In 1824 and 1825 General Lafayette, considered a hero of the American revolution, toured the United States. One of his stops was here in Lexington.
Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Wikipedia article.
When Lafayette spoke at Transylvania in 1825, the building know as Old Morrison was not yet built. The main academic building, in which there was a chapel, was located at the top of what is now known as Gratz Park where there is currently a fountain.
Materials held by Transy
- THE ORDER OF EXERCISES IN THE CHAPEL TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY, Collection of Original Pieces in Honour of the arrival of General La Fayette the hero, patriot, and philanthropist, a defender of American independence, ...
...a companion of Washington, and a devoted friend of liberty and equal laws in Europe and America.
Sketch of Lafayette drawn by Constantine Rafinesque.
- Visit of General Lafayette to the Lafayette Female Academy in Lexington, Kentucky, May 16, 1825, and the exercises in honour of the nation's guest: together with a catalogue of the instructers, visitors, and pupils, of the Academy
This is a link to the copy held at Library of Congress. TU also has a copy. - Holley Scrapbook
Scrapbook kept by Horace Holley and possibly also his wife and author Mary Austin Holley. It includes news clippings related to Transylvania, as well as on Lafayette's visit begiining on page three (see the hand numbered pagination on the images; or start with page 12 of the pdf).