Browse Exhibits (1 total)
Building a Legacy: A Sense of Place for the First Residential African Americans at William & Mary
When Karen Ely, Lynn Briley, and Janet Brown Strafer arrived at the College of William & Mary in 1967, they did not realize the impact their presence would have. Ely, Briley and Brown Strafer (the Legacy 3) would become the first residential African American students at the College. From their corner room in the basement of Jefferson Hall to the Wren Building, these women carved spaces for themselves and for those African American students who would follow.
For this Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend Branch Out Alternative Break, we worked with the Lemon Project to interview Ely, Briley and Brown Strafer about their interactions with spaces and places at William & Mary. Though their stories reflect distinct barriers and challenges, they were also adamant that they had a normal college experience. They put their academics first, they enjoyed the beautiful campus, and they found friends and places to study. In the interviews, the students asked the Legacy 3 about three facets of student life: residential, academic, and social. Over time, the women’s experiences added layers of meaning to the spaces we currently share as a campus.
Contributors:
Ty’leik Brandon
Marina Schlosser
Lydia Dolvin
Zoe Mollencop
Angela Tiangco
Claudia Segura
Shivani Gupta
Ka’myia Gunn
Angela Rose West
Leonor Grave
Katherine Webb
Dana Moore
Ravynn Stringfield
Ari Weinberg
Adrienne Resha
Sarah Thomas