Archives

Mary Washington Can Ball

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Congratulations to UMW Men’s Basketball on their historic trip to the NCAA DIII National Championship! This is the program’s first ever national championship appearance, and we couldn’t be more proud. Our Eagles face off against Emory University’s also-Eagles in Indianapolis this Sunday, April 5, and you can bet the fans in Special Collections and University Archives will be tuning in to cheer!

To celebrate, Special Collections and University Archives staff would like to showcase some of our school’s basketball history!

Basketball was the start of competitive sports at Mary Washington. More than 100 years ago, in the 1914-15 school year, the basketball team played their first game outside of the school’s gym and secured a 14-9 victory over the YWCA Richmond team, which was at the time regarded as one of the best women’s teams in the state.1 Let’s go, State Normal School!

Headshots of women from the 1916 basketball team are pictured in the gaps of a drawn basketball net. "The Junior Basket Ball Team" is written above the hoop.
The 1916 Fredericksburg State Normal School basketball team

While our victorious spirit may not have changed, the players’ look may be a bit different. The early 20th century players took to the court in headscarves, neckerchiefs, and long dresses, possibly making it difficult to execute a killer between-the-legs crossover.

Nine girls from the basketball team pose - four sitting, five standing - while wearing long black dresses, neckerchiefs, and head scarves.
The 1925 Fredericksburg State Teachers College basketball team

Throughout our history, basketball remained one of Mary Washington’s most popular sports. Many students were involved in class teams and intercollegiate play. Games featuring nearby competitors from Washington, D.C. or Richmond often drew an enthusiastic crowd.2

A young woman holding a basketball stands in between two other young women, preparing to toss the ball up for a jump ball.

Recreational play was also popular. Students faced off against other dorms on campus, and basketball was even a part of the legendary Devil-Goat rivalry.3 Until Goolrick Hall and its basketball facilities opened in 1969, students played on a court in Monroe Hall, pictured left in 1963.

As the school expanded and went co-ed in the 1970s, so did sports programs. Mary Washington continued to field competitive intercollegiate teams, but did so without a mascot. A 1978 Bullet article, “A School Without a Name,” bemoaned the awkwardness of not having anything to cheer at sporting events compared to other colleges in the state.4 The swim team had informally adopted the moniker “The Blue Tide” a few years earlier, and after a student vote in 1978, that became Mary Washington’s new mascot.

Player in a #54 Blue Tide jersey shown midair with arms extended going for a jump shot.
Frank Gilmore of the Mary Washington Blue Tide lifts off for a shot, c. 1980s.

Blue Tide was not without its drawbacks. Folks found it difficult to represent graphically on uniforms and in marketing, ultimately pointing to the question: what exactly is a blue tide? No one seemed equipped to answer. Blue Tide was washed.

In 1986, a poll circulated among the students and faculty to choose a new mascot. Eagles emerged victorious, ousting other contenders such as Devil-Goats, Cannons, and Bayonets. The basketball team would begin playing in blue-centric uniforms as the Eagles beginning in the 1986-87 academic year and continuing into today.

The women's basketball team stands in the middle of the court with their hands raised together during a huddle.
Women’s basketball on the court in 2002

Like the school itself, the basketball team has enjoyed success no matter what it’s called. In the modern era, the women’s and men’s teams have boasted multiple seasons with high rankings in the state, along with several state and conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances.

This weekend will be the first time for either team to experience the national championship spotlight. We wish our Eagles the best of luck on Sunday as they continue to make hoops history!

  1. Edward Alvey, Jr., The History of Mary Washington College, 1908-1972 (University Press of Virginia, 1974), 71 ↩︎
  2. Ibid., 548 ↩︎
  3. “Devil-Goat Game Set For March 9,” Bullet (Fredericksburg, VA), March 4, 1960, 7 ↩︎
  4. John M. Coski, “A School Without a Name,” Bullet (Fredericksburg, VA), February 21, 1978, 1 ↩︎

All images courtesy of the Centennial Image Collection.

Archives/Digital Collections/Student Work

Great Lives & University Archives

Posted on by Regan Chancellor / 1 Comment

This post was written by Caitlin Ervin ’28, Special Collections & University Archives Student Worker

Great Lives 2026 lecture series logo with subtitle 'Biographical Approaches to History and Culture.'

Dr. Venus R. Jones: One of the Few, Precursor to Many 

This Thursday, March 26th, guest speaker, author and historian Mary Ellen Curtin will present on the legacy of Barbara Jordan as part of the Great Lives lecture series. Jordan was a Texas-born politician, orator, and educator who made history with a number of firsts over the course of her political career: the first Black person elected to the Texas Senate since 1883, the first Black woman ever elected to the Texas Senate, and the first Black Texan ever elected to the U.S. Congress. 

In honor of this lecture, Special Collections and University Archives is proud to present a short piece on the career and legacy of Dr. Venus Jones ‘68, an alum who accomplished a number of her own firsts both during and after her time at Mary Washington, leaving a lasting impact on the college. 

