A Book Fit for Royals
Washington and Lee's Special Collections is an educational resource fit for a queen, but this 543-year-old book really has royal connections.
History
Rediscovery and Restoration of a 279-Year-Old Treasure
The Benjamin Borden Grant, the original grant for the land on which W&L now sits, turns 279 this month. It has been conserved and is stored in W&L's Special Collections.
WGSS to Hold Panel to Discuss Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearing
The panel, which is free and open to the public, is titled “Kavanaugh, SCOTUS Confirmation Hearings, and #whyididntreport.”
Culture and Communication in Costa Rica
Language and culture courses at W&L prepared Marissa Miller '21 for a fun, educational trip to Nicoya, where she met the vice president of Costa Rica (left, center).
Horowitz Op-Ed Addresses Bad Behavior at Elite Institutions
W&L History Professor Sarah Horowitz addresses "the upper-class claim to a right to rule — and misrule" in the Washington Post.
In Case You Missed It
W&L’s History Department to Hold Public Panel in Response to Constitution Day Lecture
The panel discussion, which is free and open to the public, is titled “Who Is America?! A Response to Michael Anton’s Constitution Day Lecture.”
W&L History Professors Talk Monuments in Washington Post
Professors Michelle Brock, Sarah Horowitz and Molly Michelmore discuss the message and weight behind Confederate monuments on college campuses
A Literal Treasure Chest
Charles Philip Blackledge ’38 gifted an important and fascinating collection of Roman coins to Washington and Lee Special Collections.
W&L Professor Ted DeLaney to Address Opening Convocation
DeLaney’s talk is titled “W&L History: Traditions, Transformations and the Consequences of Change."
Horowitz Addresses Conspiracies, Scandals in Washington Post Piece
Horowitz is an associate professor of history at Washington and Lee.
The Path to Publication
Matthew Rickert '18 completed the daunting task of updating the "Outing Club Guidebook."
W&L’s Myers Selected for History Seminar on “The Civil War and American Memory”
Myers, associate professor of history, is one of a select group of faculty members nationwide chosen by the CIC and Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
Show Me What Democracy Looks Like
Professor Bill Patch publishes book on the Labor Movement’s political influence on German democracy.
W&L Hosts Book Talk with Temple University Professor Bryant Simon
The title of his talk is “The Hamlet Fire and the Deadly Costs of Cheap.”
W&L Presents a Conversation on Race and Hope by Authors of “We Are Charleston”
The three authors of “We Are Charleston” will talk on Feb. 15 at 6:00 p.m. in Stackhouse Theatre, Elrod Commons. It is free and open to the public.
UNC History Professor, Fitz Brundage, Continues W&L Education and History Series
Brundage’s talk is titled “A Vexing and Awkward Dilemma: The Legacy of a Confederate Landscape.”
John Maass ’87: Enthralled with History
The historian, author and museum professional swears by the value of tramping the terrain where history happened.
W&L Professors to Read from New Works of Poetry
Wheeler will read from her poetry chapbook, “Propagation,” while Senechal De La Roche will read from her poetry collection “Blind Flowers.”
Finding Her Niche
Kelly Douma ’16 is on track to complete her doctorate in early modern German history and women’s studies by 2021.
W&L Continues Questioning Intimacy Series with Award-Winning Journalist
Charles Montgomery, urban design consultant and award-winning journalist, is the fourth speaker in the Questioning Intimacy Series.
W&L’s Michelmore Discusses the Evolution of Tax Policy on PRI’s The Takeaway
History professor Molly Michelmore discusses the evolution of tax policy in America, and how Republicans became the party of tax cuts.
Funding Hope in Memphis
Vicky Kazmierczak '18 spent the summer in Memphis, learning the ins and outs of non-profit work — and how to hope.
Antique Plate Linked to Special Date
On the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, we take a closer look at a special item in the Reeves Collection — a plate that bears the image of Martin Luther.
‘Dream Team’ Recreates 15th-Century Florence
Professor George Bent and his team of students are working on a digital recreation of Florence that Bent describes as the “project of his career.”
First-Year Seminars: From Poverty to the Past
Professors share the inspiration for their first-year seminars, and what they hope students will take away.
Geological Scientist Piotr Krzywiec to Lecture at W&L on Geology in Central Europe
Piotr Krzywiec will give a lecture on “Geology in Central Europe – How It All Started: The Early (XVI – XVII Cent.) Development of Earth Sciences in Central Europe."
Prelude to Reformation
Four Martin Luther tracts housed in W&L's Special Collections were fully restored in time for the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation.
W&L Hosts Author Blaine Brownell As Part of Yearlong Education and History Initiative
Brownell, author of “Washington and Lee University, 1930-2000: Tradition and Transformation” will lecture on the history of W&L.
