Thursday evening, April 15, Professor Linda Gordon (NYU) delivered the Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar lecture to a crowd of 80-plus students, faculty, and community members (including a feature writer from the Advocate – look for the article coming soon), the Hill Memorial Library lecture hall. The lecture was videotaped, thanks to University Relations, and it will soon be freely available on the Internet. The url will be posted here when it becomes available.

In her talk, Professor Gordon explored the ways in which documentary photographer Dorothea Lange used her art as a democratizing force, to break down stereotypes. By revealing the dignity, grace, and humanity of those she photographed, Lange subtly demanded that her viewers question why those people – be they poor migrant workers, Japanese interns during World War II, or African-American sharecroppers – were suffering the conditions in which we see them.

Drawing on the research she did for her recently published biography of Lange (Dorothea Lange: A Life Beyond Limits, which reviewers describe as a “riveting portrait of one of America’s most renowned photographers” and an “astonishing and deeply moving biography”) Gordon provided a biographical context for Lange’s work, and discussed the fate of her work, various portions of which are held by the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the Oakland Museum.

The audience was appreciative and asked questions for 25 minutes following the 50 minute talk. In addition, Professor Gordon met informally with two groups students during the day to discuss topics related to the history of birth control and abortion and related topics. Special thanks are due to the LSU Department of History, for co-sponsoring the event, and especially to Alecia Long, Carolyn Lewis, Nancy Isenberg, Gaines Foster, and Victor Stater, for their help with arrangements. The LSU Libraries and University Relations also provided support.

The purpose of the Visiting Scholar program, which is administered and supported by the national Phi Beta Kappa organization, is to contribute to the intellectual life of the institution by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students. This Visiting Scholar was certainly a success, and congratulations are due to all dues-paying members of the LSU Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for supporting the event.