There's a free Lafayette pop-up museum at the Woman's Club of Morristown on July 12 and 13.

WOMAN’S CLUB OF MORRISTOWN TO HOST LAFAYETTE POP-UP MUSEUM JULY 12 AND 13

“Lafayette’s Treasures,” an exhibit of items connected to Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette, will be on view at a pop-up museum at The Woman’s Club of Morristown, 51 South Street, Morristown, NJ, July 12 and 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Included will be some of Lafayette’s own possessions and a variety of artifacts and artworks commemorating the general’s triumphal 1824-25 tour of the United States. The objects are on loan from several significant local Lafayette collectors. There is no fee to visit the exhibit.

In 1824, Gilbert du Motier de Lafayette, the last living American general from the Revolutionary War, was invited by President James Monroe for a short tour to celebrate the nation’s 50th anniversary and reignite its patriotism. His return was enthusiastically marked in all 24 states by parades, balls, dinners, and other celebrations. The three-month tour stretched into 13. During his tour, Lafayette was gifted by citizens ranging from elected officials to schoolgirls to veterans. He also inspired a wide array of commemorative souvenirs.

Morristown, where Lafayette had announced that France would officially declare itself as America’s ally in the war, hosted his return on July 14, 1825. The welcome address was given by resident Dr. Lewis Condict. Condict’s home became the Woman’s Club of Morristown’s clubhouse in 1937.

Lafayette was a military hero, but his popularity with the ladies was undisputed. Several of the items on display reflect this feminine interest, including

- A golden shoe buckle, one of a pair given by Lafayette to a lady who danced at his ball. He had brought from France several pairs to distribute. The buckle is said to have been passed down from a niece of Martha Washington to suffragette Julia Ann Wilbur.

- A Staffordshire blue teapot in the Landing of Lafayette pattern by Clews, circa 1824-25.

- A pair of white kid gloves printed with a portrait medallion of Lafayette, captioned “The Friend of Washington.” Thousands of these gloves were purchased by women during Lafayette’s visit and worn to parades in his honor.

There are also several items with close ties to the Condict House and the Woman’s Club.

The members of the Woman’s Club of Morristown are dedicated to serving their community. The Club is a non-profit, non-political, non-sectarian organization whose purpose is to promote improvements within its community, to offer civic, cultural, and educational activities, and to preserve the historic Dr. Lewis Condict House. Membership is open to all women who live or work in the greater Morristown area. More information is available at www.wcomt.org or https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552970017661.