W&L’s Brock Analyzes Use of the Term “Witch Hunt” in Washington Post Opinion Piece
Brock's piece, “No, there is no witch hunt against powerful men,” was published in The Washington Post on October 18, 2017.
W&L Professor Molly Michelmore Pens Op-ed for Washington Post
Michelmore's piece, "Republicans have none of the ingredients necessary for tax reform," was published in The Washington Post on October 2, 2017.
Author and Journalist John Farrell To Speak at W&L Oct. 2
Farrell will speak on “Richard Nixon and Donald Trump: Two American Presidents and the Politics of Grievance.”
Historian and Author Kenneth Noe to Deliver “Remembering Robert E. Lee” Address
The title of Noe's talk is “A Storm to Destroy My Hopes: Weather and Robert E. Lee’s Cheat Mountain Campaign.”
Jefferson Davis Futch III, Professor of History Emeritus, Dies at 85
Futch taught at Washington and Lee University for 46 years, until his retirement in 2008.
Colonel Ty Seidule To Give Constitution Day Lecture September 17
Col. Ty Seidule '84, professor and head of the history department at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, will deliver W&L's Constitution Day lecture.
Barton Myers Talks About George Washington and Robert E. Lee With L.A. Times
W&L's Myers discusses what ties together George Washington and Robert E. Lee.
Leyburn Library’s Author Talk Series Kicks Off Sept. 21
Leyburn Library's Author Talk Series will begin this academic year with a talk by W&L Associate Professor of History Barton Myers and Brian McKnight, a history professor at U.Va.-Wise.
By Royal Decree
A Bible in the Special Collections vault turned out to be the 1642 New Testament that belonged to France’s King Louis XIII.
A Special Summer in Special Collections
Chandler Wickers '18 has spent her summer as a researcher in Special Collections, where she has been exposed to fascinating materials and learned how professors and students can take greater advantage of the collection.
Alumni College Livestream: The Presidency of John Fitzgerald Kennedy
This lecture is part of the Alumni College's summer program, "Camelot Reconsidered: The Presidency of John Fitzgerald Kennedy."
Alumni College Livestream: From Breughel to Steen: The Painting of Everyday Life
This lecture is part of the Alumni College's summer program, "Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age."
‘These Spaces They Imagined’
Joelle Simeu '20 is working this summer on "The Politics and Poetics of Space in the Works of Martin Luther King Jr. and Leopold Senghor," a project with Professor Mohamed Kamara.
W&L’s Tallie Weighs in on Race, Food and Cultural Appropriation
T.J. Tallie, assistant professor of African history, talked to Forbes about the cultural appropriation of recipes.
Relationships Are the Best Prize
Participating in Mock Trial required loads of time for Avery Field '17, but he wouldn't trade the experience and relationships for a whole case of trophies.
W&L’s Brock Weighs in on ‘Witch Hunts’
Michelle Brock, assistant professor of history, talked to Motto about use of the phrase "witch hunt."
A Painting with a Storied Past
"The Battle of Minden" will be on display at W&L through the end of Fall Term 2017, when it will return on loan to Mount Vernon.
“Our Aim Was Man”: Civil War Sharpshooters
An inheritance of Civil War letters led to Professor Roberta Senechal's book about Civil War sharpshooters.
Poet Stephen Cushman To Speak on the Journals of Lewis and Clark
Professor, poet and author Stephen Cushman will speak on the journals of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
Historian and Author Jon Kukla to Lecture at W&L
Kukla will speak on “Patrick Henry: Champion of Liberty.”
On the Origin of One of W&L’s Most Valuable Books
Washington and Lee University owns a first edition of one of the most important — and controversial — books ever written.
Scholarly Panel to Celebrate Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration at W&L
Five W&L faculty members are featured in a new book from Cambridge Press about the NSA surveillance scandal that grew out of Edward Snowden’s now infamous disclosures.
Science, Society and the Arts Presents: Matthew Rickert ‘18
Matthew Rickert ‘18: avid outdoorsman by day, corporate fraud analyst by night
SABU Looks Back at Eventful Black History Month
In February and early March, performances, panel discussions, film screenings and lectures put the focus on black history and the black experience at Washington and Lee.
Quirky Ceramics Tell Fascinating Tales
A new exhibit, “Mementos of the Great War: Toby Jugs Commemorating Allied Leaders of World War I,” is open to the public in the Watson Pavilion at Washington and Lee University through December 2017.
Roy Matthews ’54 Used His IRA to Help History Professors at W&L
Roy Matthews's shaky start at W&L did not hint at his future career as a successful university professor. During a recent telephone conversation from his home in Washington, D.C. he described his journey from struggling during his first term at W&L to being a history scholar and author. He also talked about his decision to support the W&L History Department, where his journey began, through his IRA.