Career 

Venus Jones wearing a collared jacket is seated outdoors in front of a brick wall with a decorative metal railing
Venus Jones’ yearbook image

Mary Washington was not Jones’ first choice for college. She had initially applied to the University of Virginia, however, the administration at the time refused to admit a woman to their pre-med program and instead suggested that she apply to its sister school, Mary Washington. Within three years of her admittance, Jones became the first Black graduate from MWC in May 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She then went on to attend the University of Virginia’s medical program as one of only six women, and the only Black woman. During her time at UVA, she was involved with the Community Health Project, which provided free medical care to the community, while also doing her clinical rotations. She graduated from UVA in 1972 and spent the next few years on the west coast interning with a local indigenous population in Phoenix, Arizona, and completing her medical residency at the Children’s Hospital in San Francisco. She then returned to Virginia to complete an additional three-year residency in neurology at UVA, followed by a fellowship specializing in epilepsy. 

After completing her medical training, Dr. Jones enlisted in the U.S. Air Force with the intention of working professionally before opening her own private practice. By 1981, she had become the Chief of Neurology at the Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and was one of only three Air Force neurologists stationed on the east coast. She also served as a consultant to the Surgeon General of the Air Force. She continued her career as Chief of Neurology at two other Air Force hospitals and ultimately retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after serving nearly twenty years. In 1998, she moved to Clarksdale, Mississippi and fulfilled the dream of opening her own clinic, the Delta Neurology Clinic, which she operated until her death on May 17, 2001, at the age of 53. 

Commentary on Race at MWC 

A scanned newspaper page titled ‘The Negro On Campus,’ featuring multiple photos of students in classroom settings, along with several columns of text
The Bullet Student Newspaper February 19th 1928

On February 19, 1968, three months before Jones graduated, an article titled “The Negro On Campus” was published in the weekly student newspaper, The Bullet. In the article, Jones, alongside Chris Hall ‘69, Dottie Holmes ‘71, Anita Whitehead ‘71, and Orita Whitehead (known as MWC’s “Big Five”) detailed their experiences as the only Black students on a majority-white campus. In the article, Jones is quoted as saying that “On this Campus, nothing has changed because there aren’t enough Negroes to make a change in attitude.” She also called out MWC for not advertising itself to potential Black students like other colleges had, such as UVA and the University of Richmond. The women viewed this as MWC not taking the issue of integration or potential of Black students seriously. 

It was first-year Dottie Holmes who brought up discrepancies in student housing, with she and the Whitehead sisters sharing one dorm room. Jones and Hall had experienced the same when they were freshman roommates in 1965, and the two, while genuinely friends, had to make a point of having different social routines so as to not always be grouped together while living on campus. This issue of equitable housing assignments was not addressed by Chancellor Grellet Simpson until January 1969, nearly a year later. 

Legacy 

Throughout Dr. Venus Jones’ academic and professional careers, she was constantly one of the few due to her status as Black, a woman, or both in environments that were overwhelming run by white men. In fact, Jones said that while attending medical school at UVA, she faced more adversity for being a woman, than she did for being Black. However, her race was a defining part of her experience at Mary Washington College, which coincided with many other firsts for the school. This includes the first Black residential student, Kay Savage, who attended MWC from 1964-1966, and the first Black faculty member, Johnny P. Johnson, who was a part-time instructor for art education beginning in 1968. While these individuals may not have faced as much blatant racism while on campus as they may have a few decades prior, they still consistently dealt with microaggressions from other students, separation from Black communities, and an administration that was slow-to-react to their needs. 

In the nearly 60 years since the publication of the 1968 Bullet article about the Big Five, the Mary Washington campus has intentionally evolved to be more welcoming and inclusive, though not without criticism from students, both Black and white alike. Perhaps the most significant social changes originated with the founding of the Afro-American Association by students. Dottie Holmes ‘71, one of the Big Five, helped establish the Afro-American Association in 1970 and served as its first president. In the early 1970s, the club was a frequent contributor to The Bullet, writing about social and political injustices faced by Black women. They also organized the first Black Culture Week, held in February of each year. Black Culture Week has since expanded into the Black History Month Celebration, now organized by the James Farmer Multicultural Center. In 1987, the Afro-American Association changed its name to the Black Student Association, which it continues as today. 

Three people sit at a table covered with papers, books, and informational materials. A sign on the front of the table reads ‘Afro-American Association.’
1987 African American Association

Those interested in the work and legacy of Barbara Jordan should attend the Great Lives lecture by guest speaker Mary Ellen Curtin on her book, She Changed the Nation: Barbara Jordan’s Life and Legacy in Black Politics. It is hosted this Thursday, March 26th, in Dodd Auditorium beginning at 7:30 pm. 

Want to learn more about Venus Jones during her time at Mary Washington? You can listen to the Venus Jones Oral History Collection from UMW Special Collections and University Archives’ Digital Collections. 

Additional information about Barbara Jordan from Circles: The Buffalo Women’s Journal of Law and Social Policy – HeinOnline.org. 

Rare Books/Student Work

Processing the Past: Scanning History from Loudoun County, VA 

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This post was written by Caitlin Ervin ’28, Special Collections & University Archives Student Worker

Over Spring Break, I was given the opportunity to work as the Historical Research and Publication Aide on the Aldie Mill ledger scanning project. This project is a collaboration between the Loudoun Museum, UMW Special Collections, UMW Department of Historic Preservation, the Papers of James Monroe, and the James Monroe Museum with the goal of digitally preserving an 1830s ledger from the Aldie grain mill in Loudoun County with ties to James Monroe. The ledger itself is in fragile condition – it contains what appears to be about 10 separate paper notebooks dating from 1830 to 1833, bound  altogether with burlap. The spine of the ledger is curved, and the paper contents are in a delicate condition. 

