The [re]Chartering of Charter Day

According to Swem Library’s Special Collections Research Center:

“The annual celebration of Charter Day at W&M was primarily a twentieth century development that was initiated by President John Stewart Bryan in 1937….During the eighteenth century Transfer Day, August 15th, was the usual time of celebrating the birth of William and Mary by observing the anniversary of the Transfer of the Charter from the founders of the College to the President and Masters of the College…

In 1859, the 166th anniversary of the College of William and Mary was celebrated on February 19 with an address by John Tyler, former president of the United States…

The tradition of having Charter Day speakers of note to address the audience carried over from the nineteenth century to the present. And a number of prestigious awards are also bestowed on that day.”

Don’t get me wrong, Charter Day is a big deal on campus for some, but it could be an even bigger deal to students – and it will be, starting this year.

Charter Day is being celebrated on 6 February 2010 this year and will be accompanied by the usual pomp and pageantry typically associated with it. Prizes will be conferred and the speaker will likely be the newly elected Governor of Virginia whom, according to tradition, speaks at Charter Day after being elected to receive the first honorary degree from the oldest school in the Commonwealth.

But a few things are going to change this year – we’re spicing up the event:

1. Dining Halls will be celebrating Charter Day. We’re working with the administration and dining services to set up a birthday party in the dining hall that will eclipse all other dining events on campus during the year. With decorations, classy musical performances, upscale eating, fun and creative W&M desserts prepared by our incredible pastry chefs, and maybe even a rendering of Happy Birthday by President Reveley himself, this “formal dinner” will be the official campus celebration of the birthday of our beloved College.
2. We’ll be hanging British flags from the Wren and Campus Center to remind the student body of our shared heritage
3. Statues, in typical fashion, will be decorated for the occasion
4. Banners are going to be made for the lampposts around campus that announce the arrival of Charter Day
5. AMP will prepare something exciting for students
6. Senior Class Gift and Development may co-host a fun cider event near the Wren in the early evening or afternoon
7. And campus publications will help to publish and help students understand the history of Charter Day, and the charter itself as it relates to the College.

Those are just a few of the ideas that we’re hoping to accomplish this coming year – so if you’re around campus the first weekend of February it might be worth it to stop by and see what all the hoorah is about! There’s always an incredible bevy of donors, alumni, prominent political figures, and even our wonderful Chancellor Sandra Day O’Connor on campus.

If you have any other ideas on how Charter Day can be made even more wonderful, please don’t hesitate to contact me at [[bjfocarino]].

Granted February isn’t for some time – but I’ve always loved a good birthday party.

And when it’s for the College? Even better.

Until next time, be well,

Brian