Photo Above: Professor Brumfield speaks in the grand Coat of Arms Hall at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Washington, D.C.

William Brumfield, a distinguished professor at Tulane University and renowned scholar of Russian architecture, shared insights about his academic journey during a lecture on December 12, 2025, at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Washington, D.C. The focus of the celebration was the three lavish books that he published with Duke University Press over the decade.  

"Russia and Russian culture helped me understand who I am. Russian culture gave me this gift, and I am returning it to the world," Brumfield told the 135 attendees at the lecture, including Alexander Darchiev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States, diplomats, cultural professionals, teachers, and students.  

Photo: Russian Ambassador Darchiev delivering the opening remarks in praise of Professor Brumfield. 

A Career Built on Architectural Scholarship 

During his lecture, the Tulane professor recounted his family background, formative years that created his interest in Russia. He noted the many unanticipated developments that led from growing up in the deep American South to a career as a distinguished specialist in Slavic Studies. He recounted his early journeys in Russia, documenting a millennium of Russia’s architectural heritage. He discussed his pioneering first book, Gold in Azure: One Thousand Years of Russian Architecture, which appeared in the fall of 1983 as the first comprehensive study of Russian architectural traditions from the Byzantine era through modern times. Brumfield also commented on the ambivalent attitude towards his developing expertise in photography and Russian Architecture at Harvard University, where he served as an assistant professor from 1974 to 1980. 

Following Gold in Azure, Brumfield's subsequent scholarly works on Russian architectural history achieved critical acclaim and became bestsellers, earning recognition as essential publications in the field. 

Celebrating a Distinguished Publishing Partnership 

Dean Smith, Director of Duke University Press since 2019, with over 30 years of extensive publishing experience, also delivered introductory remarks to celebrate Brumfield's four art books published with Duke University Press. These acclaimed volumes include From Forest to Steppe: The Russian Art of Building in Wood, Architecture at the End of the Earth: Photographing the Russian North, Journeys through the Russian Empire: The Photographic Legacy of Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky, and Lost Russia: Photographing the Ruins of Russian Architecture. Together, these works represent decades of dedicated research and documentation of Russia's architectural heritage. 

Photo: From left to right, Ambassador Darchiev, Professor Brumfield, Dean J. Smith, Director of Duke University Press

Recognition and Impact 

Russian Ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, introduced the Tulane professor, noting that Brumfield has devoted his life and career to studying and interpreting Russian culture and historical heritage. The ambassador emphasized that Brumfield's latest book, From Forest to Steppe, on wooden architecture, "proves that being Russian is not a matter of what is written in the passport, it is in the heart and soul." 

In recognition of his scholarly contributions, Brumfield has received the Order of Friendship, the Dmitry Likhachev Prize for his contributions to the study of Russian cultural heritage.  

Professor Brumfield was profusely acknowledged for his perseverance and dedication in studying Russian art and culture, building bridges between Russia and the United States despite the Cold War and present confrontations between the nations. Ambassador Darchiev described the Tulane professor as a symbol of a single-minded soul whose camera and perseverance broke down the barriers of the Cold War, adding that such dedication remains vital for overcoming contemporary barriers and restoring productive relations between Russia and the United States. 

Photo: Professor Brumfield with a display of books and A History of Russian Architecture, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, 1993.