FHS AuCourant Spring2013 FINAL Web

FRENCH
HERITAGE
SOCI E T Y
AuCourant
S P R I N G
2 0 1 3
2013 Grants

Interviews:
Chef Alain Ducasse
Banque Transatlantique CEO,
Bruno Julien-Laferrire
Educational Profile
Chairmans Circle Trip
Chapter Events
Maison de lEducation de la Lgion dHonneur

Saint-Denis, France
frenchheritagesociety.org
Elizabeth F. Stribling Chairman

New Ambassadors Circle Launched
assumed the position of Chairman of French Heritage

Society six years ago; six months later Denis de Kergorlay
became President of the association. It was the wish of Marie-Sol de
La Tour dAuvergne to have an American Chairman and a French
President to jointly lead French Heritage Society into the future. My
first goal was to increase the visibility of French Heritage Society.
Early on, I had the idea of creating a Chairmans Circle which would
be composed of a group of patrons who would be willing to support
French Heritage Society at a higher monetary level and introduce
new friends to our organization.
We began with five members of the Chairmans Circle and today,
I am proud to say we have twenty-five Chairmen. For the
Chairmen, there is an annual trip to which they can subscribe as
well as a private dinner in an exceptional place. Two years ago, the
Chairmans Circle members visited the charming rolling valleys of
the Dordogne dotted with fairy tale chteaux. Next October 14th
to 18th, 2013, the Chairmans Circle will take five successive day
trips in the Ile-de-France to explore the royal haunts of Compigne,
Rambouillet, Chantilly and Versailles, as well as the charm of the
village of Senlis. In Paris, we will visit the splendors of the Val
de Grace and the Pantheon. In addition, there was a Chairmans
Dinner at the exquisite Chateau de Breteuil, near Paris, where the
Marquis Henri-Franois de Breteuil and his delightful wife Roberta
hosted us on June 7th, 2013.
With the success of our Chairmans Circle, and inspired by other
charitable Franco-American societies, I am pleased to announce
that we have just launched an even higher circle of patrons
entitled the Ambassadors Circle. For the members of this circle,
there will be private meetings with Ambassadors and members of
the diplomatic corps of both France and America in intimate and
informal settings. I was hoping to begin with six members and we
have already attracted eleven members for our founding group.
I am happy to inform you that Franois Delattre, the French
Ambassador to Washington, received the Ambassadors Circle for
breakfast at his personal residence in Washington DC on May 15th
2013. Ambassador Delattre was the most welcoming of hosts and

the meeting surpassed my expectations. We discussed world issues,
the use of the French language, youth and entrepreneurship, and a
host of other matters, all the while enjoying a delicious breakfast of
truffled scrambled eggs.
In Paris, Philippe Lalliot, the former French Consul General,
now the Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the
Quai dOrsay, hosted a breakfast for us at the Ministry on June
6th, 2013. These occasions allow a rare opportunity to discuss
politics, diplomacy, and the daily life of a diplomat in an off the
record context. Naturally, the members of this Circle will have all
the privileges of the Chairmans Circle. In the fall of 2013, we hope
to be able to have a meeting with the soon to be appointed new
American Ambassador to France.
Although membership in these two circles will raise much-needed
unrestricted funds that will help French Heritage Society to
continue its mission of restoring places of architectural merit in
France as well as those inspired by France in the US, let me assure
you that each member of French Heritage Society, at whatever level,
is equally valued. Each of you loves and appreciates the glory of
French architecture. Your membership and participation in chapter
events allows us to perpetuate our goal of historic conservation
and restoration. I salute all of the Chapter Chairmen who organize
all the interesting, fun and educational events of French Heritage
Society throughout the US. Thanks to them and you, our overall
membership has grown by 12.5% since one year ago, with 48 new
members: 40 in the US and eight in Paris. As our membership
grows, so does our visibility. I send heartfelt thanks to each of
you for your role in the growth and continued success of French
Heritage Society.
Elizabeth F. Stribling, Chairman
Members of French Heritage Societys

newly-created Ambassadors Circle
recently joined French Ambassador
Franois Delattre (center) for a
private breakfast at the Ambassadors
residence in Washington, DC.
Denis de Kergolay, President
French Heritage Society After its 30th Anniversary:

Continuity and New Ambitions
rench Heritage Societys 30th Anniversary is now a

great memory for all its members and supporters of our
organization and is, as were the precedent celebrations (15th, 20th,
25th), a glorious page in our history. In light of this great anniversary
we follow along the path of continuity, but also with a perspective
for new ambitions.
Continuity:
The fundamental elements of our organization remain the same

A.) The transmission of knowledge in the field of historic
preservation on both sides of the Atlantic.
This, of course, entails exchanges of architects as part of the Richard
Morris Hunt Fellowship with a dedicated sponsor: Lafarge. But this
also consists of the Student Exchange Program that is witnessing a
swift expansion under the direction of Diane de Roquette-Buisson.
B.) To contribute through fund raising activities to the restoration
of French historic monuments on both sides of the Atlantic.
Our American friends and patrons are sensitive to the fact that a
non-negligible part of the funds raised go to monuments linked to
France but located on American soil. In the future the proportion
of these monuments in the overall attribution of grants should
increase.
C.) To contribute to a better understanding of the richness and the
diversity of the French or French-inspired heritage. This is chiefly
achieved in two ways:
First of all, through cultural trips that we organize on both sides
of the Atlantic: on the American side this has been to French
inspired gardens around Los Angeles, to New Orleans and Creole
plantations, to Newport, to Monticello, and to Charleston, etc.
On the French side, cultural trips have been organized to discover
or to rediscover several regions in France such as Normandy,
Lorraine, Burgundy, Provence and the Riviera, Perigord, Gascony,
Paris and the Ile-de-France, each time with private receptions
organized at monuments having received French Heritage
Society grants, and at times with grant ceremonies on site.
As well as through cultural activities organized in each of our 12
Chapters in the US and one in Paris to allow our members to
discover various aspects of the French and/or American cultural
heritage.
D.) To develop on both sides of the Atlantic a network of individuals
and corporations in order to support our organizations efforts.
New Ambitions:
In order to preserve its character,

its identity, and to remain true
to its history, French Heritage
Society must retain a family
dimension and spirit, this is what
gives it its warmth, and if I could
say, its magic.
At the same time French Heritage
Society must certainly continue to
develop in order to attain a more
important stature in the realm of
Franco-American philanthropy.
The strategy recommended by our
Chairman Elizabeth Stribling, is
to ask our chief supporters to increase their commitment: expand
our Board of Directors, increase the annual dues for Board members
from $5,000 to $10,000, increase the number of Chairmans
Circle members (at $5,000 per year) and the creation of a new
Ambassadors Circle (at $15,000 per year). We can already see that
this strategy has brought about remarkable results, and we can
certainly be optimistic for the future.
For their part, the Chapters are encouraged to develop the number
of their cultural activities and we can see without a doubt a real
dynamism and creativity in several of our Chapters.
And, as well, we are developing more and more partnerships with
foundations and corporations, particularly for companies in the
luxury goods and French art de vivre sectors, as you have no doubt
seen notably in our Program Journal.
The result of all these efforts has been an increased visibility as
evidenced by media coverage, especially in France, with respect to
our organization.
Thanks to all these combined efforts French Heritage Society is
taking on an ever-increasing importance in the sector of FrancoAmerican philanthropy, which has favorably impacted our
membership and our partnerships. This is truly a positive cycle.
Denis de Kergolay, President
2013 Grants
French Heritage Society

Awards $159,000 in Grants
These grants represent the fund raising efforts of the association and its
Chapters through their activities across the US and in France.
In France
Table of Contents
4
2013 Grants
12
Educational Program
Profile: Andrei Pesic
14
Interview:
Banque Transatlantique CEO
Manoir dAngo, Seine Maritime
$20,000
New York Chapter
Chteau de Longpra, Isre
$15,000
Paris Chapter
Abbaye de Reigny, Yonne
$15,000
Philadelphia and Dallas Chapters
Manoir de Vauville, Manche
$10,000
Atlanta and Southern California

Chapters
Chteau de Sassy, Eure
$20,000
New York Chapter
Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prs,
Seine
$16,000
New York Chapter*
Maison dEducation de la Lgion

dHonneur, Seine Saint Denis
$20,000
Paris Chapter
Total in France:
$116,000
22
New Board Members
& Chapter Chairmen
French Huguenot Church,

Charleston, South Carolina
$20,000
Atlanta Chapter
24
Denis de Kergorlay
Awarded Legion of Honor
Petite Plaisance,
Northeast Harbor, Maine
$8,000
Boston Chapter
25
Retreat at Canisy
Legion of Honor Museum,

