The Lemon Project: A Journey of Reconciliation

09/03/2026

Hearth: Memorial to the Enslaved was dedicated in May 2022 and stands as the physical embodiment of the work of the Lemon Project. The roots of Hearth and the Lemon Project are tied directly to William & Mary students. Next year will be the 20-year anniversary of the William & Mary Student Assembly Resolution that led to the Board of Visitors' Resolution that founded the Lemon Project. ⁠
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The Student Assembly called on William & Mary "to establish a commission to research the full extent of the College of William and Mary’s role in slavery," and to "establish a memorial for the contributions of slaves to the College of William and Mary." They also called on the Board to "express profound regret for William [&] Mary's role in slavery."⁠
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09/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19mVRhi6S2/

Do you know of a history project by a Virginia nonprofit, tax exempt organization (501)(c)(3), state and federally recognized American Indian tribe, or local government agency in need of funding? Please tag them in the comments and/or share this post with them!⁠

The VMHC's Commonwealth History Fund is now accepting applications or its next grant cycle through September 30, 2026. Made possible by generous funding from and others, the Fund is designed to support and encourage meaningful history education and preservation projects throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Learn more at https://VirginiaHistory.org/HistoryFund

08/31/2026

‘Humbling’: Williamsburg poet laureate reflects on his first year
https://zurl.co/1Thnw

Even if I’m not the one to see the end result of this — whatever that could look like — it’s bigger than one person, said Lacroy Nixon.

08/29/2026

We're sharing an important event happening on November 6 from 3-6 pm in Swem Library. Register at https://events.wm.edu/event/view/facultydevelopment/374586

Reach out to Rachel Hogan with any questions!⁠
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Join W&M Libraries for the launch of the Black Women's Diaries Project, founded by Dr. Jennifer Putzi, W&M Libraries 2024 Faculty Scholar and Sara and Jess Cloud Professor of English & Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies. This digital archive launches with the 1902 Florence Barber Diary. Still, it will eventually contain approximately ten diaries by nineteenth-century African American women, most of which have not been transcribed and made available to researchers and students before. Working with partners in Swem Library, community partners, and W&M undergraduates, co-directors Dr. Jennifer Putzi and Dr. Kirsten Lee (Auburn University) have created a site that contains a transcribed, encoded, and annotated edition of the diary, as well as introductory and pedagogical materials.⁠
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From 3-5 p.m. in the Glenna Bowman MacKenzie Theatre, the project team will introduce the project, our brand-new website, and host a panel with our student research team.⁠
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From 5-6 p.m. in the Swem Lobby, enjoy refreshments, chat with the project team, and view the exhibit accompanying the website launch, featuring the 1902 Florence Barber Diary from W&M Special Collections, materials from the Sargeant Memorial Collection at Norfolk Public Library, and records from the historic St. John's AME Church in Norfolk.⁠
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Sponsored by: W&M Libraries

08/28/2026

Check out this virtual event happening next week!

The Library of Virginia will present “The Insurance-Industrial Complex of Slavery,” a virtual talk by Virginia Humanities HBCU Scholars Fellow Michelle Oliver, a financial genealogist, preservation strategist and public history researcher.

08/27/2026

Researching a dark history, Virginia lawmakers seek more from universities
https://zurl.co/R617C

A General Assembly commission is probing public universities' disruption of Black communities across the Commonwealth

08/26/2026

VSO's Rhythms of Resilience at CNU features African American composers, music
https://zurl.co/zQaDJ

Arts & Culture VSO's Rhythms of Resilience at CNU features African American composers, music WHRO | By Staff Report Published August 25, 2026 at 10:30 AM EDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Image via Virginia Symphony Orchestra Principal Guest Conductor Thomas Wilkins will lead the Virginia Symphon...

08/22/2026

Today is the day that first-year William & Mary students take Student Assembly’s Community Values Pledge and Honor Code Pledge. Because of the threat of bad weather, we’re inside at the Sadler Center and not at Hearth: Memorial to the Enslaved. Lemon Project Associate Director Dr. Sarah Thomas is spreading the word about the Lemon Project and Hearth. If you’re in Sadler, come by!

08/20/2026

VPM's 'Declarations' explores Black experiences during American Revolution
https://zurl.co/JL6oJ

The documentary features four Black Americans who had roles in the Revolutionary War.