between 1914 and 1945, which are presented here, have been collected and studied by Juliette Leloup, whose work is available online.

In addition to their intrinsic scientific interest, these theses offer a global panorama of mathematical trends in France during the pivotal inter-war period, showing the emergence of active research centers in the provinces and the vitality of international exchanges. They illustrate not only the arrival on the mathematical scene of the future members of Bourbaki, but also the development of differential geometry around Elie Cartan, the renewal of complex analysis and the increasing interest in probability theory.