San Francisco, California
$5,000
Northern California Chapter
Fort Ticonderoga,
Ticonderoga, New York
$10,000
New York Chapter
Total in the US:
$43,000
In the US
*Raised to date, ongoing campaign
16
18
Interview:
Chef Alain Ducasse
20
Washington Gala
26
Chapters:
Past Events
31
Homage:
Marquise de la Tour du Pin
31
Calendar of Events
32
Sponsors
2013
Grants
in France
Manoir dAngo (Seine-Maritime)
$20,000 New York Chapter
Located in Normandy, near Dieppe, close to the sea, the Manoir
dAngo was registered as an Historic Monument in 1862 on one of
the very first lists along with Versailles, Notre-Dame de Paris and
the Louvre Palace. The manoir was built in 1530 by Jean Ango,
a rich ship-owner from Dieppe. Ango was inspired by the Italian
Renaissance as he was, through his work as ship-owner, in close
contact with Italy. The loggia on the southern faade is illustrative
of that influence and the gallery is decorated with Italian frescoes.
The faade features sculpted medallions
that represent King Francis I, Ango,
and their respective wives. In 1532
Ango had the refined brick dove cove
built, which dominates the courtyard
and could accommodate 3,200 pigeons
a clear illustration of his power and
prestige. The onion dome, the only
one in France, has a marked Byzantine
influence in honor of the Franco-Turk
alliance of 1536.
In 1523, Jean Ango asked Giovanni
Verrazano, the great Italian explorer,
to command four of his ships and sail west to find the passage to
India. Verrazano crossed the Atlantic and sailed along the American
coast from the Carolinas to Nova Scotia. Landing in what is now
Maryland, he christened this paradisiacal land Arcadia.
The following year he discovered

the site of New York and baptized it
Angousleme to honor Francis I who
had been Duke of Angouleme before
becoming king.
In 1928, the estate was purchased by
the current owners family who largely
restored the chteau and grounds.
Restoration: French Heritage Societys grant will help to restore the
tile roof of the west wing of the chteau.
Chteau de Longpra (Isre)

$15,000 Paris Chapter
The Chteau de Longpra, southeast of Lyon, originally a Maison
Forte typical of the region, entered into the family who currently
owns it in 1536. In 1755, the austere structure was transformed into
a refined house typical of the neoclassical and Italian tastes of the
time. The owner at the time, Pierre Antoine Pascalis de Longpra,
was a great lover of the arts. He hired the best artisans of the region,
among them the famous cabinetmaker family, Hache.
They installed a permanent workshop in Longpra and created
doors, furniture, staircases, parquet floors, etc. They left numerous
tools behind that represent today one of the largest collections of
cabinet making tools in France. The Chteau de Longpra remains
an intact testimonial of the architectural and furniture heritage of
the 18th century in the region and opens its doors for prestigious
exhibits (Christofle) and concerts.
In 2004 major restoration of the roofs began. During this seven-year
campaign, the Chief Architect for Historic Monuments was alerted
4
several times by the owners of the need to restore the upper slope
of the gambrel roof of the main building. Despite these warnings,
the architect did not undertake this restoration. In the last ten years,
that part of the roof severely deteriorated.
Today, the authorities have recognized that it was a mistake not
to have included the middle of the roof in the original restoration
campaign. The restoration has become urgent as water infiltrations
threaten the carpentry work beneath it. The work will now be made
more difficult due to the central position of the roof which will
require special scaffolding to avoid damage to the recently restored
sections of the roof.
Restoration: the upper slope of the remarkable gambrel roof of the
main building
Right: Chteau de Longpra and details of the tile roof and
damaged support beams
Chteau de Sassy (Orne)

$20,000 New York Chapter
The Chteau de Sassy, one of the most beautiful chteaux in
Normandy, was built in brick and stone in 1760 by the Comte
de Germiny. The vast three-storey terraces in the park lead to the
chteau. Two pavilions on both sides of the cour dhonneur dating
from the 17th century remain from the previous chteau. In 1850
the chteau was bought by the first Duc dAudiffret-Pasquier who
had the study in the east wing of the chteau converted into a
library to house the large collection from his ancestor, the chancellor
Pasquier, an important public figure during the French Revolution
and afterward. The interior decoration of the library was registered
as a Historic Monument in 1994.
The second Duc dAudiffret started a campaign to embellish the
chteau. Between 1908 and 1913, he prolonged the western wing
of the chteau and later had the park remodelled by the famous
landscape gardener Achille Duchne between 1920 and 1925.
Duchne worked in the grand manner established by Andr Le
Ntre and was the garden designer most in demand among French
high society at the turn of the 20th century. Over a period of
years his firm oversaw the design for some six thousand gardens
in France and worldwide. The chteau also has the particularity of
having the Greenwich meridian cross the far end of the western
wing. Illustrious quests at Sassy have included Elizabeth II, Queen
of England who stayed at the chteau in 1967.
Since 1999 and the death of the third Duc dAudiffret-Pasquier,

major restoration campaigns have been carried out. The roofing of
the chteau, the chapel, the orangeries and the common buildings
all suffered from water infiltration. Most of those sections of the
roof have already been restored with special attention given to the
replacement of the slate tiles.
Restoration: the roof and gutters on a section of the west wing of
the chteau
Manoir de Vauville Botanical Gardens (Manche)

$10,000 Atlanta and Southern California Chapters
the Conqueror. The chteau has
been in the same family since
1890. The garden was created in
the moat in 1947 by the parents
of the present owners, who had
a particular interest in exotic
plants. Since 1980 the garden has
grown from two to eight hectares.
Reflecting pools where created,
the banks restored, hedges to
protect against the wind were
integrated to give coherence to the garden. The current owners
continue to collect unusual plants from all over the world. The ongoing development and maintenance of such a garden only 300
yards from the sea with direct exposure to sand, wind, salt, and
difficult weather, is a very challenging project.
The Botanical Garden of the Chteau de Vauville, located on the
extreme north coast of Cotentin in Normandy, has thrived with the
more gentle climate influenced by the Gulf Stream. The garden is
situated between the sea and the chteau and grows greenery native
to the area and some 600 different species of exotic vegetation from
South Africa, Tasmania, Madeira and the Canary Islands.
The manor was originally built as a fortress in 1163 by Richard de
Vauville who participated in the Conquest of England with William
Restoration: Urgent restoration of the green houses and orangerie

greatly damaged by the severe snow storm with high winds in
March 2013, which saw nearly 24 inches of snow fall in a single
day. In addition, many plants and trees sustained damage. Teams
worked around the clock for eight days to clear away the uprooted
vegetation (more than 210,000 cubic feet of debris). The restoration
of the green houses and orangerie is essential to incubate and house
the plants needed in order to replant the vast gardens and repair the
damage caused by the severe weather.
Abbaye de Reigny (Yonne)

$15,000 Dallas and Philadelphia Chapters
The Abbey of Reigny, located between Vezlay and Chablis, is a
former Cistercian abbey situated on 14 hectares in Burgundy.
Founded in 1128 on a former Gallo-Roman site by Father Etienne
Toucy under the authority of St. Bernard, the Abbey of Reigny
was put under the protection of Pope Eugene III in 1147. As of
1370 the abbey came under the protection of the King of France,
Charles V. Although powerful and prosperous in the Middle Ages,
welcoming up to 300 monks and brothers, the abbey has witnessed
the vicissitudes of history.
owners, who live at the abbey with their children, have undertaken
an ambitious restoration and development program to bring the
abbey back to life. It is open to the public for visits, concerts,
exhibitions, receptions, weddings, and a bed and breakfast. A wellknown musical festival takes place there every year.
Restoration: windows of the church
In 1493 Charles VIII made it a Royal Foundation. The Hundred

Years War, the Wars of Religion and the French Revolution saw
the destruction of portions of the abbey. However, it has retained
remarkable buildings: the exceptional 14th-century Cistercian
refectory (there are only three such examples in France), the
hall and the monks dormitory from the 18th century and
redeveloped in 1925 when Coco Chanel and the Duke
of Westminster stayed there. The foundations of the
church can still be made out despite the demolished
buildings. The entire Cistercian hydraulic system
has also been preserved. For todays travelers, rooms
were created in this former Cistercian abbey and
breakfasts are served in the elegant 18th-century
salons or in the garden. Since 2005, the current
Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prs
(Paris)
$16,000 New York Chapter (raised to date, ongoing campaign)
The Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prs, just beyond the
outskirts of early medieval Paris, was the burial place of Merovingian
kings. At that time, the Left Bank of Paris was prone to flooding
from the Seine, so much of the land could not be built upon and the
Abbey stood in the middle of meadows, or prs in French, thereby
giving it its name.
The Abbey was founded in the 6th century by the son of ClovisI,
Childebert I. Under royal patronage the Abbey became one of the
richest in France and remained a center of intellectual life until it
was disbanded during the French Revolution. The abbey church
remained however.
After the Second World War the quarter became the focal point for
intellectuals like Sartre and de Beauvoir and epitomized Parisian
cultural life. Philosophers, writers, actors and musicians, along with
many Americans listened to jazz and discussed literature at the Caf
du Flore, Les Deux Magots and the Brasserie Lipp.
In 2011 a large restoration campaign began. The first phase, now
completed, refurbished the sanctuary and restored the overall
coherence of the structure. The second phase of work begins in
2013 for the restoration of the 19th-century murals and the stained
glass windows.
Restoration: French Heritage Societys grant will help restore
two prominent frescoes by Flandrin representing The Entry into
Jerusalem and The Ascension to Calvary.
Maison de lEducation de la Lgion