I worked under the direction of Angie Kemp, head of UMW Special Collections and Digital Scholarship, as well as with Regan Chancellor, UMW Special Collections Research Coordinator. Our first day with the ledger was hectic, to say the least. As mentioned before, the spine of the ledger was curved, meaning that it needed to be supported somehow before we could begin scanning. We spent the entire first hour testing different materials to find what could be used as makeshift props. Some items were too large (like foam book pillows), and would have created a different background color, and affected the cohesiveness and coloring of the images. Ultimately, we discovered that small artifact boxes and lids could be set up as a row of supports – just the right height for the pages to be in focus, but small enough that they weren’t visible in the images. Issue #1 = solved ✔️

Student Sitting at a book scanner with computer in the background with scanning software open
Caitlin Ervin ’28 using the Cobra Book Scanner. Ledger courtesy Loudoun Museum, gift of Carol Thompson

We were then able to begin scanning the ledger using the Digital Archiving Lab’s COBRA scanner. The COBRA takes high-resolution pictures that can be used for any number of purposes, from inter-library loans to long-term digital preservation. The machine has a cradle that prevents spine damage caused by forcing a book to lie flat. Typically, when using the scanner, one would also use an attached glass pane that helps hold the pages still; however, the glass can put additional pressure on the pages and be tricky to center on a curved spine. Because of the condition of the ledger, we decided it would be better to hold pages manually, when needed, with either a small metal spatula or a small bone folder. This better preserved the pages and only came at the expense of occasionally having to crop out a finger or two from a final image. Issue #2 = solved ✔️

After the first two days, we had initial scans of each of the 496 pages of the Aldie Mill ledger. Each of these pages were scanned at a resolution of 600 dpi and stored as TIFF files, which is the preservation standard for image files. Scanning = complete ✔️. Then came processing, which meant a lot of rescanning, renaming, and photoshop. One would think that this would be a linear process. It was not linear. At each level of processing, the images were checked by both Angie and me; and at nearly every level we found something that needed to be addressed. Each change we made also created an updated copy of the images. The majority of the time on this project consisted of a pretty repetitive schedule that resulted in easily a few thousand images that were then stored on a separate hard drive. 

Rescans had to be made of between 2 to 90 pages at a time for a variety of reasons: bright spots from the COBRA’s initial light settings, white balance correction, spatula placement, or a piece of paper that shouldn’t be there. Once an image was deemed suitable, it could be digitally processed using Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. 

Lightroom Classic was used to adjust the white balance of every page. Due to the lighting conditions in the Digital Archiving Lab, images were appearing with a reddish tint. So, we took additional scans of pages next to a color chart and applied a white balance filter to the remaining pages. This provided images that more accurately represent how the book appears in person. Both versions (white balance and original) were then processed as automated batch actions using Photoshop to create shareable and accessible copies of each image at a lower resolution (300 dpi versus 600 dpi) and as JPEGs, which take much less storage space. There was one day during the Photoshop phase of processing where it took about four hours for all of the image versions to load and save. Many hours of loading later, Image Processing = complete✔️! 

A photo‑editing software screen displaying a ledger page. A color calibration chart are placed beside the ledger for reference.
Screenshot of the editing software used to process the images. Ledger courtesy Loudoun Museum, gift of Carol Thompson

Finally: we had completed the scanning. We had done the editing. Surely, we were ready to share our results with the other collaborators, right? No! Now, we had to rename the files. This meant making sure that the different versions and states of editing hadn’t been mixed up, that there weren’t any duplicates in the same folder, and that originals were separated from white balanced, edited versions. Thankfully, we were meticulous in creating and updating folders for each version, so this stage of the project actually went quickly. Final Images = ready ✔️! 

Overall, this project was very time-consuming, but also very rewarding: it resulted in the creation of the best possible scans that could be used by the Loudoun Museum, the Papers of James Monroe, and UMW Department of Historic Preservation. Additionally, when reviewing the final images, we were able to identify around a dozen mentions of James Monroe as a customer of the mill, beginning with entries in 1830 until the time around his death in the summer of 1831. My involvement in this project meant that I got to play an active role in preserving a little piece of Virginia history, and I would not have had this opportunity if not for my work with UMW Special Collections and University Archives. 

Archives/Digital Collections/Student Work

Great Lives & University Archives

Posted on by Regan Chancellor / 0 Comment
Great Lives 2026 lecture series logo with subtitle 'Biographical Approaches to History and Culture.'

This post was written by Clementine Worshek ’28, Special Collections & University Archives Student Worker

The concept of the television was first mentioned in the Epaulet in 1941, a student-funded literary magazine. While the televisions were mainly used for announcements for students to communicate with professors, it was a large leap in technological innovation, making it easier for students to receive information from the comfort of their own dorm. This was huge at the time, with the student writing: “No one will have to walk from building to building, for each student will be equipped with a set of wings by means of which she may rise and be on her way.” The future of televisions would shift in the following ten years, and a large part of that was thanks to Desi Arnaz.  

