As part of the second oldest university in the nation, William & Mary’s Special Collections Research Center features a significant archive of institutional history. Queer history is a vital part of this history, which is reflected both in the physical holdings and the commitment over the last twenty years to expand queer collections, with a special focus on oral histories. From Professor George Greenia’s Gay Student Support Group to today's pride events, the queer community at W&M has experienced both collective joy and resilience in the face of discrimination. Queer Legacies at W&M highlights LGBTQ+ voices in William & Mary’s archive through oral histories, most of which were recorded in 2022, while others date from 2012-2013.
This exhibit draws on oral history collections from the Stephens Project, an oral history initiative established in memory of Stephen H. Snell and Stephen E. Patrick that seeks to document the stories of the lives of William & Mary LGBTQ+ alumni, faculty, staff, and students. Focusing on their years at William & Mary, this oral history project discusses the personal experiences of individuals, including descriptions of queer life and community during their time at William & Mary, coming out stories, the impact of being queer at William & Mary, experiences related to the Crim Dell Association (formerly William & Mary Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae, Inc.) as well as student, faculty and staff groups, and other memories.
If you, or someone you know, are interested in contributing your story to the Stephens Project, please reach out to Special Collections (spcoll@wm.edu) to discuss scheduling an interview.
To find oral histories from the Stephens Project, visit W&M Libraries' digital collections platform.
Oral History Narrators: Noelia Azim ’22; Chris “Lady Jade” Beacham ’13; Kaitlyn Clark VIMS PhD ’25; Maxwell Cloe BA ’20, MA ’22; Carlton Hardy ’66; Aubrey Lay '23; Jimmy Lockedmonds BBA ’08, MBA ’09; Julian Long ’04, JD ’07; Jesse Rude ’97; Malvika Shrimali ’24; Helis Sikk PhD '16
Curator: Cecilia Weaver '24, SCRC Oral History Student Assistant
Design: Shradha Dinesh '24, SCRC Graphics Student Assistant
Installation: Jennie Davy, Exhibits and Artifacts Curator; Clarissa Cantacuzene '24, Special Collections Student Assistant; and Cecilia Weaver '24