dHonneur (Seine-Saint-Denis)
$20,000 Paris Chapter
The Maison de lEducation de la Lgion dHonneur, located in
Saint-Denis just to the north of Paris next to the celebrated Gothic
Basilica which serves as the necropolis for the Kings of France, has a
prestigious history in its own right. This public school for girls has
rarely been open to the public so is less well known than its superb
architecture and long history merit.
During Napoleons reign as Emperor of the French, there were many
military schools that educated boys to become soldiers. However, the
education of girls was neglected, as the National Convention had
closed all convents which had previously ensured their education.
Napoleon created the Maisons dEducation de la Lgion dHonneur
to take care of and educate the daughters, among whom many were
orphans, of his best soldiers.
It is impossible not to make a link between the Maison dEducation
de la Lgion dHonneur and the Maison Royale de Saint-Louis
founded by Madame de Maintenon in Saint-Cyr which was used
later by Napoleon as a school for officers of the French Army. Both
schools were designed for daughters of poor officers or noblemen,
and divided into classes identified by different colored ribbons.
The Maisons dEducation were chiefly run by nuns. Napoleons
first project was to create a school both for sons and daughters of
the soldiers killed in the Battle of Austerlitz, but this project was
not realized. A later decree creating the Maisons dEducation de la
Lgion dhonneur was signed in 1805 at the Schnbrunn Palace in
Vienna. It allowed for the creation of three schools where daughters
of members of the Lgion dhonneur could enter if they were
between 7 and 10 years old, until the age of 21.
The first Maison was set up in the Chteau dcouen, is a property of
the Lgion dHonneur since 1806. In a letter from 1807, Napoleon
described the principles of the education that should be given to the
girls: to bring up believers and not thinkers. He required simple
studies, aiming to master vanity, which is the most active passion
of the (female) gender and make the pupils grow up to become
modest mothers and wives. In 1809, Napoleon signed a decree to
create a second Maison dEducation de la Lgion dHonneur, at the
Abbey of Saint Denis which had become property of the state in
1790 during the French Revolution.
The school was inaugurated 1811. In 1881, the education reforms

enacted by Jules Ferry made religious schools convert to a secular
curriculum. The Maisons dEducation de la Lgion dHonneur
started following the same curriculum as the French lyces. The
youngest girls studied in Les Loges in the former Augustinian
monastery of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (opened in 1812), the
intermediate classes were in couen and the oldest group in SaintDenis. This is still the case today.
The Maison dEducation at Saint-Denis is housed in abbatial
buildings entirely rebuilt in the 18th century by the famous architect
Robert de Cotte who built the eastern and southern wings. From
that time, the abbatial was laid out as a large square surrounding a
cloister. Work began in 1700 and following Cottes death, resumed
in 1738, supervised by the first architect of the king, Jacques V
Gabriel, with an additional wing added between 1776 and 1781.
Restoration: A campaign is currently underway to restore the Salon
des Princes to reconstitute its original space. Additional restoration
is required for the north facade of the Basilica, the roof, as well as
the main entry gate. The use of French Heritage Societys grant from
the Paris Chapter will be determined.
above left: The Insignia of the Lgion dHonneur above the
main entryway of the complex in Saint Denis.
below and above right: The cloister at the Maison dEducation
de la Lgion dHonneur in Saint Denis.
2013
Grants
In the United States
French Protestant (Huguenot)
Church (Charleston, South Carolina)
$20,000 Atlanta Chapter
The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church of Charleston is the
only remaining independent Huguenot Church in America and
was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973. Designed by
Edward Brickell White and built in 1844-5, the church that stands
today was actually preceded by two others on the site. The first of
which was built by a group 450 Huguenots who had fled France
and settled in South Carolinas Low Country in 1687. After the
first church was destroyed by fire in 1796, it was rebuilt shortly
thereafter in 1800. The second church was torn down in 1844 to
make way for a more attractive structure.
The Huguenot Church was the first Gothic Revival structure in
South Carolina. The entire church, including its Gothic faade, is
all white stucco on brick with a single tier of Gothic windows. It
features multiple pinnacle-topped buttresses, a battlement parapet
and dripstones. Cast-iron crockets top the pinnacles over the front
windows and front gable. The interior is a single cell with ribbed
grained vaulting. In 1845, a large tracker organ was installed, carved
in the shape of a Gothic chapel.
Restoration: The churchs exterior is currently undergoing a

significant three-year restoration. French Heritage Societys support
will help fund the restoration of the front faade of the church which
is the most intricate and difficult and will be the final phase of the
exterior restoration. The restoration will also reinstate the original
color of the stucco, which after analysis proved to be a light pink!
Petite Plaisance (Northeast Harbor, Mount Desert Island, Maine)

$8,000 Boston Chapter
Petite Plaisance, the home of renowned French author Marguerite
Yourcenar, was turned into a museum upon her death. The first
woman to be elected to the Acadmie Franaise, the multi- talented
Yourcenar was a novelist, essayist, playwright, short story
writer, poet, translator and world traveler. She settled
in Maine at the onset of the Second World War. A master at

reconstructing historical eras, her novels dealing with modern issues
set in historical contexts won her immense fame as a writer.
The Trust that runs Petite Plaisance will apply
for inclusion in the National Register of Historic
Places and has received support from the Maine
Historic Preservation Commission. Petite
Plaisance has also been invited by the Director
of the Regional Ministry of Cultural Affairs of
Lower Normandy to apply for Maisons des
Illustres status. An application was submitted
in February 2013.
Petite Plaisance was built around 1835 by
prominent citizen Daniel Squire Kimball.
The house is a simple clapboard farmhouse
built using white siding exterior and black shutters,
constructed in a gable-end design. A bay window and
a covered porch have been added.
Restoration: removal of the old clapboard sidings
and replacing them with new, historically accurate
ones, repair of rotten boards or trim, lead paint prep,
and repainting of the entire surface
10
Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museum (San Francisco, California)

$5,000 Northern California Chapter
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are the fourth most
visited visual arts institutions in North America. As the Bay Areas
major comprehensive fine arts museum, the Museums formed in
1972 with the merger of the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum
and the California Palace of the Legion of Honor offer Northern
Californians an overview of artistic achievement spanning ancient
times to the present. The Legion is known for its rich panorama of
European art, from medieval times through the 20th century, and
houses a fine collection of ancient art and one of the largest and
most important collections of prints and drawings in the country.
Annual attendance of the museum averages 400,000 visitors.
The Legion of Honor was built by Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Spreckels
and opened to the public in 1924. It was designed as a 2/3 scale
replica of the Palais de la Lgion dHonneur in Paris. In 1962, the

Salon Dor was installed there. Richly carved and gilded, this room
was designed during the reign of Louis XVI as the main salon de
compagnie of the Htel de la Trmoille on the rue Saint-Dominique
and is one of the finest examples of French neoclassical interior
architecture in any museum in the world. The Salon was offered
by its owner Richard Rheem in 1959 to the Legion of Honor. The
museums no period room policy was changed in order to accept
the impressive Salon Dor.
Restoration: Restore the Salon Dor to its original size as a
complete domestic interior with its parquet floor, windows, and
ceiling. Once restored, the room will be furnished in a historically
accurate manner.
11
Educational Program
A Major Focus
Education has from the outset been one of French Heritage

Societys major focuses. Through its Student Exchange
program dedicated to fostering the training of tomorrows
preservationists, more than 450 American and French
students have benefited from hands-on experience in the
field of preservation, museum management, horticulture
and related areas at museums, cultural institutions, private
chteaux, plantations and historic parks and gardens both
in France and the United States. The Educational Program
promotes knowledge of French heritage and culture through
a range of programs for undergraduate and graduate
students, preservation architects, artisans, art historians,
museum curators, art connoisseurs and private collectors.
n the summer of 2012 Andrei Pesic, an American PhD

candidate in history at Princeton University was able to
take part, thanks to a scholarship from French Heritage Society,
in an International Seminar organized by the Research Center at
Versailles. French Heritage Society was pleased to collaborate with
the Centre de Recherche du Chteau de Versailles for the program
of study on Art and Society in France in the 17th and 18th
Centuries. The seminar brought together specialized scholars from
France, Europe and the United States to enhance their knowledge
and research while collaborating with distinguished academics and
fellow PhD candidates in their field. It allowed them to create a
network of fellow scholars and advance their future careers through
personal contacts and exchanges of perspectives.
In his own words, Andrei Pesic shares his experiences from this
exceptional seminar.
I am writing to thank you for supporting my participation in
the Sminaire International de Recherche de Versailles (SIRV)
this summer. The seminar was both intellectually stimulating and
personally rewarding. It gave me new insights into my period of
study and allowed me to learn from French researchers whom I
would not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet.
The white and gold dcor of the former apartments of the Comte de
Pontchartrain in the Chteau de Versailles is surely the most elegant
setting imaginable for an academic seminar what a reward it was
every day to walk up the boulevard with the chteau looming ahead,
all gilt and marble under the ciel gris. Having the seminar take place
inside the chteau was much more than a visual pleasure: it was an
important part of the pedagogy of the program.
By walking across the courtyard, we could discuss the different phases
of the architecture with the foremost experts on its construction, or
12
visit the Petite curie to see the restoration studio where Girardons
statue of Apollo and the nymphs is being cleaned and studied.
Having spent nearly six weeks in the chteau, my understanding of
the buildings, social relations, artworks, and rituals that constituted
the court of Versailles are completely transformed.
The seminar itself was very intensive, with six hours of meetings
per day, four times per week. It was a terrific privilege to be able
to have intimate classes with Frances most eminent historians of
art and literature, who in their usual university lectures speak in
front of overflowing lecture halls. The fact that the seminar took
place entirely in academic French was also a terrific exercise for my
spoken French, which will serve me well in the years to come.
I am a PhD candidate in history at Princeton, where I am writing
a dissertation that reexamines the birth of the public concert in
France and other European countries during the eighteenth century.
The broad focus of the Sminaire International de Recherche de
Above: Princeton PhD candidate, Andrei Pesic
Above right: The view from Louis XVI and Marie Antoinettes private rooms on
the top floor of the chteau
Right: Seminar participants viewing Franois Girardons statue of Apollo and the
nymphs in the restoration atelier
Versailles on Society and the Arts in the seventeenth and eighteenth