A scanned magazine page titled “What? A Prophesy” by Hazel Wood, showing a two‑column article predicting futuristic changes at Mary Washington College

Desi Arnaz was a multi-talented force in the entertainment industry. While he is most well-known for his work on the television show I Love Lucy, his touch in the TV world expands beyond the popular sitcom as an actor, tv producer, and musician. He initially found fame through the formation of his own band, introducing the conga line to dance to Miami, which became a huge hit. In fact, he is featured in an advertisement in Mary Washington’s school newspaper The Bullet from 1947. The ad features him as a musician, writing that “His volatile Cuban rhythms have been sweeping the country”.  

A vintage advertisement featuring musicians and cigarette ad on the , with slogans, musical notes, and illustrated product packaging.

While being a great musician, his contribution to the world of television is arguably what he is most known for. He was more than just the character Ricky in the hit 1951 sitcom I Love Lucy, but he revolutionized the sitcom as a genre. He created the “three-camera method” in terms of setting up multiple cameras on a television set at the same time, along with a studio audience. His goal was to find an easier and more interactive way to test their material in front of actual people. While this is considered the standard now, this was revolutionary at the time. Along with his work behind the camera, Arnaz’s character on-screen broke boundaries, as he represented a Cuban character in a sitcom that wasn’t aimed at making his identity the butt of the joke. His portrayal of his character at this time was significant, and an important piece of Latino-American representation in television.  

Additionally, Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball’s production studio Desilu helped produce the original Star Trek series. Mary Washington has a final draft from the tenth episode of season two of the original series titled ‘Journey to Babel’, made in 1967. Though Arnaz left the studio by 1962, his contribution into creating a space in the company where they could take risks in new areas of television are significant. Without their production company, we would not have the Star Trek series we know today. 

A blue script cover for Star Trek titled “Journey to Babel,” signed on the front, with brass fasteners and dated “Final Draft, September 19, 1967.”

Overall, Desi Arnaz’s influence in the entertainment industry is spread far and wide, and we have him to thank for the many innovations to TV production and creation over the years.

Learn more about the Great Life of Desi Arnaz at Todd S. Purdum’s lecture on his book Desi Arnaz, The Man Who Invented Television March 10th.

Rare Books/Student Work

Great Lives in Rare Books

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Great Lives 2026 lecture series logo with subtitle 'Biographical Approaches to History and Culture.

This post was written by Makayla Bowman ‘26 Special Collections & University Archives Student worker

Westward expansion, amidst the background of the Revolutionary War, characterizes the context of this Thursday’s Great Lives Lecture. The Taking of Jemima Boone: Colonial Settlers, Tribal Nations, and the Kidnap that Shaped America, by Matthew Pearl, illustrates the disappearance of three young girls near Boonesboro, Kentucky, shortly after the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.  

Prior to writing this historical book, Matthew Pearl also authored the fiction novels The Dante Club, The Poe Shadow, The Last Dickens, The Technologists and The Last Bookaneer. Pearl’s literary background in fiction shines through in this non-fiction account, with Jemima Boone coming alive through Pearl’s narration and command of the pages.  

The University of Mary Washington Special Collections University Archives (SCUA) houses Mary Washington’s Rare Book Room.  The Kentucky revival, or, A short history of the late extraordinary out-pouring of the spirit of God and Resolutions of Virginia and Kentucky both represent tangible connections to this week’s Great Lives Lecture about Jemima Boone and the greater context of her kidnapping in the eighteenth century United States.  

All of the above materials are available to view on the second floor of the Simpson Library during SCUA open hours or by scheduling an appointment. (archives@umw.edu)   

Archives/Student Work

Great Lives & University Archives

Posted on by Regan Chancellor / 1 Comment
Great Lives 2026 lecture series logo with subtitle 'Biographical Approaches to History and Culture.'

This post was written by Caitlin Ervin ’28, Special Collections & University Archives Student worker

Dr. Minnie Rob Phaup 

This Tuesday, February 24th, guest speaker and author Kate Moore will present on the legacy of Elizabeth Packard as part of the Great Lives lecture series. Packard was a 19th-century advocate for women’s legal rights and asylum reform following her forced institutionalization at the request of her husband in 1860. 

In honor of this lecture, Special Collections and University Archives is proud to present a short piece on Dr. Minnie Rob Phaup, former assistant professor in the Department of Psychology whose Ph.D. dissertation studying female mental patients is available at the University Archives. 

Before MWC 

Dr. Minnie Rob Phaup was an assistant professor of psychology at Mary Washington College from the fall of 1959 (sometimes written as the fall of 1958) to the fall of 1960. Before her role at MWC, Dr. Phaup demonstrated a profound interest in education and psychology. She graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1927 with undergraduate degrees in both English and French. This was followed by the completion of her first master’s degree in philosophy and psychology at the University of Chicago in 1930. Phaup then returned to her hometown of Richmond, Virginia to teach English at Thomas Jefferson High School (1931-45), before moving on to teach psychology at Converse College (Spartanburg, North Carolina, 1945-48), Wells College (Aurora, New York, 1948-53), and Queens College (Charlotte, North Carolina, 1953-1955) – all historic women’s colleges. She left Queens College to pursue graduate studies in psychology at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., receiving her second master’s degree in 1956 and her Ph.D. in 1960. 

