Lafayette College professor brings Marquis de Lafayette's legacy to life in Paris exhibition - Pennsylvania News Beep

For most visitors to the National Archives Museum in Paris, the new exhibition exploring the life of Marquis de Lafayette tells the story of one of history’s most influential champions of democracy. But for Lafayette College professor Olga Anna Duhl, it also tells a story that began decades ago in Easton.

Duhl, a French professor at Lafayette College since 1992, has spent the last three years helping bring “Lafayette Between France and America: History and Legend” to life. The exhibition, now on display at France’s National Archives Museum, coincides with both the nation’s America 250 commemoration and Lafayette College’s bicentennial, connecting local history to a broader, international audience.

The exhibition includes manuscripts, artwork, rare books, artifacts and archival materials from Lafayette College’s Special Collections and College Archives, France’s National Archives and several other French institutions. Together, the materials trace Lafayette’s life from his military service during the American Revolution to his later political career in France, while examining how he became an international symbol of liberty.

The project grew out of an exhibition Duhl co-curated in 2016 and 2017 at Manhattan’s Grolier Club in New York City about Lafayette and the anti-slavery movement. After that exhibit’s success, she wanted to expand the idea by bringing Lafayette’s story back to France, where she said the Revolutionary War hero is far less known than he is in the United States.

As a scholar of French literature who regularly conducts research in Paris, Duhl spent years building connections and relationships with French institutions before finally finding a home for the exhibition at the National Archives.

“It is really the ideal place for this exhibition to take place,” she said. “It’s devoted to the preservation of memory throughout the centuries.”

Since opening, the exhibition has drawn more than 53,000 visitors, including students from both the United States and France, Duhl said. She added she hopes attendance continues to grow during Independence Day celebrations as interest in America’s semiquincentennial peaks.

Over the past three years, Lafayette College professor Olga Anna Duhl has worked to bring the exhibit “Lafayette Between France and America: History and Legend” to life. It is now on display at France’s National Archives Museum. (Courtesy Carole Bauer / Archives Nationales de France)

Lafayette College professor Olga Anna Duhl (Contributed photo)

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While the exhibition explores Lafayette’s military accomplishments, Duhl said it also highlights aspects of his life that receive less public attention.

Among them is his advocacy for human rights, including his opposition to slavery and his lifelong commitment to democratic principles. Another section focuses on his wife, Adrienne de Lafayette, whose contributions have often been overshadowed by those of her husband.

“She deserves a lot of credit,” Duhl said, noting that Adrienne supported Lafayette’s efforts throughout his political career and played a critical role during his imprisonment in Austria as punishment for fleeing France during that country’s revolution.

The college recently unveiled a statue honoring Adrienne as part of its bicentennial celebration.

The exhibition also explores Lafayette’s return to public life after his imprisonment, a period Duhl believes deserves greater recognition.

“Even specialists don’t know too much about that part of his life,” she said.

As for the Lehigh Valley, the exhibition also serves as a reminder of why Lafayette’s name remains woven into the region’s local history.

After Lafayette’s celebrated farewell tour of the United States in 1824-25, civic leaders in Easton were inspired by his visit and his speech in Philadelphia. They established Lafayette College in 1826 to honor his legacy, creating a connection that continues nearly 200 years later.

“Lafayette made an incomparable contribution to the success of the War of Independence,” Duhl said. “His military and diplomatic strategies led to the victory of the allied forces.”

She believes those ideals continue to resonate as the country prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

“Lafayette was a freedom fighter,” she said. “His commitment to democratic ideals is still important today.”

Coordinating an international exhibition was no small task. Duhl worked with teams of American and French curators and advisory committees while overseeing countless emails and planning sessions across multiple time zones.

She said while it was a challenging process over the years, it was also extremely rewarding.

Despite the logistical hurdles, she said the experience created lasting friendships and expanded her own understanding of Lafayette’s life and legacy.

Duhl’s passion for this exhibition has led her to grow both as a scholar and professor. “I’m grateful to Lafayette College and its dedicated faculty, staff, and outstanding students for their wonderful support,” she said.

Duhl hopes the exhibition will eventually inspire additional projects in the United States, allowing more Americans to explore the history of the French aristocrat whose belief in liberty helped shape both nations.

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, she hopes visitors in Paris and locals back home in the Lehigh Valley remember that Lafayette’s story reaches far beyond the battlefield.

“This exhibition connects local history, American history and global history,” she said. “Lafayette’s ideals are still alive today, and they deserve to be celebrated.”

Lafayette College professor brings Marquis de Lafayette’s legacy to life in Paris exhibition

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