century helped me think about the implications of my work
beyond the history of music.
The session on the history of architecture with Alexandre Gady, one
of the worlds experts on the French architectural heritage, showed
us how to read architectural plans to learn the uses of spaces and the
changing requirements in the htels particuliers of Paris. Mathieu da
Vinha, the head of the research center at the Chteau de Versailles,
walked us through a day in the life of the king, moving beyond
popular myths (it is now thought that the descriptions of the filth
of the chteau may not be entirely accurate) to share some of his
incredibly detailed knowledge of the complex political machinations
of the period.
Patrick Michel brought to life the mentalities of eighteenth-century
art collectors he reminded us that the taste for different genres of
paintings was substantially different than it is today (the eighteenth
century was the first time that Northern paintings were so
thoroughly in fashion in France), and he helped me to think about
how religious artworks were displayed in the new secular spaces of
the Salon and private houses.
We moved to Paris for several sessions, where we were lucky enough
to visit the Louvres sculpture department on a day when the
museum was closed; the head of the European sculpture department,
Guilhem Scherf, conducted a terrific tour of the sculpted portraits
in the collection.
13
Interview:
CEO of Banque Transatlantique
The Banque Transatlantique, founded in
1881 by the French entrepreneur Eugne
Pereire, is today one of Frances oldest private
banks. It is unique among private banks for its
long history and focus on serving expatriates,
diplomats and international civil servants. It is
also the wealth management arm of its parent
group, CIC - Crdit Mutuel group, Frances
fourth largest banking group. Its headquarters
is located in Paris with subsidiaries in Brussels
and Luxembourg, and offices in London,
Geneva, Hong Kong, Montreal, New York,
Singapore and Washington, DC.
Bruno Julien-Laferrire, the banks CEO
explains, We have a close relationship with
a certain number of French institutions in the
US such as the Lyce Franais, and are partners
with branches of the Alliance Franaise. We
take active interest in all Franco-American
institutions, and naturally collaborate with
French Heritage Society, a partner with which
we enjoy a special friendship and for which we
have much affinity.
he headquarters of the Banque Transatlantique in Paris

evoke both the prestige of an international establishment
and the refined grandeur of the building itself, classified a historic
monument. Like the banks logo, the looming presence of an ocean
liner poised for exotic voyages, entering the building is to be carried
back to a time when banks and travel had an elegance all of their
own. Karen Archer was recently welcomed at the banks headquarters
by Bruno Julien-Laferrire, CEO of the bank, to discuss its activities
and support for French Heritage Society.
Historic Transatlantic Ties
Eugne Pereire created the bank in response to the French

governments decision to cease state funding of transatlantic
ventures. The Pereire brothers were prominent 19th-century
financiers in Paris and rivals of the Rothschilds. Thus, Pereire formed
a private bank to complement his main management stake in the
Compagnie Gnrale Transatlantique, which he and his brothers
had founded in 1855 as the Compagnie Gnrale Maritime. So
one of the companys main activities was transporting passengers
and freight across the Atlantic, between Europe and the United
14
States Bruno Julien-Laferrire begins, and it was known for its

beautiful ocean liners. Indeed much about the rich wood paneling
and the Art Deco fixtures and furnishings of the second floor offices
and conference room are reminiscent of an ocean liner.
The bank prospered in the 19th and 20th centuries being associated
with many major infrastructure and other projects. Jumping forward
132 years, our bank has two major missions, the private bank and
its wealth management services and the bank specializing in services
to expatriates, the French abroad and foreigners in France. Since the
30s we have had French diplomats abroad as clients and represent
personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the cultural, defense
and other sectors of French professionals and businessmen abroad.
Bruno Julien-Laferrire points out that over the past 20 years we
have concentrated on developing our services to the private sector,
above: Banque Transatlantique CEO, Bruno Julien-Laferrire,
in his Art Deco office in Paris.
signing agreements with the human resources departments of major

French companies aboard for financial, fiscal, legal and services
for expatriates. The United States is a very important focal point
for us naturally. In 1994 the Banque Transatlantique opened its
Washington, DC branch working largely with diplomats and
international institutions. In 2008 it opened another branch in
New York City to reach the business and French community there
under the direction of Pascal Le Coz.
We have developed a core of corporate and private clients between
France and the US for expatriates the banker stresses. In France we
have more and more up-scale private American clients who live here
either year round on for part of the year, and are often interested in
purchasing real estate or other services. They are very cosmopolitan
francophiles. Jean-Frdric Werup is head of our US Desk created to
serve this clientele. Our people are completely bilingual and know
very well the fiscal regulations of both the US and France and will
be there for the long run and not change after a year or two. This is
very reassuring for our top level clients living in France.
The Bank and Philanthropy
With the evolving legislation in France concerning philanthropy,

Banque Transatlantique has also been innovative in developing
services for its private clients. We created the fond de dotation
Transatlantique. Our fund (similar to an endowment fund) is a
very useful tool to provide a structure for our clients who wish to
support causes that are important to them, whether they be cultural,
in sports, or for medical research.
We make this possible by providing the legal and fiscal structure
and managing the fund but the projects are entirely selected
by our clients. Our fund continues to grow and has proved quite
successful he adds. Vincent Joulia, well-known to French Heritage
Society due to Banque Transatlantiques corporate support for the
association, works on this aspect of the banks services.
Changing Motivations for Giving
There is without a doubt a generational change taking place in

France with respect to philanthropy Bruno Julien-Laferrire points
out. We see many successful businessmen and women in their
50s and early 60s who want to do more than just transmit their
patrimony to their heirs. They would like to give back in a broader
sense to causes they support and in this they are influenced by
Americans such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffet who have set the
example for entrepreneurs throughout the world. They sensitize
people to take responsibility for affecting society at large. Our role
is to aid the large fortunes in France to structure a means to give and
to encourage them in this endeavor. We are seeing an evolution in
mentality where corporate leaders and individuals increasingly want
to give to causes that are important to them he notes.
A Historic Monument
The headquarters of the Banque Transatlantique, located on avenue

Franklin Roosevelt in the center of the Golden Triangle near the
Champs-Elyses was recently classified as a Historic Monument.
Built by Joseph Marrast in 1929 on the site of what was the private
townhouse of a very celebrated couturier, Paul Poiret Bruno JulienLaferrire indicates with a gesture, this townhouse became our
headquarters and features absolutely fabulous architecture. We
Vincent Joulia, Director of the Private Bank and Wealth

Management at the Banque Transatlantique during the reception
at the Htel de Ville in Paris for French Heritage Societys 30th
Anniversary Celebration last October.
above:
wanted to protect the building, both the faade seen from the street
and the interior, especially the beautiful original Art Deco interiors
and furnishings. This building was constructed to be a bank and it
is still a bank today. For us, a traditional bank with a long history,
this allows us to have a link between the past and the future. We
felt it was our duty to uphold those traditions and this architectural
heritage. We are a bank heavily invested in new technologies. I think
it is important to have a modern bank but that retains links to its
history through this building which is a pure Art Deco gem he
concludes with pride.
Our Collaboration
I would like to thank Denis de Kergorlay who is a friend, and

represents French Heritage Society with enthusiasm and passion
the banker states. We are proud to have been associated with your
30th Anniversary Celebration along with the magnificent company
Herms for the reception at the Htel de Ville de Paris. Beyond
that, I think that the Banque Transatlantique shares many values
with French Heritage Society. First of all, the passion for FrancoAmerican relations, always very rich, at times complicated but full
of promise and shared history. We have always had an American
culture, a connection with that vast country and are very appreciative
of the interest that Americans have for France and for its heritage.
Banque Transatlantique and French Heritage Society also share
the values of exigency, protection and respect for the patrimony
he continues, developing culture exchanges between our two
countries while at the same time looking toward the future. Our two
institutions have a wonderful history with shared passions but are
both anchored in modern times and look toward the future. I would
also like to thank Michle Imhoff, Co-Chairman of the Washington
Chapter, along with her husband Jean-Louis, as partners and very
important friends of the Banque Transatlantique for a very long
time in Washington he concludes, once again bringing the bank
full circle back to its ties across the Atlantic.
15
Timeless
Treasures
of Paris and Ile de France
Chairmans Circle Trip October 14th-18th, 2013
his years Chairmans Circle Trip will explore the