Teaching at MWC 

While completing her Ph.D., the soon-to-be Dr. Phaup took up a teaching position in the Department of Psychology at Mary Washington College. Her hiring was announced in a September 11, 1959, article of The Bullet, alongside other new faculty for that year. The January 1960 issue of the MWC Bulletin states that as assistant professor, Dr. Phaup was responsible for teaching Psychology 345: Psychology of Learning and Psychology 371/372: Experimental Psychology. In the January 1961 issue of the Bulletin, her responsibilities had expanded to include a role on the faculty committee for “Programs for Superior Students,” under Mr. Edward Alvey, Jr., who at one time served as the dean of education. Dr. Phaup had also been scheduled to teach three courses: Psychology 342: Psychology of Personality, Psychology 345, and Psychology 441: Psychological Problems, the last taught opposite Dr. Eileen Kramer Dodd, professor of psychology. Despite earning her Ph.D. in June 1960, Dr. Phaup was listed as Miss Phaup in the MWC Bulletin from 1961. This is true for many of the female faculty of the time, including her colleague Dr. Eileen Kramer Dodd, listed simply as “Mrs. Dodd” in the course catalogue. 

Dissertation: “A Study on the Self Concepts of Women Patients” 

Dr. Phaup’s dissertation, titled “A Study of the Self Concepts of Women Patients Who, Though Clinically in Remission, Remain in a Mental Hospital,” was submitted to the George Washington University Graduate Council in February 1960. Her research was completed at Saint Elizabeths Hospital under the supervision of Dr. Thelma Hunt, of the George Washington University Department of Psychology, and Dr. Margaret Mercer, Director of Research for the Psychology Branch at Saint Elizabeths Hospital. 

  • Phaup’s study was designed around two hypotheses: 1) Patients who are in remission and are eligible for release, but for whatever reason do not feel prepared to leave, share common identifiable behaviors; and 2) Patients are likely to rank their personality traits as less than the ideal, especially in comparison to non-institutionalized women of similar demographics. 
  • Subjects: 25 subjects were selected based on conditions and demographics that suggested a greater likelihood of success if released. These conditions included recommendations from hospital staff, being less than 55 years old, having at least a high school education, having previous work experience, and being in good physical health. 25 additional women of similar demographics from outside of Saint Elizabeths Hospital were brought in as a control group. 
  • Procedure: Each subject was asked to score 84 statements representing different types of personality traits (outgoing, oppositional, avoidant) from 1 to 10. First, they were each asked to score the statements based on what they believed to be true for themselves. Then, they were each asked to score the statements based on what they believed to be the “ideal” woman. 
  • Results: Phaup’s study revealed that both groups of women had a similar idea of an “ideal” woman, but that the group from outside the hospital were more likely to score themselves higher on outgoing personality traits, while the patients were more likely to score themselves higher on avoidant personality traits. These results confirmed Phaup’s hypotheses that these patients did share similar behaviors and traits to one another beyond demographics, and that they, to some degree, viewed themselves as less emotionally attached than both women who had not been in the hospital and their view of the “ideal” woman.
  • Dr. Phaup is credited as co-author of an article published posthumously in the Journal of Clinical Psychology by one of her dissertation advisors, Dr. Margaret Mercer. This article, which was based on research from Dr. Phaup’s dissertation, was published in October 1963 and provides a summary of her research.  

Memorial Scholarship 

On December 28, 1960, Dr. Phaup died unexpectedly from an illness at her home in Alexandria, Virginia. She was 54 years old. The following year, a memorial fund was started in her name with the ensuing scholarships to be awarded to a graduating senior pursuing graduate work in psychology. The scholarship requirements have changed overtime: first to include current seniors (1973), and then to include juniors and seniors (1974). The first scholarship was awarded in the 1974-75 academic year. In 1987, the Minnie Rob Phaup Memorial Scholarship became dedicated solely to juniors and seniors at MWC, no longer making it a post-graduate scholarship. This scholarship continues to be offered by the Department of Psychology. 

Those interested in women’s history, psychology, and advocacy should attend the Great Lives lecture by guest speaker Kate Moore on her book, The Woman They Could Not Silence, about social activist Elizabeth Packard. It is hosted this Tuesday, February 24th, in Dodd Auditorium beginning at 7:30 pm. 

Additional information from History of U.S. Mental Institutions – Courtney Collier – UMW Blogs and Scholarships – Psychological Science. 

Archives/Digital Collections/Student Work

Great Lives & University Archives

Posted on by Regan Chancellor / 0 Comment
Great Lives 2026 lecture series logo with subtitle 'Biographical Approaches to History and Culture.'

This post was written by Caitlin Ervin ’28, Special Collections & University Archives Student worker

Jazz at MWC: From Appreciation to Performance 

On Thursday, February 19th, guest speaker and author Larry Tye will present on the legacies of three pioneering jazz musicians – Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie – as part of the Great Lives lecture series.  

In honor of this lecture, Special Collections and University Archives is proud to present a short history of jazz music at Mary Washington College. 

Club Socials and Events 

Some of the earliest instances of jazz at Mary Washington come from when it was still named the State Normal School for Women. In the 1920s, campus organizations used jazz bands as musical entertainment at dances and social events. The first found employment of a jazz band was by the Kotillion Klub in January 1921, who organized a dance featuring the Marine Jazz Band. This trend continued through the 1950s, with the performing jazz band changing depending on the year. 

In the 1930s, the Junior and Senior Dance Clubs, also known as the Modern Dance Clubs, began featuring jazz as one of the musical styles in their performances. These were referred to early on as “Jazz-Ma-Tazz” and were performed with music specifically composed for the piece, often by Mr. Levin Houston, who taught music at the college. In 1944, the Modern Dance Club chose jazz as the theme of their annual dance program, named “American Primitive 1944.” 

