Sweet Briar History

Take a visual tour of Sweet Briar's rich history. Sponsored by the Tusculum Institute at Sweet Briar College (www.tusculum.sbc.edu). Contact Dr. Lynn Rainville with questions (lrainville@sbc.edu).


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Not sure what to do after Halloween? Take a Chung-Mungs Ghost tour. Offered Nov 1 and 2 (5:30 to 7:00 pm at the Sweet Briar Museum), the Chung Mungs and Tau Phi will be reading ghost stories written by Sweet Briar students long-ago. Questions? Contact Dr. Lawson (klawson - at - sbc - dot - edu).

Not sure what to do after Halloween? Take a Chung-Mungs Ghost tour. Offered Nov 1 and 2 (5:30 to 7:00 pm at the Sweet Briar Museum), the Chung Mungs and Tau Phi will be reading ghost stories written by Sweet Briar students long-ago. Questions? Contact Dr. Lawson (klawson - at - sbc - dot - edu).



Joseph McGill (program officer, National Trust Historic Places and director of the Slave Dwelling Project) comes to Sweet Briar College to spend the night in the on-campus slave cabin. Visit the Tusculum Institute Facebook page for photos and excerpts from his stay: http://www.facebook.com/TusculumInstitute

Joseph McGill (program officer, National Trust Historic Places and director of the Slave Dwelling Project) comes to Sweet Briar College to spend the night in the on-campus slave cabin. Visit the Tusculum Institute Facebook page for photos and excerpts from his stay: http://www.facebook.com/TusculumInstitute



In honor of Reading Days….a photo of the Reading Room from 1939.

In honor of Reading Days….a photo of the Reading Room from 1939.



A picture of the Indoor Riding Ring from 1939.

A picture of the Indoor Riding Ring from 1939.



Samantha Embrey (Nelson Co. resident and granddaughter of one of the students in SBC’s first class, Nellie Dearborn, whose sister Marion was also an ‘06, that’s 1906) sent in the photo above. The photo shows the old Sweet Briar railroad station (located on the opposite side of today’s US 29). The horse drawn carriages shown in the background ferried students from the station to campus (a mile+ ride). The structures in the background may be Mt. San Angelo (today’s VCCA).

Samantha Embrey (Nelson Co. resident and granddaughter of one of the students in SBC’s first class, Nellie Dearborn, whose sister Marion was also an ‘06, that’s 1906) sent in the photo above. The photo shows the old Sweet Briar railroad station (located on the opposite side of today’s US 29). The horse drawn carriages shown in the background ferried students from the station to campus (a mile+ ride). The structures in the background may be Mt. San Angelo (today’s VCCA).



This example of Cleome is located behind the President’s House. A member of the Capparaceae family, its genus is Cleome, but its colloquial name is the “spider flower.” It grows over 3 feet tall, and as high as 6 feet. Groundskeeper Donna Meeks planted the flowers, in part, because Daisy mentioned them in her diary.

This example of Cleome is located behind the President’s House. A member of the Capparaceae family, its genus is Cleome, but its colloquial name is the “spider flower.” It grows over 3 feet tall, and as high as 6 feet. Groundskeeper Donna Meeks planted the flowers, in part, because Daisy mentioned them in her diary.



The 2012 Learning on the Land “Cemeteries and Ruins” class hits the pavement and tries to locate architectural elements on campus buildings from “pictionary-esque” drawings.

The 2012 Learning on the Land “Cemeteries and Ruins” class hits the pavement and tries to locate architectural elements on campus buildings from “pictionary-esque” drawings.



President Monroe joins the fourth annual Teaching with Historic Places Workshop (sponsored by the Tusculum Institute and the Virginia DHR) to discuss the War of 1812. Here he contemplates the impression (drafting) of American seamen in the yard of his home, Ash-Lawn Highland.

President Monroe joins the fourth annual Teaching with Historic Places Workshop (sponsored by the Tusculum Institute and the Virginia DHR) to discuss the War of 1812. Here he contemplates the impression (drafting) of American seamen in the yard of his home, Ash-Lawn Highland.



For the 26th year Sweet Briar hosted its annual Arts Day, when over 300 Amherst County 5th graders visit campus to sample workshops across campus. One of these offerings was a tour of the cabin behind the former Sweet Briar Plantation House (today the home of the Sweet Briar College President). During the antebellum period, enslaved individuals lived in the cabin, and after the college was founded it was used variously as a home, chapel, classroom, and even the Sweet Briar alumni office. In the photo above, students from Amherst Elementary School tour the cabin with Dr. Rainville (director, Tusculum Institute).

For the 26th year Sweet Briar hosted its annual Arts Day, when over 300 Amherst County 5th graders visit campus to sample workshops across campus. One of these offerings was a tour of the cabin behind the former Sweet Briar Plantation House (today the home of the Sweet Briar College President). During the antebellum period, enslaved individuals lived in the cabin, and after the college was founded it was used variously as a home, chapel, classroom, and even the Sweet Briar alumni office. In the photo above, students from Amherst Elementary School tour the cabin with Dr. Rainville (director, Tusculum Institute).



Professor Cathy Gutierrez’s spring class, Religions of Africa, curated an exhibit titled “Modern Reflections on African Society.” On display through May 1 in the Babcock Lobby it provides fascinating insights into African masks and local poetry. The masks were crafted by the Dogon (in Mali), the Lwalwa people (in the Congo), and the Dan (in Liberia). Evocative poems by notable local poetess, Anne Spencer (1882-1975) are accompanied by striking photos of the Old City Cemetery (taken by Sally Toms ‘13). To learn more about Ms Spencer, click here.

Professor Cathy Gutierrez’s spring class, Religions of Africa, curated an exhibit titled “Modern Reflections on African Society.” On display through May 1 in the Babcock Lobby it provides fascinating insights into African masks and local poetry. The masks were crafted by the Dogon (in Mali), the Lwalwa people (in the Congo), and the Dan (in Liberia). Evocative poems by notable local poetess, Anne Spencer (1882-1975) are accompanied by striking photos of the Old City Cemetery (taken by Sally Toms ‘13). To learn more about Ms Spencer, click here.