Timeless Treasures of Paris and the Ile-de-France.
Join us to visit Royal, Imperial and Presidential palaces in the
region and two of the most important jardins la franaise by
Le Ntre. Discover the only three examples of Salons Chinois
in France by 18th-century painter Christophe Huet. In the
evenings, enjoy intimate Parisian dinners.
Radiating in a circle surrounding Paris, the Ile-de-France
evokes the history of the ages. In all directions traces of the
countrys glorious past stand proudly. To the north of the
capital, visit the Chteau de Chantilly, which houses one of
the richest art collections in France, and its park by Le Ntre.
The Chteau de Compigne nearby is located on the edge
of an immense forest and was acquired by King Louis XV.
Later Napoleon I and Napoleon III added to the chteaus
impressive collection of furnishings. Discover the picturesque
village of Senlis.
Rambouillet
To the west, among vast forests, explore the Chteau de

Rambouillet which belonged to King Louis XVI. He had the
renowned Queens dairy built for Queen Marie-Antoinette.
The chteau served as a residence for Frances Presidents who
invited many foreign dignitaries, princes and heads of state
for hunting parties and continues to be used for summits.
The nearby splendors of the Chteau and Park of Versailles
will fold before us with a special private visit. The jardins la
franaise by Le Ntre made Versailles his absolute masterpiece.
In Paris visit the Pantheon by Soufflot, currently undergoing
a major restoration. We will have the rare privilege of going up
inside the cupola to see the work! Visit Val de Grce Church
founded by Queen Anne of Austria in 1621 in gratitude
for the birth of her son, the future King Louis XIV and the
celebrated Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prs, also under
restoration. Htel de Soubise and Htel de Rohan (National
Archives) feature beautiful architecture. The Htel de Soubise
has interiors by Germain Boffrand that are among the finest
of the Rococo style in France. Napoleon acquired it to house
the National Archives. The Htel de Rohan, also acquired by
Napoleon, features the Cabinet des Singes by Huet.
Didier Saulnier
Exploring eastward, discover the magnificent restoration of

the Chteau de Champs-sur-Marne and national restoration
laboratory there. See the beautiful Rococo Salon Chinois from
1750 by Huet and boiseries by Germain Boffrand as well as
the gardens by Achille Duchne.
Versailles
Htel de Soubise
CRT Picardie Sam Bellet
Compigne
Chantilly
Alain Michot
Paris
Champs-sur-Marne
Interview:
Chef Alain Ducasse
Talks About Transmitting Knowledge and Savoir-Faire
ack in New York after the wonderful dinner at the French

Embassy organized by the Washington Regional Chapter,
Chef Alain Ducasse offered French Heritage Society Executive
Director Greg Joye the privilege of interviewing him in his New
York bistro, Benot. They discussed his passion for patrimoine and
for the transmission of techniques and savoir-faire which helps
ensure the pertinence of culinary heritage both in France and much
further beyond.
If we may, lets start with your beginnings. From your excellent
website I read that, when asked the question, Head of Kitchen,
Head of Business How would you best describe yourself?
My pivotal center is cooking. I am a happy chef! My cerebral home
is a union between the Southwest, where I come from, and the
Mediterranean, a place that seduced me from a very young age. But
I am also a curious and emancipated cook, my roots carry me but do
not tie me down. I travel a great deal and am always on the lookout
for new discoveries.
I grew up on a farm in Gascony. My grandmother used to cook for

the whole family. She frequently sent me to the kitchen garden to
pick the vegetables she needed to prepare the meal. This left a deep
imprint in my mind, cooking starts with nature. What nature
offers dictates what you cook. We would never have thought about
eating tomatoes in December for one simple reason, there is no
tomato in the garden in winter. Once youve been impregnated by
this respect of nature at such an early age, you never forget it and it
drives your approach for the rest of your life.
How has this basis, your roots, as you call them, helped you in
terms of your approach to not only cuisine, but to this culinary
heritage that you are so dedicated to sharing with others, both in and
well beyond your own home country?
The fundamental lesson I just described remains true regardless
of the place or time. Wherever I go I ask myself what nature can
provide locally. It can be the products of the sea as well as from the
land. Everywhere I spend a lot of time and I must say with great
pleasure, visiting the open-air markets and meeting with producers.
The products I see are my irreplaceable fuel for creating my recipes.
What in particular from these roots has helped carry you?
18
Mikael Vojinovic
Could you tell us about how your youth in the environment of your
family in the Southwest, so legendary for its culinary specialties,
affected and nurtured the passion that has brought about your
astounding career?
Here I must mention another fundamental experience of my years

learning with great figures of French cuisine, like Michel Gurard,
Roger Verg and, above all, Alain Chapel. I acquired alongside
them the techniques and more than that an attitude vis--vis what
cooking means. Let me give you an example. I opened recently a
restaurant in Doha. When I was exploring the products available in
this region, I found the camel. Needless to say, I had never prepared
camel before in my life. Yet I do have a method of how to prepare
meat, the various techniques to use according to the type of meat
and the result you are looking to achieve. In this case, I created a
camel version of the Rossini by applying a French technique to a
local product. This is how I feel I am carried by my roots. In other
words, my roots do not anchor me, do not stop me from travelling,
they accompany me wherever I go.
Can you tell us what influenced this philosophy and what people
or experiences in your young life contributed to the development of
these qualities you possess?
Thats a difficult question since I am not very good at being

introspective! Im certainly indebted to my predecessors. First
and foremost, I think of Paul Bocuse who, when it comes to
contemporary French cuisine, dramatically changed the script,
broadening chefs horizons to a global scale. I also think about Alain
Chapel who taught me that cooking is much more than just a recipe.
When you answered the question in Prousts famous Questionnaire,
you said that your motto is: Savoir-faire, faire-faire, et fairesavoir. Please elaborate on this, as it seems that you hold education
and the transmission of your knowledge and know-how in very high
importance. You said, when asked about your restaurants, How do
you manage to make these places come alive? You answered:
I delegate and I trust while controlling everything, of course! For
me transmission is a fundamental value. I have the duty to share
my knowledge with the future generations of chefs. I must transmit
flavors, techniques, and motivation
Can you expand upon how you think educating about the past is
pertinent to the present, to both professionals and to the general
public, in terms of history and patrimoine, whether it be built or
intangible heritage such as cuisine (as we know that the gastronomic
meal of the French entered into UNESCOS list of intangible
heritage in 2010)?
Chef Alain Ducasse, with Washington Regional Co-Chairmen

Michle Imhoff (center), and Jeannie Rutherfoord
present and shape it. Again, we mustnt forget or get stuck in the
past. The real challenge, as you said, is to make the past relevant
for our contemporaries. This is a very powerful trend in todays
cuisine, revisiting ancient recipes to make them meet contemporary
expectations.
Elizabeth F. Stribling, Chairman of the Board, expressed: There

is an absolute necessity of connecting the past to the future. This
statement is true for the evolution of our heritage as it is for our
cuisine. You dont progress if you dont know where you are coming
from. There is a risk of misunderstanding. Some think that with an
understanding of the past you can become confined to it. This is not
what I take away from it. My knowledge of the history of cuisine is
a springboard which propels me faster and further into the present.
What notable historical figure(s) do you most admire, including past

chefs, and why?
When you say Savoir-Faire & Faire-Faire it could make one also
think about cultural exchange as well as transmitting know-how.
Two more answers to Prousts questionnaire that you gave were:
Your Favorite Hobby? AD: Discovering local foods from the four
corners of the earth.
Your Dream of Happiness? AD: Meeting new people every day.
I would never imagine putting myself in the same category as these

types of people. Lets just say that they are proof that the past can
and does inspire the present.
French Heritage Societys members share the same love of discovering

new places, learning from others, and meeting new people, including
custodians of great cultural heritage such as owners of historical
monuments, etc. It would seem that your desire to share and
transmit the love of culinary heritage and the art form is similar to
that of our members and of owners of historical treasures.
As a chef, I am particularly interested by Auguste Escoffier, who was

a fantastic precursor of modern cuisine. Not only was he a great chef
but he was also a pioneer in cuisine management.
What similarities do you share with these people?
What about the Americans and the French do you appreciate? What
are some of their mutual traits? What would you consider to be some
of their differences that are complimentary?
Can you tell us how you think these similarities might be

complimentary; meaning how cuisine and its own heritage and
evolution and its pertinence in peoples lives today is similar to
that of built heritage? And could you expand upon the importance
of preserving these, while striving to champion the pertinence of
patrimoine in todays world?
Talking about an attitude vis--vis the past, there is an important

difference. When a French person says Cest lhistoire (It is history)
he means this is an explanation of the present. When an American
says, Its history, he means this is over, it has no impact whatsoever
on todays issue. Each time I listen to the French taking history as a
pretext to not change, I feel myself drawn to the American outlook.
And each time I hear an American ignoring the past, I am inclined,
as is the case with the French, to remind him or her that one cannot
undo ones heritage. Youve got to love these cultural differences
because they make the dialogue richer and more exciting. History
teaches us just how deep the French-American relations run. History
stirs it up to make it that much more profound.
This is very true in all areas - cuisine and architecture yet also
every other form of art. In fact we all, as human beings need to
have some understanding of where we come from to deal with the
Visit www.alain-ducasse.com to learn more about Alain Ducasse as a chef, his

restaurants, publications as well as his new application My Culinary Encyclopedia
(Mon Grand Livre de Cuisine) for iPad 2.
19
Washington Gala Dinner

