Founder's Day at Lafayette Square
In the Orleans Parish School Board Collection For decades, New Orleans public school students participated in the annual ritual of "McDonogh Day" (which would later become known as "Founder's Day"), an homage to John McDonogh for his contributions to their education. The ceremony was originally held at his gravesite until the late 1800s, but after his remains were moved to his native home of Baltimore, a monument was constructed in Lafayette Square. There the schoolchildren paid tribute to McDonogh every May until 1958, when a new McDonogh Monument was placed in Duncan Plaza, and the celebration moved there.