January 2, 2026

From the Archives: A College mace presented to the Dean of Students in 1954

By Kristen Vincent ’26

The College's mace is shown on a gray background. Detail shots show the College seal and coat of arms of Marquis de Lafayette

The photo of a Lafayette College mace shows the College seal and coat of arms of the Marquis de Lafayette.

During the Bicentennial, Lafayette Today will highlight the College’s history each month by sharing a photo or object from College Archives. Want to learn more about a specific piece? Reach out to archives@lafayette.edu for more historical information.

The College holds multiple maces, including one made by Tiffany & Co. that is carried at Commencement. The College’s mace is a symbol of the sovereignty of the College. 

The mace pictured here was carved in Austria and presented to the dean of students in 1954 by Gottfried Eypeltauer, an Austrian exchange student who attended Lafayette 1950-1951. 

The photo of the Lafayette College mace shows the College seal and coat of arms of the Marquis de Lafayette. A detailed shot of the base of the mace is shown.
Click into the gallery to view the details of this Lafayette College mace.
The photo of the Lafayette College mace shows the College seal and coat of arms of the Marquis de Lafayette. A detailed shot of the top of the mace is shown on a gray background.