With Chef Alain Ducasse
n Wednesday, May 15, Ambassador of France to the United

States Franois Delattre and his wife Sophie LHlias-Delattre
received 60 distinguished guests at the Embassy of France for a Gala
Dinner in Washington DC. The elegant dinners proceeds benefitted
the Washington Regional Chapters restoration fundraising efforts
and French Heritage Societys education programs.
World-renowned chef Alain Ducasse, who has an empire of 24
restaurants worldwide, three of which are three-star Michelin,
prepared an unforgettable gastronomic dinner. Guests enjoyed the
sumptuous meal with the ambiance of lively yellow and blue decor
and an abundance of colorful flowers.
The evening was chaired by Mr. and Mrs. Robin Martin and
Washington Regional Co-Chairmen Mrs. Jean-Louis Imhoff and
Mrs. Thomas D. Rutherfoord, Jr. and supported by Chteau de
Laubade who donated Armangac, and also by the President of the
National Office of Armagnac, Pierre Tabarin.
In attendance were French Heritage Society Chairman of the Board,
Elizabeth F. Stribling; President, Denis de Kergorlay and many
other honored guests and friends.
20
above: Washington
Regional Co-Chairmen Jeannie Rutherfoord (left) and Michle

Imhoff with Elizabeth Stribling
below: (from left) Madame Sophie LHlias-Delattre, Ambassador Franois

Delattre, chef Alain Ducasse, Jocelyn and Robin Martin, Washington Chapter
Events Co-Chairmen
My knowledge of the history of cuisine is a springboard

which propels me faster and further into the present...
~Alain Ducasse
Above left: Dinner hosted by the Ambassador of France to the United States
Franois Delattre and his wife Sophie LHlias-Delattre at The French Embassy in
Washington, DC
Above right: Elizabeth Stribling and Denis de Kergorlay
Right: Michle Imhoff, Ambassador Franois Delattre, chef Alain Ducasse, Sophie
LHlias-Delattre, Denis Lesgourgues, Chteau Laubade, and Jeannie Rutherfoord
Alain Ducasse in a few dates:

2012: To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Le Louis XV, Alain
Ducasse invited the worlds greatest chefs. Thus, 240 chefs hailing
from 25 countries gathered together for a unique summit. Three
days of unparalleled sharing of knowledge, of exchanges, discoveries
and original events amongst professionals, culminating in a gala.
2011: With the cooperation of the SBM Monte-Carlo, Alain
Ducasse creates the dinner served at Prince Albert II and Miss
Charlne Wittstock wedding. The Collge Culinaire de France
is launched under the Chairmanship of Alain Ducasse and Jol
Robuchon, an association promoting and transmitting the values of
French gastronomy aiming to become the primary representative
of public authorities.
2010: Consecrated once again three times triple Michelin starred
for his restaurants in Paris, Monaco and London.
2007: Launch of the restaurant Le Jules Verne par Alain Ducasse in
the Eiffel Tower.
2005: Consecrated first chef ever to earn three Michelin stars for
three different restaurants in Paris, Monaco and New York.
2003: Alain Ducasse initiates the operation Food France enabling
young people to discover French cuisine.
2000: Alain Ducasse enters the Plaza Athne.

1999: Launch of the first cookbook Grand Livre de Cuisine
which first allowed the general public a glimpse of his knowledge.
1998: Opening of the first concept restaurant by Alain Ducasse:
Spoon, Food & Wine in Paris. Le Spoon then branches out to Ile
Maurice Spoon (Mauritius), Saint-Tropez and Hong Kong.
1995: Opening of La Bastide de Moustiers, a Provence Inn
where Alain Ducasse enjoys relaxing.
1990: Le Louis XV in Monaco, is the very first hotel restaurant to
be awarded 3 Michelin stars in the Red Guide. Alain Ducasse, head
of the kitchen, is 33 years old; the restaurant has only been open for
33 months...
1972: Beginning of his apprentice period and a series of fundamental
encounters with top French chefs: Michel Gurard, Roger Verg
and Alain Chapel.
1956: Born in Castel Sarrazin on a farm in the region of Les Landes.
21
Bienvenue!
New Board Members & Chapter Chairmen

Michael L. George
New Board Member Michael

George is a thought leader and
executive advisor who founded the
George Group to assist Global 1000
companies and US Government
agencies reduce cost and lead time
while improving mission effectiveness.
The George Group won multi-million
dollar engagements from Caterpillar,
Xerox, ITT Industries, Alcan, Eli
Lilly and many others to improve
their efficiency and effectiveness. The
George Group won an $88 Million prime contract to assist the
US Army with business transformation, as well as a $55 million
contract from NAVAIR, among many other Federal Agencies.
The Army and Navy found that they could identify and eliminate
at least 20% of the cost and 30% of the lead-time of any process
analyzed using George Group methods. Mike wrote the book Fast
Innovation (July 2005), which presents new ways to increase the
success rate of innovations while dramatically reducing time-tomarket, and was the subject of a Wall Street Journal article dated
June 11,2007 by George Anders. Mike also authored the bestselling
Lean Six Sigma for Service and Conquering Complexity in your
Gurnee Hart
Gurnee Hart of New York and his

wife Marjorie have been longstanding
supporters of French Heritage
Society and have been members of
the Chairmans Circle since 2008.
Gurnee was inducted as a member
of the Company of the Musketeers
of Armagnac during the 30th
Anniversary Trip to Gascony last
fall. As a new member of the Board
of French Heritage Society, Gurnee
brings valued business experience and
many years of involvement with non-profit organizations.
Gurnee received his BA from Pomona College, Claremont,
California, Phi Beta Kappa and cum laude and his MBA from
Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He was also a
visiting scholar from 1994-1995 at Jesus College, University of
Cambridge in the UK. Gurnee served as an infantry officer in the
US Army during the Korean War and received a Bronze Star.
22
Business, a guide to solving the strategic and tactical issues of

product/service complexity. The George Group, with revenue rate
of $120 million per year, was sold to Accenture in August 2007.
Mike began his career at Texas Instruments in 1964 as an engineer
in integrated circuit fabrication for the Minuteman II ICBM
guidance system, worked as an application engineer, and finally as
a regional marketing manager. In 1969, he left TI and founded the
venture startup International Power Machines (IPM), the first in
applying digital Pulse Width Modulation to large uninterruptible
power supplies that protect critical computers from power failure,
including those used at the NYSE. He took the company public,
and subsequently sold it to a division of Rolls Royce. This provided
the resources to enable him to study the Toyota Production System
at first hand in Japan in 1986 to understand why GM was being
overtaken. In 1987, he wrote America Can Compete, summarizing
what he had learned in Japan, and subsequently founded the George
Group to assist clients in implementing broad applications of the
Toyota system known as Lean, Six Sigma, Complexity Reduction
and Fast Innovation.
Mike says he owes all of his success, and none of his failures, to his
wife Jackie. They have been married 43 years, have five children and
nine grandchildren, all of whom live in Dallas.
Gurnee was a former partner of the investment firm Scudder, Stevens

& Clark. His current interests in other non-profit organizations
include sitting on the boards of the New York Philharmonic where
he served as Trustee of the Endowment from 1990-2006 and
Cambridge in America, former Chairman as well as having served
as a Trustee of The Cambridge Foundation, Cambridge, U.K.
from 2001-2005. He is a Trustee Emeritus of Pomona College.
Gurnee and Marjorie Hart are the founders of the Hart Institute
for American History at Pomona College. Gurnee also served on
the Advisory Board of the Yale Center for Parliamentary History
from 2003-2008.
Other organizations with which Gurnee is involved include the
Society of Mayflower Descendants, Saint Andrews Society in the
State of New York as well as the Knickerbocker Club, The Century
Association, The University Club, and Indian Harbor Yacht Club
(Greenwich, CT).
Christina Sayare
Christina Sayare serves as a Co-Chair

of the Boston Chapter of French
Heritage Society. She is Founder
and President of ThinkHire, Inc., an
executive search firm and resides in
Paradise Valley, AZ and Boston, MA
with her husband Mitchel Sayare and
their golden retriever, Lacey. Christina
serves on the Committee for the Heart
Ball, which raises awareness, and funds
for the American Heart Association.
In addition to pursuing professional

goals as a business owner and supporting various not-for-profit
efforts, Christina spends a good deal of time traveling. Paris is a
favorite destination. She and her husband own a small apartment in
the 7th arrondissement.
Christina earned a BA from New York University in 1989, with a
concentration in classic literature and spent her junior year at the
Sorbonne in Paris. She received a MBA from Babson College in
1996, with a focus on entrepreneurial studies. In 1994, she was
one of two recipients of the Douglass Scholarship awarded for
entrepreneurial accomplishments.
Favorite pastimes include running, yoga, match-making, and
immersion in all things French (fashion, food, art, architecture).
Suzanne Stoll
French born Suzanne Stoll is

passionate about 12th to 18th century
France and Italy, historical heritage
and its preservation in Europe and
the United States. She has lived in the
US for most of her adult life, while
keeping strong ties with European
culture and its architectural treasures.
She is an expert in museum quality