Student News and Radio 

Much of student life at MWC was recorded in The Bullet, the student newspaper that preceded our own Weekly Ringer. Jazz music was frequently included in reviews and recommendations printed in columns such as “Round the Dial” (1939-40), “Platter Chatter” (1944-45, ‘48), and “Slip-ped Disc” (1948-49). These columns advertised the latest album releases for Mary Washington students and often featured the latest jazz recordings, including those of Raymond Scott, Stan Kenton, and Thelonius Monk. Similar music review columns continued into the 1980s. 

Another frequent column, “Radio Speaks” (1949-50), provided students with the schedule for WMWC, Mary Washington College’s own on-campus radio station, which still exists today. November 1949 saw the broadcast of the “Evolution of Jazz,” hosted Wednesday afternoons from 4:30-4:45, discussing the music history of the genre, and December 1949 saw the introduction of “Charlie’s Jazz Jamboree” from 3:00-3:15 on Fridays. 

Other articles published well into the late 1950s, detail which clubs, hotels, and theatres in Washington, D.C. and Richmond were hosting live jazz bands for students to see. 

Concerts 

In the 1960s and 1970s, jazz concerts became a favorite among students on campus, leading to their inclusion in the Concert Series hosted annually by MWC. One of the first of these events was a performance by the American Jazz Ensemble in February 1963. A decade later, the college upped the ante by hosting The World’s Greatest Jazz Band (the ensemble’s official name) in March 1973. In the run-up to the band’s performance, Mr. Levin Houston, associate professor of music, led a lecture for students in the Virginia Hall parlor on the history of jazz. Another notable favorite was the 1973-74 Concert Series’ inclusion of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in February 1974. This band was unique because it was comprised almost entirely of elderly musicians in their 60s to 80s. February 1983 brought the Howard University Jazz Ensemble to campus not just for a concert series, but as part of Black Culture Month hosted by the MWC’s Afro-American Association. This marks perhaps the first time that a jazz band was invited by a college cultural club, rather than an arts or performance club. 

Education 

The first scholarly work from MWC to include jazz music can be found in Modern Canons, a collection of music compiled by MWC music professor Dr. Herman Reichenbach in 1947. Despite this early appearance, it took an additional 27 years before the college actually offered a class on jazz. The very first class, called “Evolution of Jazz,” was taught in the Spring semester of 1974 by Mr. Levin Houston – the very same professor that hosted the jazz history lecture in 1973 and composed jazz numbers for the Modern Dance Club in the 1940s. 

Archives/Student Work

One Hundred Years of Horns

Posted on by Regan Chancellor / 2 Comments

This post was written by Makayla Bowman (‘26) and Clementine Worshek (‘28), Special Collections & University Archives Student Aides, in Fall of 2025.

April 23rd, 2026, will mark the 100th Devil-Goat Day in the University of Mary Washington’s history. For those unfamiliar with this particular school tradition, Devil-Goat Day is hosted on the afternoon of the last Thursday of classes each spring semester. Students graduating in an even year are called Goats, and their primary color is green. Students graduating in an odd year are called Devils, and their primary color is red. On Devil-Goat Day, students don their mascot’s colors and compete in various field games like obstacle courses, riding a mechanical pig, and the infamous Tug-of-War. Though this spring marks the tradition’s centennial anniversary, Devil-Goat Day hasn’t always looked like it does today. 

Devil-Goat Day was founded in 1926 by Eileen Kramer Dodd. She was a professor of education and the sponsor of the junior class in her first year as a faculty member. That year, Dodd and members of the junior class decided that they wanted to have their own class mascot, and they chose the symbol of the Goat. After the junior class showcased their new symbol with green, color-coordinated outfits around campus, the seniors decided that they needed to create their own mascot, the Red Devil. From that moment on, the Devil-Goat rivalry was born. 

At first, competition between Devils and Goats occurred throughout the entire year, in which Devil-Goat Day marked the last day that the teams could earn points through sports competitions. However, as the school changed from a two-year college to a four-year university, along with becoming co-ed in 1970, Devil-Goat Day changed as well. Even though Devil-Goat Day is currently only celebrated on the afternoon of the last Thursday of classes during each spring semester, the spirit and competition of Devil-Goat Day have persisted longer than any other tradition at the University of Mary Washington. 

Over the course of the Fall 2025 semester, two Student Aides in Simpson Library’s Special Collections University Archives (SCUA) were tasked with researching and curating an exhibit about Devil-Goat Day’s momentous anniversary. Makayla Bowman (‘26) and Clementine Worshek (‘28) just finished installing their exhibit, One Hundred Years of Horns: Celebrating the Centennial of Devil-Goat Day, on the second floor of the Simpson Library, to the right side of the entrance to the Special Collections Reading Room. 

