Escape the summer heat for a stroll through history. Get a unique glimpse into the past with a self-guided tour of the exhibits at Swem Library – a free, family-friendly activity for the summer!
Your self-guided tour begins in the Marshall Gallery, located on the first floor next to Special Collections, for an exploration of the federal occupation of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown during the Civil War. Through letters, drawings, newspaper articles and other items, Under the Shield shows how the war-time experience differed greatly for local white residents and enslaved black residents.
Remaining in the Marshall Gallery, your tour fast-forwards 100 years to the Civil War centennial. Conceived as a demonstration of American Cold War consensus, the centennial revealed how divided the country remained 100 years after Fort Sumter. When the centennial commission scheduled their national assembly at a segregated hotel in South Carolina, the papered-over cracks in the American consensus broke open for the world to see.
Before leaving the gallery, explore integration at W&M in the 1950s-1960s in The Inevitable Present. Learn about Hulon Willis, the first African American student admitted to the College, and Edward Augustus Travis, W&M’s first African American alumnus. This exhibit extends into the library’s Read & Relax area just outside the gallery.
As you move through Read & Relax, take a moment to view the unique exhibit, Lost & Found. During the 300+ years of William & Mary history, some of the College artifacts, library possessions and personal items that had been lost or taken were returned to the College. At one point, the school's mascot even vanished without a trace! Peruse these once lost treasures that now make their home at Swem.
Next, your tour will take you a few feet from Read & Relax to the Tribe Tutor Zone where you can observe the destructive power of fire. Through photos and interviews, the Jefferson Hall Fire exhibit captures the devastating results of a fire that broke out in one of the College’s dormitories in 1983. Although the fire spread quickly, all 183 students were able to escape, but most of the west wing was completely destroyed and the fire caused approximately $5 million in damages.
Lastly, navigate to the third floor of the library for more W&M history. An exhibit case located by the Brown Board Room provides a history of the College as seen through the eyes of its presidents. The fourth installment of this series details the administration of President Adam Empie (1827-1836).
Swem Library is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. during the summer. For more information on the exhibits, visit the Exhibits page.