250th Anniversary

Join the Celebration: 250 Years of Inspiration at the Washington and Lee University Library

Step into history with us in 2026 as we honor 250 years of learning, discovery, and community at the Washington and Lee University Library! Throughout the year, we'll commemorate this remarkable milestone with vibrant events, engaging exhibits, and captivating stories showcasing our library's rich heritage-and its vital role in shaping generations of thinkers.

From rare and treasured artifacts in our collections to the innovative work of today's students and faculty, the W&L Library stands as a beacon for curiosity, scholarship, and connection. This year-long celebration is your invitation to relive cherished memories, explore our legacy, and help envision the next chapter of our story.

Ways to Celebrate

  • Send your birthday greetings (cards, notes, or artwork are all welcome!) to:
    W&L University Library
    204 W. Washington Street
    Lexington, VA 24450
    ATTN: Wendy Rains
  • Share your favorite library stories, well-wishes, or photos: Email us at Library250@wlu.edu. We'd love to feature your memories!
  • Join the celebration online: Post your favorite library moments and tag us @WLULibrary and @WLUNews with #WLULibrary250. Your voice is the heart of this community.

Special Events

  • Friends of the Library Annual Meeting: May 22, 2026, 2:00-3:00 PM. Please register in advance.
  • Alumni Webinars: 
    • March 12, 2026, 2:00-3:00 PM: G.J. Corey Harmon '05- "Who is the Library For?": Access, Stewardship, and the 250-Year Evolution of Washington and Lee University's Library." Recording available on YouTube.
    • May 21, 2026, 2:00-3:00 PM: Dana Statton Thompson '09 will present "The Case for Slow Looking in the Digital Information Age: Lessons from Library Land." Recording available on YouTube.
    • October 8, 2026, 2:00-3:00 PM: Patrick Hastings '05 will present "Curatorial Adventures at the Library of Congress." Recording available on YouTubetube.
    • November 5, 2026, 2:00-3:00 PM: Rebecca Etzel '12 will present "Translating research into Practice: Tales from the Federal Research Division at the Library of Congress"  Register HERE.  Rebecca Etzel, Head of the Evaluation and Data Analysis Section of the Federal Research Division at the Library of Congress, will discuss with Dr. K.T. Vaughan, W&L University Librarian, about how she uses her educational background and research training to make the Library's collections accessible to federal researchers and policy practitioners. Dr. Etzel will also offer selected case studies that demonstrate how FRD has helped federal agencies translate research into evidence for decision-making. Rebecca Beeson Etzel, EdD joined the Federal Research Division (FRD) ) in 2022 as a project manager then transitioned to leadership in her section head role in 2023. Before joining FRD, Rebecca served as Director, Research and Evaluation at Teach For America and taught in elementary Spanish-English dual language programs. Rebecca earned a BA in History and Spanish from Washington and Lee University and a Master's in Education from Southern Methodist University, as well as a Master's in Public Policy and a Doctorate of Education from the University of Virginia. Her research and practitioner background includes program evaluation, mixed methods design, and causal inference. Rebecca grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia and currently lives in Annandale, Virginia with her husband Zach and daughter Natalie.
    • November 19, 2026, 2:00-3:00 PM: Dr. Todd Harvey will present "Gearheads of the 1930s" REGISTER HERE. Dr. Todd Harvey ('87) served two decades as the curator of Lomax family collections at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. These collections form the early core of the Folklife Center archive. This unique documentation of American vernacular music has exerted an outsized impact on popular culture and today provides the clearest glimpse of the music of the old, weird America. Todd's W&L webinar will explore Lomax collections through the lens of his in-progress book Gearheads of the 1930s: The Library of Congress, the Lomaxes, and Their Recording Machines.
      Bio: Dr. Todd Harvey served two decades at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress as acquisitions coordinator, reference librarian, and curator of Lomax family collections. His e-book Michigan-I-O: Alan Lomax and the 1938 Library of Congress Folk-Song Expedition was published in 2013 by Dust-to-Digital records and the Library of Congress. His book The Formative Dylan: Transmission and Stylistic Influences, 1961-1963, is a standard among Bob Dylan scholars. Todd holds a Doctorate in Music Composition from Ohio State University, a Masters of Library Science from Catholic University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Washington & Lee University, class of 1987.
  • Birthday Parties:
    • March 11, 2026, 1:00-4:00 PM, Book Nook (Leyburn main floor)
    • May 1, 2026, 1:30-3:00 PM, Stemmons Plaza
    • July 10, 2026, 2:00-3:00 PM, Café 77 Dining room (Elrod Commons)
  • Library Student Advisory Board Events
  • Ongoing Exhibit:
    • Through July 2026: A Witness to Learning: The Library Since 1776 is on display all year in Northen Lobby (outside the Tom Wolfe Reading Room, Lower Level One of Leyburn).
  • More events to be announced – check back often!

Discover Our Story

We extend heartfelt thanks to the Friends of the Library for making this celebration possible. Interested in joining? Learn more on the Friends of the Library webpage. 

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