“Tribute to Mr. James T. King, ’56 MA in French”

Over the years, the Yale Department of French has been profoundly enriched by the enduring generosity of Mr. James T. King. His unwavering support shaped every dimension of the department’s intellectual life.  In 2010, in recognition of Mr. King’s exceptional commitment, the department’s lounge was named “The James T. King Graduate Reading Room”—a tangible and lasting tribute to the vital role he played in the life of the department.  We were deeply saddened to learn of his recent passing.

The James T. King Fund for French Studies has supported an extraordinary array of initiatives: public lectures, film screenings, international conferences, research fellowships, and student-centered programming.

The fund enabled the French department to welcome an impressive roster of writers and intellectuals, including Kamel Daoud, Christophe Boltanski, Christine Angot, Édouard Louis, Philippe Lançon, Abdellah Taïa, Marie Ndiaye, and David Diop. These visits have sparked rich and timely conversations, connecting Yale audiences with the latest developments in French and Francophone thought.

A cornerstone of this engagement was the creation of The James T. King Visiting Scholar Program, a two-week residency designed to foster meaningful scholarly exchange and introduce students to new perspectives and disciplinary approaches. The program strengthened ties with institutions across the French-speaking world and brought leading thinkers such as Nancy Greene and Pierre Bouvier, Pierre Birnbaum, and Vincent Kaufmann to campus.

Mr. King’s commitment to student excellence was reflected in the James T. King Prize for Distinction in the Senior Essay, awarded annually to outstanding undergraduate research. Winning topics have explored a range of subjects, from postcolonial Congo to the music of Django Reinhardt, the writings of Frantz Fanon, and translations of contemporary French literature.

The fund has also supported annual undergraduate French Major Research Grants, and graduate students’ participation in the Institute of French Cultural Studies at Dartmouth College and in the Institut d’Avignon intensive summer program in advanced French and Francophone studies.

Innovative learning tools such as “Talk Abroad”—which connects students with native French speakers in real time—were made possible through the fund, enriching the department’s language instruction.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the university faced severe disruptions, Mr. King’s generosity provided essential stability. The fund supported the rapid shift to virtual events, provided research resources to junior faculty, and helped maintain a sense of community through online French Club gatherings and graduate seminars.

As campus life resumed, the fund enabled a robust return to in-person programming—from interdisciplinary symposia like “Desert Futures: Sahara”, to faculty book launches and lectures on subjects ranging from literary ecology to postcolonial memory. It also supported faculty book translations, curriculum development, and the launch of the “Grad Conversations” series, which created a new space for graduate student dialogue and professional development.

Most recently, in fall 2024, the fund supported a visit to Yale by Laurent Bili, the Ambassador of France, and his delegation—a landmark moment for the department and a fitting continuation of Mr. King’s commitment to fostering global engagement.

Mr. King’s generosity has left an indelible mark on the Yale Department of French. His legacy lives on in every student who has been inspired by the events he made possible and in every scholar whose work he helped support.  We remain profoundly grateful.