Remembering Robert Janson-LaPalme
Washington College’s esteemed professor Emeritus Robert “Rob” J.H. Janson-La Palme passed away on September 1, 2026. He was 97 years old.
A native of Massachusetts, Dr. Janson-LaPalme received his B.A. in History from Brown
University in 1952. He went on to study British Architecture at Oxford University
in London before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. It was during his deployments in Europe
at ports in France and Italy that his passion for art history was ignited, and when
he returned to civilian life, he enrolled at Princeton where he received his MFA and
Ph.D. in Art History. He remained connected with Princeton, serving on its Art &
Architecture Governing Council and remaining active with the Princeton Club of the
Eastern Shore. The Janson-LaPalme Visiting Professorship at Princeton was late endowed
in his honor by his mother-in-law, Lillian Bayly Marks.
He taught Art History at Columbia University and later established an Art Department
at Rochester University before coming to Washington College in 1969, where he was
charged with establishing the college’s Art History Department. He conducted successful
exhibitions early on, including 
“Charles Willson Peale, Artist from Chestertown,” in honor of the inauguration of
President Merdinger in 1971. Along with art and architecture, Dr. Janson-LaPalme’s
interests extended to archaeology, and in 1981 he supervised the archaeological dig
to uncover the foundations of the original college building, built in 1783 and destroyed
by fire in 1827. In the course of this work, he located the 19th century White House Farm painting, which depicts the town of Chestertown and the
original college building overlooking it from its hilltop. The painting was later
donated to the college. A further outcome of this project was the construction of
a scale model of the original college building, as well as the recovery of artifacts
which reside in the college archives.
Dr. Janson-LaPalme served the community as well, giving numerous public programs on
the architecture of Chestertown. He served on the Chestertown Historic Commission
from 1978-2001, holding the title of Chairman for 16 years. In 1985, he wrote the
important reference work, “Chestertown: An Architectural Guide”, which remains in
print; he is also responsible for the bronze plaques that ich identify the historic
buildings within the town.
After his retirement from the college in 2004, he and his wife Bayly established the successful “Janson-LaPalme Distinguished Lectures in European Art History”, which ran for more than 10 years and brought internationally prominent art historians to Washington College. He considered this series the highlight of his career.
Chestertown and Washington College will no doubt remember his contributions and feel
his influence long into the future.
Dr. Janson-LaPalme is survived by his wife, Bayly Ellen Marks Janson-LaPalme, who resides in Chestertown.
A celebration of life service will be held on October 17 at 1pm at Emmanuel Episcopal Church at 101 N. Cross Street in Chestertown.
