"Spring" is a sculpture by J. Seward Johnson that was installed at William & Mary in 1979. At some time prior to 1991, the letter held by the figure Tina in the sculpture was broken off.
A transcription of the letter from "Spring" is as follows:
"Tina,
Hi! You wouldn't believe how
much I miss you! I am having
a great time here but I do
wish you were here.
Next month we go on
vacation and I will be home
to see you and I hope you
still Love me. So what's new
in town? Last week Bill
met a girl and Broke up
with Sue. Even if I see
a good looking girl I think
of you and I will never
break up with you.
I hope you don't Break up
with me for Some one else.
Luv you,
XXXOOO
Johnny."
]]>The James Monroe statue, located outside Tucker Hall just south of the Senior Walk, was dedicated on April 23, 2015. The statue was a gift of William & Mary alumni Carroll and Patty Owen in honor of the class of 1962.
The bronze statue shows Monroe protecting a globe in his right hand, referring to the Monroe Doctrine, and a frieze around its base depicting important moments in his life. Eight vignettes show scenes from Monroe's life including his student experience at William & Mary 1774-1776, his military service at the Battle of Trenton, his diplomatic experience, his service as Secretary of War, and as his presidency of the United States.
The statue was created by Gordon Kray, class of 1973. Kray has created other pieces on campus including the replica of the Botetourt statue in the Wren Yard, the Marshall-Wythe statue at the law school's front entrance, and the Pierre Charles L'Enfant statue in the atrium of Alan B. Miller Hall.
]]>A statue featuring John Marshall and George Wythe is located at the main entrance to the William & Mary Law School. It was created by Gordon S. Kray, class of 1973, and was a gift of Robert Friend Boyd, class of 1950 and J.D. class of 1952, and Sara Miller Boyd, class of 1954. The statue was dedicated on October 7, 2000. Kray also created the bronze replica of the Botetourt statue currently on display in the Wren Yard.
George Wythe was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, member of the Continental Congress, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and William & Mary's first professor of law as well as the first professor of law in America. John Marshall studied law at William & Mary under the tutelage of George Wythe in 1780 and went on to be the fourth Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
]]>The statue of William & Mary alumnus Thomas Jefferson was given to the university by the University of Virginia to celebrate the connection between the two institutions and to settle an old debt. Jefferson attended William & Mary from 1760 to 1762 and was a member of the board of visitors. In 1819, he helped to establish the University of Virginia. Before he died, Jefferson took out a $17,000 loan from William & Mary to settle his debts but was unable to pay it back before he died, a factor in the university going bankrupt in 1880 and forced to shut its doors. University of Virginia President John T. Casteen, III hoped the debt would be forgiven with the donation of the statue.
The statue was dedicated in 1992 as part of William & Mary's Tercentenary celebration and was placed between Washington and Tercentenary Hall (later renamed McGlothlin-Street Hall). The statue was created by Lloyd Lillie, a professor at Boston University.
William & Mary’s Jefferson statue is frequently dressed up for holidays and special events as is the statue of Lord Botetourt.
]]>The Reverend James Blair (1655-1748) was the founding president of William & Mary. A statue of James Blair was installed between Tyler Hall and Blair Hall during Homecoming Week 1993 as part of the William & Mary’s Tercentenary celebration. The statue was sculpted by Lewis Cohen, professor of art and art history at William & Mary.
James Blair was born in Scotland and educated at Marischal College (University of Aberdeen) and the University of Edinburgh where he received a Master of Arts. Blair was president of the university from its founding in 1693 until his death on April 18, 1743. While president of William & Mary, Blair also served as rector of Bruton Parish Church. As commissary of the Bishop of London, James Blair had a tremendous influence on the established Virginia church.
]]>The statue of Lord Botetourt that currently stands in front of the Wren Building is a 1993 reproduction of the original located on the ground floor of Swem Library. One of the traditions at William & Mary is to dress up the statue for the holidays, such as hanging a wreath on the statue's outstretched hand. From the 1920s to the 1970s, campus tradition dictated that all freshman had to salute Lord Botetourt as they passed the statue.
Lord Botetourt was a figure so revered by Virginians that they erected a statue in his memory which stood first at the Old Capitol building and then was purchased by William & Mary in 1801. Barring a brief period during the Civil War when it was kept in the Public Asylum for safety, it stood in the Wren Yard until 1958, when it was removed to protect it from the elements. In 1966 it was installed on the ground floor of the newly erected Earl Gregg Swem Library. A bronze replica by Gordon Kray, class of 1973, was installed in the Wren Yard in 1993.
Who was Lord Botetourt?
Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt (1718-1770), was governor of the Virginia colony from 1768 to 1770. He was also a member of the Board of Visitors. Previously he had been a member of parliament for Gloucestershire, England, 1741-1763. He died suddenly while still in office and was buried in the crypt under the chapel in the Wren Building. He had the reputation of being a generous, courteous, and sympathetic gentleman and was greatly loved by his constituents. Today, the top prize given to a graduating senior for scholarship is the Lord Botetourt Medal.
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