Honoring our namesake’s legacy at George Washington Presidential Library

Marquis de Lafayette—the College’s namesake and a Revolutionary icon who defined the spirit of freedom in the 18th century—was honored as part of Lafayette’s Bicentennial celebrations.

More than 90 Lafayette alumni, family, faculty, staff, and friends gathered for an evening at George Washington Presidential Library Oct. 22. Guests explored a collection of letters and other artifacts related to the enduring mentorship between the Marquis de Lafayette and President George Washington.

Karen Kirby ’87 P ’19 ’22, New Jersey Vice Regent of The Mount Vernon Ladies Association, opened the special evening with an introduction of President Nicole Hurd, as well as some history of the MVLA and its preservation of Mount Vernon. After President Hurd’s remarks about the noteworthy relationship between Lafayette and Washington and the importance of the College’s bicentennial, Dr. Douglas Bradburn, president and CEO of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, addressed the gathering. Dr Bradburn provided insights on Lafayette and Washington while extending a special invitation to scholars at the College to build more academic opportunities between the institutions.

Additionally, Elaine Stomber ’89 P’17 P’21, co-director of Special Collections and College Archives and College archivist, discussed the collection of artifacts from our own Skillman Library—as well as the exciting exhibition that will be taking place in Paris in 2026. Nora Zimmerman, digital archivist and repository librarian, provided an inspiring look at the digitization of documents regarding the Marquis. The evening concluded with tours of some of the library’s treasures.

“As we celebrate our Bicentennial, Mt. Vernon and the George Washington Presidential Library are such an integral part of understanding our history. The relationship between our nation’s first president and Lafayette, the key to the Bastille, the letters they wrote to each other, the ways in which they discussed the critical issues of their time- they are all visible in that historic space,” said President Hurd. “I am so grateful to Karen and Jeff Kirby and the leadership of Mt. Vernon for keeping this history alive and bringing the college community together to learn and reflect.”