]> ms.41 Lafon (Pierre) 1773-1846 Papers 1797-1838 Ms. 41 Special Collections, The Milton S. Eisenhower Library, The Johns Hopkins University

3400 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218 USA Phone: (410) 516-8323

Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Diwakar Bhandari Finding aid written in English Lafon (Pierre) 1773-1846 Papers 1797-1838 Ms. 41 Special CollectionsThe Milton S. Eisenhower Library The Johns Hopkins University Contact Information Special Collections The Milton S. Eisenhower Library The Johns Hopkins University 3400 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218 (410) 516-8323 Encoded by: Diwakar Bhandari

Descriptive Summary Ms. 41 Lafon (Pierre) 1773-1846 Papers 1797-1838 Lafon, Pierre, 1773-1846 Johns Hopkins University. Special Collections 1 document box (.4 linear ft.) English The collection consists of contracts, theatre bills, marriage documents, letters, totalling 47 items, which span the years 1797 - 1838. A description of the collection written by H. Carrington Lancaster was published in Modern Language Notes in June 1953. Among the letters of particular interest are those from Lafon addressed to Lucien Bonaparte and to the latter's successor as Minister of the Interior, Chaptal; and to Maherault who directed for the government the affairs of the Comedie Francaise. Most of Lafon's letters complain of injustices, of the jealousies and intrigues of associates, and request various favors and dispensations. An amusing item is Lafon's letter to the actor Talma written probably in 1803, regretting the prominence with which Talma's name appeared on advertising posters. The collection is in French and is filed chronologically. Administrative Information Provenance

This collection was purchased in 1952 by Johns Hopkins University from J.K. Fletcher, Ltd., London, and was catalogued in about 1955.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from this collection must be requested in writing from the Manuscripts Librarian, Milton S. Eisenhower Library, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Md. 21218.

Preferred Citation

Pierre Lafon Papers Ms. 41 Special Collections Milton S. Eisenhower Library The Johns Hopkins University

Biographical Note

Pierre Lafon or Lafond was born in Lalinde in the Dordogne on September 1, 1773, the son of Jean Lafond and Marie Gertrude Dretchene. By March 1797 he was under contract to play for a year in the troupe of the Theatre de Nice. In May 1800 he made his debut in Paris at the reorganized Comedie Francaise playing in Racine's "Iphigenie." He had lessons in acting from Dugazon, won the protection of Lucien Bonaparte, and enjoyed such success that he received an invitation from Napoleon to dine at the Tuileries. In September 1800 he was notified of his right to membership in the troupe of the Comedie Francaise. However, in order to secure the roles which he considered appropriate for himself it was necessary that he constantly seek patronage from those in positions of power and influence. Lafon became an important actor, playing many major roles. His first wife, Marie Virginia Paquet, died in Paris on January 16, 1821. He married a second time, Eugenie Julie Marchez, on September 18, 1827. He retired from the stage in 1831. In this collection two children are mentioned: a son, Achille, an Army officer, and a daughter who was a painter. Pierre Lafon died in 1846.

Description of Series/Container List Container List Container List 1 document box

Box Contents 1 Lafon's contact to play for a year in the troupe of the Theatre de Nice., March 15, 1797 1 Letter from Victoire Reboul to Lafon, Oct. 18, 1799 1 Lafon's note originally accompanying Bonaparte letters 1 Letter to Lafon from the Prefect of Isere , Aug. 24, 1800 1 Letter from Maherault about Lafon's becoming a societaire of the Coedie Francaise , Sept. 28, 1800 1 Letter from Lafon to Napoleon, Dec. 26, 1800 1 Another letter from Lafon to Napoleon, probably written early in 1801 1 Letter from Lafon to the actors of the Comedie Francaise offering to play Oreste, probably written in 1801 1 Invitation to Lafon to a ball in the Ministry of War in celebration of peace, March 20, 1801 1 Letter of Lafon to Lucien Bonaparte, probably written in May or June,1801 and accompanied by a brief note written by Lafon 1 Letter from Lafon to Chaptal, probably written in 1801. 1 Letter from Lafon to Maherault, probably written in 1801 1 Letter from Lafon to Maherault, probably written in 1801 1 Letter from Lafon to his comerades, May 8, 1802. 1 Letter from Lafon to Roederer, written between March 12 and Sept.14, 1802 1 Copy of letter from Lafon to his comrades, Oct. 9, 1802. 1 Note from Maherault to Lafon, Nov. 10, 1802 1 Letter from Lafon to Lucien Bonaparte, probably 1802 1 Fragment of letter to Lucien Bonaparte from Lafon, probably 1802 1 Unsigned letter to Lafon of the early nineteenth century 1 Letter sent to Lucien Bonaparte by Lafon, probably in 1802, entrusted to a actress 1 Letter from Lafon to Talma, before April 20, 1804, probably in 1803 1 Maherault notifies Lafon that he has a leave, April 20, 1804 1 Letter to Lafon from Piis, July 31, 1804 1 Bernard notifies Lafon that he is about to have an eighth of a share in the company, July 9, 1808 1 Lafon declines to play a role in Luce de Lancival's Hector. Probably written in 1808 1 Letter to Lafon from Napoleon's sister, May 23, 1810 1 Four documents of 1810 - 1815 about Lafon's special salary 1 Lafon's contract to play at Lyons, March 16, 1811 1 Lafon's contract to play at Marseilles, July 18, 1811 1 Bernard orders Lafon to return at once to Paris, September 29, 1811 1 Speech delivered by Lafon in 1812 over the tomb of Monvel 1 Documents concerning the burial of Lafon's daughter, Sept. 20,1813 1 Poster announcing that on Sept. 26, 1814, Lafon will play at Bordeaux in Voltaire's Zaire 1 Undated notes to Lafon from the Marquis de Terzi son-in-law of the Princess Golitzin 1 Letter to Lafon from a general in Avignon, Oct. 2, 1816 1 Letter of Nov. 14, 1816, from Lafon to the editor of the Gazette de France,protesting against an article by Martainville 1 July 3, 1817 (date given in the Amateur des Autographes). From Lafon to La Ferte protesting against actors' gossip 1 Letter to Lafon from a physician, March 30, 1821 1 Letter to Lafon from a teacher, June 12, 1826 1 Letter from Lafon in regard to Pichat, Nov. 6, 1826 1 Pichat's reply, Dec. 6, 1826 1 Documents concerning Lafon's second marriage 1 Five letters from Lafon to his son Achille 1 Letter from Lafon's daughter to Achille, May, 1839 1 An undated note from the comte de Coetlogon to Lafon 1 A sketch of English history from Edward IV to Henry VIII