PRESS RELEASE- For Release 2/28/2025
Media Contact: Natalie Oslund
natalie.oslund@archives.alabama.gov
(334) 353-1881
FOOD FOR THOUGHT LUNCHTIME LECTURE AT THE ARCHIVES
THURSDAY, MARCH 20 AT 12:00PM
LAFAYETTE: THE NATION'S GUEST
PRESENTED BY DR. EDWIN BRIDGES
Montgomery, AL (02/28/2025) – The Alabama Department of Archives & History (ADAH) will continue its 2025 Food for Thought lunchtime lecture series on Thursday, March 20, at 12:00pm CT. Dr. Ed Bridges will present Lafayette: The Nation's Guest. The program will be held in the ADAH’s Joseph M. Farley Alabama Power Auditorium in Montgomery. It will also be livestreamed on the ADAH’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Admission is FREE.
The Marquis de Lafayette's 1825 visit to Alabama stands as one of the most significant events in the state's early history. Returning as an elderly man, shaped by both triumphs and challenges, Lafayette was honored by a nation he had played a pivotal role in founding. His procession through Alabama not only commemorated his contributions to American independence but also provided a revealing snapshot of life in the young state during that period, offering valuable insight into its social, political, and economic landscape at the time.
Ed Bridges earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago. While pursuing his doctorate, he taught high school history, conducted contract research, and served as a part-time instructor at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1976, he joined the Georgia Department of Archives and History, rising to assistant director. In 1982, he became director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, a position he held for over thirty years. Following his retirement, Bridges authored Alabama: The Making of an American State. He also chaired the Advisory Committee of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission. Bridges remains active in Alabama history, collaborating with various organizations across the state. He and his wife, Martha, have three children and five grandchildren.
For additional information, contact Alex Colvin at alex.colvin@archives.alabama.gov or (334) 353-4689. A complete schedule of our 2025 lunchtime lecture series is available at archives.alabama.gov. Food for Thought 2025 is sponsored by the Alabama Humanities Alliance and the Friends of the Alabama Archives.
The Alabama Department of Archives and History is the state’s government-records repository, a special-collections library and research facility, and home to the Museum of Alabama, the state history museum. It is located in downtown Montgomery, directly across Washington Avenue from the State Capitol. The Museum of Alabama is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 to 4:30. The EBSCO Research Room is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 to 4:30. To learn more, visit www.archives.alabama.gov or call (334) 242-4364.
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