Artifacts and their labels arranged on a table. Red t-shirt, a yearbook, photographs, and eagle plushies wearing red and green colored shirts.
Artifacts and labels were laid out on the table in the SCUA Reading Room in preparation for the exhibit installation. Photo by Makayla Bowman

To begin the project, Makayla and Clementine combed through resources offered by the SCUA. To ground themselves in the history of the tradition, the duo read sections of William Crawley’s University of Mary Washington: A Centennial History, 1908-2008. This book largely influenced the creation of the timeline on the exhibit’s bottom shelf. Next, they searched terms like Devil-Goat Day, tradition, and competition in the University of Mary Washington Digital Collections. This website provides access to all digitized materials from the SCUA. Makayla and Clementine looked through past editions of the school’s yearbook, The Battlefield, student handbooks called The Bayonet, and The Bullet, which was the student newspaper that was later renamed to The Weekly Ringer. Further, the duo looked for mentions of Devil-Goat Day in the SCUA’s huge catalogues of photographs, some of which are currently on display in the exhibit. 

Timeline of Labels reading displayed along a table, with photographs above.
In preparation for installation, the timeline was laid out on a table with its corresponding photos. Photo by Clementine Worshek

As Clementine and Makayla went through resources, they compiled their findings in a collaborative Google Doc and Google Sheets file. By using a spreadsheet, the two SCUA aides were able to sort through artifacts based on decade, description, and material type, such as photographs, physical objects, and bound volumes. The Doc and Sheets files were instrumental in keeping track of which resources had already been looked over, as well as building upon information to create a fuller picture of what Devil Goat Day looked like over time. 

A student leans into a glass case while adjusting paper labels held up by wooden blocks. The paper labels read, from left to right, “20s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s.”
Clementine Worshek (‘28) adjusts timeline labels on the lower shelf of the One Hundred Years of Horns exhibit. Photo by Makayla Bowman

On December 1st, 2025, Makayla and Clementine worked on installing the exhibit, representing the culmination of a semester’s worth of work. First, the duo cut out the labels they had prepared, assembled the photos, and pulled any bound artifacts from the Rare Book Room. Over the course of a few hours, Makayla and Clementine moved the artifacts and labels into the case. The duo worked backwards, in a sense, since the doors to access the exhibit case are on the back side. One Hundred Years of Horns includes bound paper artifacts–like the Battlefield and student handbooks–but the exhibit also includes stuffed plushies, a metal brooch, a t-shirt, and plastic cups, among other artifacts. Displaying such a wide variety of objects proved to be an interesting challenge. Makayla used an archival-safe box and some carefully folded red fabric to help display a Devil brooch on the top shelf. Clementine cleverly clipped a 2007 red Devil shirt onto another box using clips sandwiched with acid-free paper. The 2008 Battlefield yearbook is propped open with two different acrylic stands due to its size and is held open with a strip of clear cellophane. 

Student in a blue sweater makes a puckered lips face while holding a mannequin head that is wearing a green and yellow cap with green letters that read “MWC.”
Clementine Worshek (‘28) poses with a mannequin head during exhibit installation preparation. Photo by Makayla Bowman

Overall, the exhibit design and installation went off without a hitch. The reds and the greens of the different artifacts make for a pleasant, bright journey through the one-hundred-year history of this beloved school tradition. For a century, Mary Washington students have all bonded over their shared experiences of Devil-Goat Day. If nothing else, Devil-Goat Day is unique in this aspect, as no other tradition has survived this long and has made such a large impact on UMW culture. For Makayla, this spring will mark her last Devil-Goat Day. For Clementine, they have only experienced one Devil-Goat Day so far. These two perspectives–one older Goat and one newer Goat–have one thing in common: a love for a century-old tradition and the fierce sense of competition that Devil-Goat Day brings! 

Two photos both wearing a green “GOATS” T-shirt; right is a front view and left is showing a goat graphic with years 2026 and 2028.

Left: Makayla Bowman (‘26) represents the Goat team with pride during her first Devil-Goat Day on April 20th, 2023. Photo by Nicholas Werderman. Right: Clementine strikes a pose during her first Devil-Goat day on April 24, 2025, proudly showing off that it’s great to be a goat!

“Even before I got on campus, I knew Devil-Goat Day would be my favorite tradition at Mary Wash. I love the competition, the camaraderie, and school spirit that radiates off of students during Devil-Goat Day!”  – Makayla Bowman (‘26)

One Hundred Years of Horns will be on display on the second floor of the Simpson Library through May 2025. 

Archives/Student Work

My Internship Blog Post

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This post was written by Emily Goggin ’26, Special Collections & University Archives Intern, Fall 2025.

In this semester’s Special Collections internship, my main goal for this internship is to have hands-on experience with the library archives, including how to handle them.  I also learned how to work with rare books as well as how to digitize them. During this internship, Special Collections staff are also practicing how to use accessibility software, so they can teach future interns how to use the tools as well. Practicing with the software will also help us develop the most efficient workflows and, most importantly, my work will be used to prepare for future projects, like noting which scrapbooks might need to be digitized sooner than later as a priority for preservation.

My primary project for this internship is working to digitize Elizabeth Bryans Stallings’ 1942-1946 scrapbook. Or, more specifically, just one of Stallings’ four scrapbooks. This scrapbook details the aftermath of the Fredericksburg flood that occurred while she was a student, as well as horse shows and even sometimes horse-back riding trips across Virginia’s lush forests.

Brown leather photo album with embossed colorful flowers and gold “PHOTOGRAPHS” and "EBS" text on the cover.
Cover of Elizabeth Bryans Stalling’s 1942-1946 scrapbook

To digitize the scrapbook, we started the scanning process with a rare book scanner called “the Cobra.” There is a specific software program that goes with the Cobra that we use to keep the scrapbook scans organized as well as select the file format and resolution of the scans. While the Cobra scanner is helpful when starting the digitization process for any rare book or scrapbook, it can be quite an interesting challenge to anyone who is starting to learn the scanning process.

