The Niles Daily Register recorded Lafayette’s visit in great detail, describing his arrival to the seminary through a 200-foot arbor of evergreens that “sprung up overnight.” As part of the school’s welcoming presentation, students read and sang the lines of a poem, which Madame Willard had written for the occasion.

Lines from “La Fayette is Welcome”
by Emma Hart Willard

But was't our country's rights alone
     Impell'd Fayette to freedom's van?
No! 'twas the love of human kind—
     It was the sacred cause of man—
It was benevolence sublime,
     Like that which sways the Eternal mind!

     Then deep and dear thy welcome be;
     Nor think thy daughters far from thee :
     Columbia's daughters lo! we bend,
     And claim to call thee father, friend!

We are in the process of collecting archival items from the Emma Willard School Archives and the New York State Archives in a digital collection here. We invite you to visit the online exhibit occasionally between now and next Wednesday, September 18, the actual day of Lafayette’s visit.

 

Make plans to join in the local celebrations to commemorate the bicentennial of Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to Troy on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Head of School Jenny Rao will join the Office of the President of Sage Colleges and The Women’s Institute, Russell Sage College, for a wreath laying honoring the visit of Lafayette and Madame Willard at her statue in Downtown Troy at 11:20 a.m.  We will gather with the Emma Willard School community that day at 4:30 p.m. in Wellington-Lay to enjoy presentations by Emma Willard School Archivist Stephanie Ross and History Instructor John Riley, followed by a light reception. RSVP for the presentation and reception here. 

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For more information about the bicentennial events in Downtown Troy click here.

The grotesque of Lafayette pictured at the top of this post is prominently displayed above the windows of Lyon-Remington on inner campus. A similar one (seen below right) can be found above the Slocum doors on the front of the building.