Franklin Switzerland remembers with gratitude Giancarlo Olgiati, lawyer, art connoisseur, and generous friend of our institution, who recently passed away.
In March 2024, Mr. Olgiati donated to Franklin the extraordinary family library he had inherited, a collection built over generations by his father, Libero Olgiati, and his grandfather, Camillo Olgiati. The collection reflects a deep commitment to culture and knowledge, bringing together works of Italian and French literature, philosophy, history, political thought, and art. Among its highlights are extensive collections published by UTET and Gallimard’s Bibliothèque de la Pléiade, as well as works by authors including Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, Benedetto Croce, and Gaetano Salvemini.
The donation was a generous and lasting expression of Mr. Olgiati’s love of culture and his desire to make knowledge accessible to future generations. His generosity extended beyond the books themselves. Franklin students had the privilege of meeting him during a private visit to the exhibition Yves Klein and Arman: Le Vide et le Plein, where he shared his extraordinary knowledge of art with curiosity, passion, and a rare ability to bring works, people, and historical periods to life.
Giancarlo Olgiati will be remembered as a generous and thoughtful friend of Franklin. The library he entrusted to Franklin will remain a lasting part of his legacy, introducing generations of students to the world of culture and knowledge that was so dear to him.
The Olgiati Collection is available at the David R. Grace Library on Kaletsch Campus.