Teilhard de Chardin Foundation offices and library are located in the premises of the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris. The Foundation is sole proprietor of the copyrights on Teilhard’s works, bequeathed by the author to Jeanne-Marie Mortier, its founder. Her aim was to leave behind her a stable and lasting organisation for the custody and diffusion of Teilhard’s works. The Foundation was declared to be of national interest by the French Conseil d’Etat (Decree of December 4, 1964), which entitles it to receive donations and bequests.

The Teilhard de Chardin Foundation collects, records, publishes and circulates all documents relative to Teilhard’s life and works. Documents can be consulted by researchers at the Foundation Library. The Foundation is run by a Board of Directors appointed in accordance with the Articles of Association, and must include scientists attached to the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle.

The Association des Amis de Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was also founded by Jeanne Mortier in 1961 as the « organic extension » of the Foundation. Its purpose is to help spread and implement Teilhard’s works and ideas. Membership is open to private individuals, associations and approved groups in various regions. (as an example see Caen site). The Foundation keeps in touch with associations pursuing the same purpose all over the world, and participates in the work of the Centre Français Teilhard de Chardin and the European Teilhard Centre founded in 1989 whose job is to facilitate co-operation in general. (see also the Netherlands Asociation site and United States).

Among the important assets which made it possible to set up the Foundation was the contribution by the Museum authorities of offices on their premises, thus providing the necessary infrastructure. Since autumn 1994 the Foundation is housed on the second floor of the Museum d’Histoire Naturelle’s central library, where two offices are used respectvely for secretarial work and and for maintaining contact with the Association.