Collage showing book scanning equipment and a person reviewing digitized pages on a computer screen.
Left: Emily Goggin standing beside a Cobra book scanner used for digitizing archival materials. Top right: Reviewing and editing scanned images on a computer using specialized software. Bottom right: Preparing and scanning scrapbook pages for digital preservation.

An important thing to keep in mind when it comes to publishing these scrapbooks is legal and ethical issues, such as copyright and privacy. An example of this is Ann Gladstone Smith’s scrapbook, which starts at the year 1939 and ends in 1941. In that small but content-heavy scrapbook, there are private letters to friends as well as possible love poems, her class schedule, and grades from those classes. Librarians must consider the content of these scrapbooks, as well as transfer agreements from their owners, before making decisions around digitization and online publication.

Another project that I am also working on is digitizing Goolrick’s History of Fredericksburg, which helped me practice with the accessibility software. Accessibility software helps turn scanned books (and scrapbooks) into items that anyone can access regardless of their abilities. This can include accessibility features like text-to-speech, clear reading order, image descriptions, etc. This is especially important with scrapbooks because in many scrapbooks there could be a variety of artifacts included, such as snippets from newspaper articles, photos, and even once-living things like flowers, locks of hair, or bugs like butterflies. To help with making scrapbooks and rare books accessible, the Special Collections archivists use a variety of accessibility software to generate tags and other accessibility features for scanned book pages and scrapbook pages. However, like with every digital tool, no system is quite perfect. So, archivists often do their very best to manually double-check every page.

These various internship experiences will help prepare me for my goal in eventually working with other future archivists, librarians and researchers. And, most importantly, also show my mastery in being able to quickly and effectively learn skills like the ones I learned from Special Collections, along with how I used those skills in the workplace. Like, for example, using my skills to make the digital library accessible for everyone.

Archives/Staff Updates

Congratulations to our Class of 2025 SCUA Student Assistant!

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After a wonderful 2024-2025 academic year, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to our three outstanding student assistants, Erica (Rickie) Berger, Haley Cotton and Shenandoah Iem, who graduated in May 2025 and are embarking on new adventures.

Polaroid of three people standing in front of a whiteboard; the person on the right makes a peace sign, with shelves visible in the background.
From left to right: Rickie Berger, Haley Cotton and Shenandoah Iem at Simpson Library’s Student Banquet.

Rickie Berger‘s passion for archives started as a volunteer position working on our extensive photo processing project. They continued to show their commitment to the field during an internship working with the Mutual Assurance Society Policies collection at the Library of Virginia. Rickie’s dedication culminated in becoming a student assistant and being awarded the 2025 University Librarian Award.

Haley Cotton began as an intern for SCUA and transitioned into a summer assistant role, working on transcription for the Mutual Assurance Society Policies. Haley is our go-to person for research projects and has digitized a significant number of alumni photos – a well-loved and important collection that we are excited to have scanned.

Shenandoah Iem began as a summer student assistant and continued to work with us throughout the academic year. Shenandoah has contributed to multiple projects, including a special preservation project for the Dahlgren Heritage Museum and the Mutual Assurance Society Policies digital collection. Shenandoah has become one of our most proficient staff members in operating the Cobra Book Scanner.

This is a bittersweet farewell, as all our students have demonstrated their passion and skills within Special Collections & University Archives, and they will be greatly missed. We look forward to seeing the incredible things these students will achieve post-UMW.

A Glimpse into Rickie Berger’s Journey: An Optional Graduating Senior Interview with SCUA

What brought you to work in Special Collections & University Archives?

RB: I plan on pursuing a master’s degree in library science and to work in archives one day. I have really appreciated the opportunity to gain practical experience in this field from the Special Collections & University Archives. 

What was your favorite project that you worked on during your time as a Special Collections & University Archives Student Aide?

RB: I’ve enjoyed preparing the Mutual Assurance Society insurance policies to be available digitally. This project has been an extension of my summer internship with the Mutual Assurance Society and the Library of Virginia. I’ve had the opportunity to work on a variety of aspects of this project, which has given me a holistic perspective on the management of digital collections. 

Person with short curly hair reviewing documents from an archival box at a desk in an office.
Rickie Berger using archival recourses

What is your favorite item (or collection of items) in UMW Archives and why?

RB: I love the scrapbook collection, particularly the scrapbooks from the early 1900s. The inclusion of a variety of materials in these scrapbooks, such as locks of hair, make them very unique.

What is your favorite rare book from the rare book collection and why?

RB: I love the copy of The Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft, because I have always been fascinated by Wollstonecraft’s work. 

What are your post-Mary Washington plans?

RB: I plan to take a year to work before returning to graduate school to pursue a MLIS. 

What kinds of archival resources do you think researchers will use in the future when looking back at what Mary Washington was like in 2025?

RB: I think future researchers will look at materials related to student organizations, since they are very emblematic of campus life. Many of those materials will likely take the form of photographs and social media posts, since that is the main way information is saved and shared currently.  

Do you have any favorite Mary Washington memories?

RB: My favorite thing about UMW is the people I have met. I’ve been fortunate enough to befriend awesome people here who have shaped my college experiences.