16th to early 19th Continental
antiques and objets dart, and was
Director of one of the top worldrenowned French antique galleries in Paris, Galerie Michel Meyer.
In New York, she served at the Press Service of the French Consulate,
before directly assisting the French Consul General of France with
cultural events and French and American associations, organizations
and businesses in the tri-state area.
She now happily resides in Palm Beach where she excels at selling
real estate locally as well as throughout Europe to an international
clientele. She is a member of the Preservation Society of Palm
Beach, the library of the Four Arts, the Friends of Uffizi, and has
helped several charitable organizations, while being involved with
the French Heritage Society for the past three years, where she was
recently appointed co-chairman of the Palm Beach Chapter.
In Memoriam
Robert Dean Wickham, MD, was a
longstanding patron of French Heritage
Society and his avid participation in our
New York events and at our Palm Beach
Gala, as well as his ever- pleasant demeanor
will be greatly missed. Dr. Wickham joined
Roosevelt Hospital as an attending urologist
in 1958 and practiced there for 35 years. He served as President
of both the American Society of Clinical Urologists and the New
York Section of the American Urological Association, where he also
served as Executive Director until 1999, following his retirement.
Volunteering for the Army at the outbreak of WWII, Dr. Wickham
was a medic in Pattons Third Army during the Battle of the Bulge
and the march across Europe. He received two Bronze Stars and
several battle awards for his service. In 2011, French President
Nicolas Sarkozy awarded Dr. Wickham with the French Lgion
dHonneur.
A graduate of Drew University and Albany Medical School, Dr.
Wickham belonged to numerous medical societies including the
American College of Surgeons, the New York Academy of Medicine
and the Societ Internationale dUrologie. He also belonged to
numerous social organizations including the Knickerbocker Club,
The Metropolitan Opera Club in New York City; as well as the
Freemasons Lodge #8; The Pilgrims of America; St. Georges Society;
and The Oaks Club.
Dr. Wickham is survived by his wife Kate Butler Wickham, his
daughter Louise and son-in-law Jay Pedinoff, and his grandchildren
Zachary, Alexander and Rachel.
William Bill Astrop was a longstanding
member of French Heritage Society and
his wife Jean is very active on the Board of
our Atlanta Chapter. Bill was a graduate of
Harvard Business School. After his MBA,
he served in the US Navy aboard the U.S.S.
Bassett and U.S.S. Missouri where he
received the Force Commanders Award for
Outstanding Service. After an impressive
business career in New York, he left Wall Street in the late 60s and
returned to the South-east, where he co-founded Atlanta Capital
Management Company in 1970. He founded Astrop Advisory
Corporation in 1982.
Mr. Astrop was a past Chairman of the High Museum of Arts
Board of Directors and served on the Board of the Michael C.
Carlos Museum at Emory University. He was a member of the
Deans Advisory Board at Emorys Goizueta Business School and a
National Trustee of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He was also
a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, the Bath and Tennis Club
in Palm Beach, and the Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta where
the Chapter celebrates its annual Reveillon de Nol benefit dinner.
Bill always enjoyed French Heritage Society events in Atlanta, New
York City, and Palm Beach.
Bill is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jean, sons Bowen and Douglas,
daughter-in-law Jennifer, and grandsons Maxwell and Alexander.
23
Denis de Kergorlay
Awarded Legion of Honor
enis de Kergorlay received the decoration of Chevalier in

the order of the Legion of Honor at a ceremony held last
January at the Cercle de lUnion Interallie in Paris. The decoration
was presented to Denis by Jean-David Levitte (above), former French
Ambassador to the US and diplomat, in the presence of Denis
family and friends, including Elizabeth Stribling and many others
from French Heritage Society, in honor of his work in promoting
the French heritage and culture throughout an eclectic career.
24
Denis de Kergorlay and General Jean-Louis Georgelin,

Grand Chancelier de la Legion dHonneur.
In his multiple roles as President of French Heritage Society;

Executive President of Europa Nostra; a European federation for
heritage preservation, President of the Cercle de lUnion Interallie;
and in overseeing his ancestral Chteau de Canisy in Normandy
that welcomes numerous Americans and other international groups
for seminars and cultural trips, Denis was always sought to broaden
cultural awareness and deepen the understanding between peoples
of their heritage and shared values in a humanistic spirit.
First Board and Chapter Chairman Retreat

At the Chateau de Canisy
rench Heritage Societys first Board and Chapter Chairmen

Retreat was graciously hosted by the associations President
Denis de Kergorlay, at his ancestral home, the Chteau de Canisy, in
Normandy from April 16th-18th. Held just prior to the spring Board
and Chapter Chairmen meetings in Paris, the well-attended retreat
allowed leadership, volunteers and staff to get better acquainted,
discuss the associations mission, present their perspectives for
future development, network and brainstorm on ideas concerning
programs, and internal and external communications. These
enriching discussions and working sessions will allow French
Heritage Societys leadership to better define its mission and
strategies as we move forward.
The group also visited a recent French Heritage Society
grant project in the area, the Abbaye Saint Martin de
Mondaye, where they were warmly received and toured the
restored out buildings, church and abbey.
Above left: Denis de Kergorlay and Elizabeth Stribling

Above right: Chateau de Canisy in Normandy
Center: Socializing at the Chteau de Canisy (left) Suzanne
Stoll, Co-Chairman, Palm Beach Chapter; Christian Draz, Board
member;Dominique Biarns, Vice-Chairman, Paris Chapter, Ann Nan
Vess, Board member
Right: Board members and Chapter Chairmen at the Abbaye de Saint
Martin de Mondaye
25
Past Chapter events

New York Chapter Events
Fondation Royaumont features French opera

singer in New York
On January 23, French

Heritage Societys New York
Chapter in partnership with
the Fondation Royaumont
presented a benefit concert
hosted by the Consulate
General of France in New
York with the participation
of internationally-acclaimed
French Opera singer, Karine
Deshayes, and pianist Yelena
Kurdina. The event was
held under the patronage
of The Honorable Bertrand
Lortholary, Consul General of
France in New York.
Consul General Bertrand Lortholary, Yelena Kurdina, pianist, Karine

Deshayes, mezzo-soprano, Francis Marchal, Marie-Christine Daudy,
Anne-Franois de Lastic, Odile de Schitre-Longchampt, Elizabeth F.
Stribling, CeCe Black, Guy N. Robinson
1: Illustrated Lecture by Carolle Thibaut-Pomerantz

May 7, 2013
The evening, sponsored by

Herms of Paris, honored the historical and beautiful Fondation Royaumont whose home is
the royal Royaumont Abbey north of Paris.
Below: Dinner and Exclusive Preview of
the Exhibition Salvaging the Past: Georges
Hoentschel and French Decorative Arts from
The Metropolitan Museum of Art at Bard
Graduate Center- April 2, 2013
3. Deborah Krohn, Ulrich Leben, Irene Roosevelt
Aitken, Nina Stritzler-Levine
26
4. Joanne Foster, Elizabeth M. Stafford

5. Jean Shafiroff, CeCe Black
6. Guy Robinson, Elizabeth Stribling, Odile de
Schietere-Longchampt, Marie Eve Berty
7. Rochelle Ohrstrom, Patricia Cossutta
8. Brigitte Tressel, Jean-Christophe Tressel
2:

New York Visit to The Museum of Modern

Arts Labrouste Exhibition and Cocktail April
8, 2013, with Terry Brown, Anthony Ames,
Annabelle Mariaca, Cetie Nippert Ames
Atlanta Chapter Events
Above: Adventures in Historic Preservation with Diane de Roquette-Buisson,

March 1, 2013 at the Piedmont Driving Club
1. Liz McDermott, Diane de Roquette-Buisson, Suzy Wasserman and
Patricia McLean
2. Greg Joye and Barbara Guillaume
3. Edmond Faget, Diane de Roquette-Buissson, Jim Simons, Sponsor,
Harry Norman Realtors
Below: Dner du Printemps, An evening of Champagne, Fine Wine and

Cuisine April 21, 2013
4. Chandler Rudd, Gina Christman, Steve Wasserman
5. Beatrix Kondor, Mark Walter, Susan LeCraw
6. Standing: Patrick Brendel, Atlantic Fine Wines, wine sponsor, Suzy Wasserman,
Arnaud Michel, Anis Caf & Bistro, sponsor.
Seated: Mary Graham and Bonneau Ansley III, The Ansley Group, sponsor of
the evening
27
Northern California Chapter Events
Northern California Fte des Rois January 8, 2013

1. Eileen Crane, Dori Bonn, Co-Chairman, Northern California Chapter, Consul General
Romain Serman and Laura Serman
2. Marilyn Yalom
3. Jean-Jacques Vitrac, Harriet Ross, Marie-France de Sibert
4. McGavock Bransford, Susan and Chris Paulson, Gabrielle Durana
Northern California How the French Invented Love celebrating the new book by
author Marilyn Yalom, February 4, 2013
5. Marilyn Yalom, Delia Ehrlich, Vera Carpeneti
6. Pascal Lederman, Executive Director of the Alliance Francaise, Edgar Osgood, Consul
General of the Cote dIvoire, McGavock Bransford
7. McGavock Bransford, Marie-Helene Yalom, Sarah Karis, Francine Spirandelli, Thomas
Bolton, Marilyn Yalom, Eve Yalom
4
28
Boston, Philadelphia, Paris and Southern California Chapter Events
Boston Lecture and Dinner with Ulrich Leben May 8, 2013