W&L Institute for Honor Looks at Lawyers and Infamous Clients
The two-day event will feature a film screening of "Bridge of Spies" and a panel discussion with lawyers who have represented notorious clients.
Discovery Takes Historic Document from Ordinary to Extraordinary
This seemingly ordinary subscription list from 1776, which has long been a part of W&L Special Collections, has a fascinating connection with American independence.
Remembering Artist Alvin Hollingsworth
Alvin Carl Hollingsworth was a leading African-American artist whose works can be seen in W&L's Leyburn Library.
Ancient Tablet is ‘Exquisite in its Simplicity’
In the first installment of this new series, Tom Camden offers the story of a Sumerian clay tablet that is the oldest recorded document in W&L's Special Collections.
Michelle Brock to Discuss Her Book About the Devil in Post-Reformation Scotland
Michelle D. Brock, assistant professor of history, will discuss her first book, “Satan and the Scots: The Devil in Post-Reformation Scotland, c. 1560-1700.”
Anna Piperato, tour guide for Rick Steves’ Europe, to speak on 14th-Century Mystic Catherine of Siena
Anna Piperato, tour guide for Rick Steves’ Europe and a freelance translator, will speak on “The Many Faces of Catherine of Siena: 14th-Century Mystic, Political Activist...Trouble.”
Jonathan Holloway, Historian and Dean of Yale College, to Speak at W&L Founders Day/ODK Convocation
Jonathan Holloway, historian of post-emancipation American history and black intellectualism and dean of Yale College, will be the featured speaker at Washington and Lee University’s Founders Day/Omicron Delta Kappa Convocation.
W&L’s Myers to Give Keynote at 154th Anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg
The title of Myers talk is “A Nation Remembers: Fredericksburg.” It will recall the events of December 1862 and their enduring legacy.
Reading Music
John Donaldson ’92, who returns to campus next week as executive-in-residence at the Williams School, is helping to map the future of the music industry at Pandora Internet Radio.
Temple Professor Emerita to Speak on Albion Tourgée
Carolyn Karcher to lecture on “Fighting Racism: Albion Tourgée and His African American Alliance During the 1890s.”
Historian to Speak on the Ways in Which Travel Has Caused Cultures to Clash
University College London historian to give talk titled, “The Eye of the Other: Travel Writing and Travel Polemics in Eastern Europe from the 18th Century to the Present.”
W&L Emeritus Professor Holt Merchant to Focus on R.E. Lee and the Reconstruction
Lee Chapel and Museum presents “Remembering Robert E. Lee” with a speech by J. Holt Merchant ’61, professor of history emeritus, at Washington and Lee University on Oct. 10 at 12:15 p.m. in Lee Chapel Auditorium.
Over There: Kiffin Rockwell, W&L’s French Fighter Pilot
One hundred years ago this month, Sept. 23, 1916, a young man named Kiffin Rockwell became the first alumnus of Washington and Lee University to give his life during World War I — not as an American doughboy, as you might expect, but as a founding member of the French air squadron known as the Escadrille Americaine, or the Lafayette Escadrille.
Jack Warren of the Society of the Cincinnati to Deliver 2016 Hendricks Law and History Lecture
Warren, who also serves as the director of the Society's American Revolution Institute, will lecture on "The American Revolution and National Identity.”
Edward Ayers, University of Richmond Professor and President Emeritus, to Lecture on Civil War History and Digital Humanities
Dr. Edward L. Ayers, the Tucker-Boatwright Professor of the Humanities and president emeritus at the University of Richmond, will give a lecture at Washington and Lee University on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. in Lee Chapel.
In Depth: International Immersion
Recipients of W&L's Certificate of International Immersion reflect on their experiences abroad.
Faculty Focus: Ted DeLaney
Associate Professor of History.
My W&L: Cory Church ’15
"W&L has given me the resources and experiences that I need to continue my intellectual, professional, and emotional growth outside of Lexington."
Interns at Work: Will Bartlett ’15
Mass communication and American history major Will Bartlett '15 interns for CBS News.
In Depth: Science, Society and the Arts
Michael Bronstein '15 and T.J. Fisher '15 study the evolution of the depiction of chaos in art and neuroscience.
My W&L: Alex Retzloff ’15
"W&L professors have a knack for making their students realize their true potential."
My W&L: Drew Carlos ’15
"W&L is more than just a school, and the professors are more than just educators."
My W&L: Kelly Douma ’16
"Friend groups are everywhere, traditions are most places, but the caring professors and impassioned students I have found in the German and History departments are one of a kind."
My W&L: Jinae Kennedy ’16
"One word can sum up my feelings about the last three years: Grateful."
Looking for older stories? See the complete History archive.
