One photograph can spark a conversation. Four thousand can transform teaching and learning.
This is the impact of the Goodman Photography Collection at Lafayette College. With one of the nation’s most significant collections of Civil Rights-era photography now woven into classrooms, research, exhibitions, and public spaces, students and faculty are engaging with history through original images that document it.
The collection, which includes approximately 4,000 photographs gifted by Bennett J. ’79 and Meg Goodman between 2022 and 2026, represents an extraordinary resource documenting the Civil Rights Movement and the evolution of American photography. With the collection now complete, new opportunities for interdisciplinary teaching, research, and public engagement are available across campus.
Photography students are able to study original gelatin silver prints, learning directly from master photographers including Danny Lyon, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Mike Disfarmer. Rather than relying solely on digital reproductions, students can now engage with the physical prints, examining both the photographic process and the historical moments they document.
Beyond the classroom, the Goodman Collection has become an increasingly visible part of campus life. Photographs are displayed in the President’s House, where they provide a backdrop for meetings and events with alumni, trustees, students, and distinguished guests. Additional works have been displayed in the Kirby Hall of Civil Rights’ library and are planned for additional spaces on campus.
“We’re not simply preserving these photographs; we are making them accessible so they can continue to educate, challenge, and inspire,” says Ricardo Reyes, Ph.D., director of galleries and curator of collections. “There’s something different about standing in front of an original print. Thanks to the Goodmans, students aren’t just learning about history; they are immersed in it.”
