Law School Participates in ‘Everyday People’ Exhibit

Images of Black Life at UVA Law Part of Cross-Grounds Project
UVA Law students

The Black History Month photography exhibit “Everyday People,” curated by the Arthur J. Morris Law Library, will run through Feb. 28. Photo courtesy UVA Law Archives/Law School Foundation

February 5, 2019
Eric Williamson

The University of Virginia School of Law is presenting an exhibit of 100 images featuring black Law School life as part of a cross-Grounds exhibit, “Everyday People.”

Curated by the Arthur J. Morris Law Library, the UVA Law exhibit will be viewable on the second floor of the Law Library throughout February, which is Black History Month.

The images include numerous candid and historical moments — spanning from UVA’s and UVA Law’s first black student, Gregory Swanson, to the students, alumni and faculty of the present.

“This is an important legacy for our institution to honor,” said Special Collections Librarian Randi Flaherty, who led the installation. “We are grateful to have a photo archive, which includes contributions from student groups like BLSA, that makes this exhibit possible.”  

The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library will also host similar exhibits.

  • Gregory H. Swanson

    Gregory H. Swanson consults with Assistant Law Dean Charles Woltz after registration at UVA on Sept. 15, 1950. UVA Law Archives

  • John Merchant

    John Merchant ’58, the first black student to graduate from the Law School, is pictured with fellow officers of the Barrister, the Law School’s yearbook at the time, in 1958. UVA Law Archives/Barrister

  • Minority Pre-Law Conference

    Registration for the Minority Pre-Law Conference in 1970 at Clark Hall. UVA Law Archives/Virginia Law Weekly

  • Linda Howard

    Linda Howard ’73, the first female and first black student to serve as Law School president, in 1972. Howard is this year’s graduation speaker. UVA Law Archives/Virginia Law Weekly

  • Black American Law Students Association

    The Black American Law Students Association in 1974 included among its members: Ronald Reynolds Wesley ’75, Delores R. Boyd ’75, Kester I. Crosse ’75, Jan Freeman ’75, Dennis L. Montgomery ’75 and Sheila Jackson Lee ’75 (now a U.S. representative for Texas). UVA Law Archives/Virginia Law Weekly

  • Carole Spears

    Admissions Director Carole Spears (seated) and the staff of the Law School Admissions Office, circa 1976. UVA Law Archives/Virginia Law Weekly

  • Larry I. Palmer

    Professor Larry I. Palmer in 1978. UVA Law Archives/Virginia Law Weekly

  • North Grounds construction

    Phase 2 of North Grounds construction in 1978. UVA Law Archives/Virginia Law Weekly

  • The Libel Show

    The Libel Show performed at Old Cabell Hall in 1979. UVA Law Archives/Virginia Law Weekly

  • North Grounds Softball League

    Students play in the North Grounds Softball League in 1979. UVA Law Archives/Virginia Law Weekly

  • Samuel Thompson

    Professor Samuel Thompson, pictured in 1977. UVA Law Archives/Virginia Law Weekly

  • 1981 graduation ceremony

    The 1981 graduation ceremony. UVA Law Archives/Virginia Law Weekly

  • Stan Weston

    Student Bar Association President Stan Weston ’85, pictured in 1985. UVA Law Archives/Virginia Law Weekly

  • Derrick A. Bell Jr.

    Derrick A. Bell Jr., Ewald Visiting Professor of Law, speaks to the Student Legal Forum in 1985. UVA Law Archives/Virginia Law Weekly

  • Will Robinson

    Professor Will Robinson in 1985. UVA Law Archives/Virginia Law Weekly

  • Michael Ross

    BALSA President Michael Ross ’85 in 1985. (BLSA was originally called the Black American Law Students Association.) UVA Law Archives/Virginia Law Weekly

  • Students and Jerry Stokes

    Students with Assistant Dean for Admissions Jerry Stokes at the Law School’s first-year picnic in 1988. UVA Law Archives/Law School Foundation

  • Patricia Biller

    Professor Patricia Biller, circa 1996. UVA Law Archives/Law School Foundation

  • Mildred Robinson

    Professor Mildred Robinson talks to a student after class. Ian Bradshaw/UVA Law Communications

  • Black Law Students Association

    Members of the Black Law Students Association watch the presidential debate in 2012. UVA Law Archives/Black Law Students Association

  • Students with L. Douglas Wilder

    BLSA members with former Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder in 2012. UVA Law Archives/Black Law Students Association

  • Black Law Students Association members

    Black Law Students Association members Jianne McDonald ’19, Jah Akande ’19, Elijah McDonnaugh ’20, Kelsey Watkins ’19, Rebecca Robinson ’20, Marwa Abdelaziz ’19 and Steven Morris ’18 in January 2018 ventured to Cape Town, South Africa, as part of BLSA’s annual international service trip. Black Law Students Association

  • Dayna Bowen Matthew

    Professor Dayna Bowen Matthew ’87 at the “One Year After Charlottesville” conference in September 2018. Julia Davis/UVA Law Communications

  • Kim Forde-Mazrui

    Professor Kim Forde-Mazrui, director of the Center for the Study of Race and Law, in class. Jesús Pino/UVA Law Communications

Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, Virginia is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service.

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