Memorial Place

Space on Campus

Reparative

Briley, Lynn

Ely, Karen

Strafer, Janet Brown

Legacy Circle; parking circle dedicated to the Legacy Three (Karen Ely, Janet Brown Strafer, and Lynn Briley)

This parking lot was renamed to Legacy Circle to honor the first three African American students in residence at William & Mary, Karen Ely, Janet Brown Strafer, and Lynn Briley. The parking lot was previously named after President Ewell, who was an enslaver. Ewell served as the acting university president from 1848 to 1854 and the permanent president from 1854 to 1888. The academic building, Ewell Hall, is near Legacy Circle. Legacy Circle is adjacent to the Legacy Tribute Garden, which was also named in honor of the first three African Americans in residence at the College. Legacy Circle is the closest parking lot to Hearth: Memorial to the Enslaved. Legacy Circle is also the parking lot near Jefferson Hall, which was the dorm where Karen Ely, Janet Brown Strafer, and Lynn Briley first lived when they attended William & Mary starting in 1967. The 50th Anniversary of African Americans in Residence Committee planned the year-long celebration that led to the Legacy Tribute Garden, Sankofa Seed, and renaming of Ewell Circle to Legacy Circle.

President Katherine Rowe led William & Mary when this space was renamed from Ewell Circle to Legacy Circle. The Design Review Board is responsible for the naming and renaming process at William & Mary.

This is a small circular parking lot next to Hearth: Memorial to the Enslaved, Jefferson Hall, and Ewell Hall.

50th Anniversary of African Americans in Residence Committee

May 2021

2000-Present: Memorialization in the Era of Universities Studying Slavery and the Black Lives Matter Movement

William & Mary

William & Mary; Williamsburg, Virginia

Legacy Circle Parking Lot

Altered - Renamed