1. Franois Bardonnet, Chrissy Sayare, Ulrich Leben, Francis de Marneffe
2. Franois Poulet, Thomas Michie (Senior Curator of Decorative Arts at the Museum of
Fine Arts in Boston), Ulrich Leben, Anne Poulet and Rebecca Tilles (Curatorial Assistant
in the European Decorative Arts department of the MFA).
Southern California A private tour of the California Plein Air paintings in the
collection of Trust Company of the West May 8, 2013
3. Jennifer Diener and Kathleen Cartier
Philadelphia Chteau de Gizeux Luncheon with Karen Archer May 2, 2013
4. Philadelphia FHS members Lisa Witomski and James Scott
5. Former Philadlephia Chapter Chair Libby Browne, Committee member Georgia Shafia
and her husband, Hass Shafia
Paris Chapter
6. Elizabeth Stribling and Astrid Stanfield-Pinel at the Paris Chapter General Assembly
7. Cocktail Culturel chez Cassandra Surer, jewelery design Edenne, shows her creations
8. Visit to the Swiss Embassy, Astrid Stanfield-Pinel, Nicole Tordjman, and the Swiss
Ambassador to France, Monsieur de Dardel
29
Past National Event:

Palm Beach Gala Dinner
French Heritage Societys Annual Gala Dinner in Palm Beach,

under the patronage of The Honorable Gal de Maisonneuve,
Consul General of France in Miami, was held at Club Colette on
February 13, 2013. The Gala honored The Society of the Cincinnati,
the nations oldest patriotic organization, founded in 1783 by
officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who
served together in the American Revolution. Todays members are
the descendants of these officers. Accepting the honor on behalf of
the Society was long-time French Heritage Society benefactor and
Cincinnati Treasurer General Nominee for 2013, John C. Harvey,
who spoke eloquently about the Societys links to France and its
mission to promote knowledge and appreciation of American
independence and to foster fellowship among its members.
Heritage Auctions and the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art and Antiques
Show lent corporate support of our efforts. Special thanks to Scott
Diament and Audrey Gruss for making possible a well-placed booth
at the Show for French Heritage Society to promote its activities
to the more than 60,000 visitors! Much gratitude goes to Lysa and
Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions, which hosted a trunk
show of rare vintage hand bags at The Brazilian Court, from which
French Heritage Society received a portion of the sales proceeds.
Palm Beach Gala Dinner

1. Robert Sterling, Co-Chairman of the Palm Beach Chapter, with his wife Joyce
2. CeCe Black, Lee Black, Jay R. Paul
3. Elizabeth Stribling, Gael de Maisonneuve, Nicole Hirsch, Didi dAnglejan
at the Baccarat Luncheon
4. John C. Harvey and Cetie Nippert Ames
5. Suzanne Stoll recently became Co-Chairman of the Palm Beach Chapter.
6. Cynthia Friedman, Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions
Photo 1 credit: Megan McCarthy, photos 2-6 credit: Ann Watt
30
2013 Calendar
An Homage:
Marquise de La Tour du Pin

It is difficult to think of a more incisive
spectator and participant in FrancoAmerican relations of her time than
Henriette-Lucy Dillon, Marquise de
La Tour du Pin (1770-1853).
Europeans love to call such
people amateurs as she was not
a professional writer, historian or
diplomat. One does not expect the
analytic abilities and accurate moral
perspective she displays. Living in her
vast htel particular in Paris as well
as in their chteau de Hautefontaine
towards Compigne, and one of
Queen Marie-Antoinettes twelve de facto ladies-in-waiting no
one was better positioned than she to experience the frivolity and
immorality as well as actual history made in the last years of the
reign of Louis XVI. She was intimately involved at the center of
events during Napoleans era and the restoration of the Bourbons as
well. We are lucky indeed that the notes that she made in her old age
and as records for her last living child survived!
My surprise and pleasure was great at French Heritage Societys recent
lunch in Palm Beach when I discovered that its President, Count
Denis de Kergorlay, is one of Henriette-Lucys few descendants!
She was an examplar of morality, intelligence and kindness in the
middle of a turbulent age. She saved herself and the rest of her
family from the guillotine as she had the wisdom and courage to
personally have identity documents falsified and to embark on a
small commercial American vessel from Bordeaux (outside of which
the bulk of the familys estates lay including their main home the
Chteau de Bouihl) for Boston. She and her husband bought a farm
outside of Albany, unlike what one might expect, they worked the
farm themselves.
She became a good friend and admirer of the brilliant Alexander
Hamilton, was visited by Talleyrand Frances eminence grise, the
scandalous financier Bernard Law and the Duc de Liancourt (first
gentleman of the kings bedchamber).
My hero lived in more historic French and American houses
than I have mentioned, some now demolished, some restored but
what better encapsulates the love French and Americans actually
have born each other for centuries and often proven in blood
than the life and writings of this remarkable woman? If you have
a chance to read her oeuvre and to speak about her with her
descendant, Denis I believe it can only bring you joy.
National Events
June 5:

Diner des Mcnes, at the Htel de la Vaupalire

(AXA Headquarters), Paris
June 6:

Ambassadors Circle Meeting

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Quai dOrsay, Paris
Philippe Lalliot, porte-parole
June 7:

Chairmans Circle Dinner at the Chteau de Breteuil
October 14-18:


Timeless Treasures of Paris and the Ile-de-France
November 7-10:

Salon du Patrimoine Culturel

Carrousel du Louvre, Paris
November 13:

Gala Dinner and Dance in New York

At The Metropolitan Club
November 15-16:

Fall Board and Chapter Chairmen Meetings

New York, NY
Chapter Events
Southern California Chapter:
Wednesday, October 9

Illustrated Lecture:

An Invitation to Chateau du Grand-Luc

By Timothy Corrigan, Author and Designer

5:30 - 7:30pm

At his Los Angeles home
Paris Chapter:
Tuesday, November 26

Thanksgiving Dinner

Htel Le Bristol
Atlanta Chapter:
Friday, December 6

Annual Reveillon de Nol
With my thanks to Libba and to Denis for encouraging me to share

my excitement about this quite over-looked of historians!
By Christopher English Walling
Society of the Cincinnati - State of Virginia
31
Our Sponsors
French Heritage Society would like to thank

for their generous support:
Chanel
Herms
Our 2013 Corporate Partners
French Heritage Society

New York Office
Paris Office
14 East 60th Street, Suite 605, New York, NY 10022

Tel: +1 (212) 759-6846 Fax: +1 (212) 759-9632
fhs@frenchheritagesociety.org
7 rue Lincoln, 75008 Paris, France

Tel: +33 (0) 1 40 70 07 57 Fax: +33 (0) 1 40 70 07 86
paris@frenchheritagesociety.org
Layout & Design
Coordination
Dianne Henning
Karen Archer
www.FrenchHeritageSociety.org
32
33

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FRENCH

Maison de lEducation de la Lgion dHonneur

Elizabeth F. Stribling Chairman

assumed the position of Chairman of French Heritage

2013. Ambassador Delattre was the most welcoming of hosts and

Members of French Heritage Societys

Denis de Kergolay, President

French Heritage Society After its 30th Anniversary:

rench Heritage Societys 30th Anniversary is now a

The fundamental elements of our organization remain the same

In order to preserve its character,

French Heritage Society

Manoir dAngo, Seine Maritime

New York Chapter

Chteau de Longpra, Isre

Abbaye de Reigny, Yonne

Philadelphia and Dallas Chapters

Manoir de Vauville, Manche

Atlanta and Southern California

Chteau de Sassy, Eure

New York Chapter

New York Chapter*

Maison dEducation de la Lgion

French Huguenot Church,

Legion of Honor Museum,

Northern California Chapter

New York Chapter

Total in the US:

*Raised to date, ongoing campaign

The following year he discovered

Chteau de Longpra (Isre)

Chteau de Sassy (Orne)

Since 1999 and the death of the third Duc dAudiffret-Pasquier,

Manoir de Vauville Botanical Gardens (Manche)

Restoration: Urgent restoration of the green houses and orangerie

Abbaye de Reigny (Yonne)

In 1493 Charles VIII made it a Royal Foundation. The Hundred

Maison de lEducation de la Lgion

The school was inaugurated 1811. In 1881, the education reforms

Restoration: The churchs exterior is currently undergoing a

Petite Plaisance (Northeast Harbor, Mount Desert Island, Maine)

in Maine at the onset of the Second World War. A master at

Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museum (San Francisco, California)

replica of the Palais de la Lgion dHonneur in Paris. In 1962, the

Education has from the outset been one of French Heritage

n the summer of 2012 Andrei Pesic, an American PhD

Versailles on Society and the Arts in the seventeenth and eighteenth

he headquarters of the Banque Transatlantique in Paris

Historic Transatlantic Ties

Eugne Pereire created the bank in response to the French

States Bruno Julien-Laferrire begins, and it was known for its

signing agreements with the human resources departments of major

The Bank and Philanthropy

With the evolving legislation in France concerning philanthropy,

Changing Motivations for Giving

There is without a doubt a generational change taking place in

The headquarters of the Banque Transatlantique, located on avenue

Vincent Joulia, Director of the Private Bank and Wealth

I would like to thank Denis de Kergorlay who is a friend, and

his years Chairmans Circle Trip will explore the

To the west, among vast forests, explore the Chteau de

Exploring eastward, discover the magnificent restoration of

CRT Picardie Sam Bellet

Talks About Transmitting Knowledge and Savoir-Faire