Joseph Vaughn Day to honor legacy

Dear Campus Community,

I am delighted to invite you to join us on Wednesday, January 29, to celebrate the inaugural Joseph Vaughn Day, in honor of Furman’s first African American undergraduate student.

The celebration will begin at 12:15 p.m. near the steps of the James B. Duke Library, the location of an iconic photo of Vaughn, who desegregated Furman when he enrolled at the university 55 years ago. The Furman University Gospel Ensemble will sing as the community gathers for a short commemorative walk along Milford Mall to Daniel Chapel.

The program will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the Chapel, with comments from Board of Trustees Chair Alec Taylor, the presentation of a proclamation creating Joseph Vaughn Day in Greenville, a reading from the Baha’i faith by Rodney Acker ’73, a remembrance of Vaughn by his cousin, Marcus Tate, and closing remarks by History Professor Stephen O’Neill.

Later, at 6 p.m., June Manning Thomas of the University of Michigan will give a related CLP talk, “Struggling to Learn: Schools, Racial Inequality and the Civil Rights Era in South Carolina,” in the Watkins Room at the Trone Student Center.

Joseph Vaughn Day was created following a recommendation by the Task Force on Slavery and Justice in its “Seeking Abraham” report. The Board of Trustees approved the recommendation and another to build a statue honoring Vaughn in front of the Duke Library in a place of celebration and reflection. To learn more about Joseph Vaughn Day, please see our news release.

Thank you to all involved with organizing this special recognition of Joseph Vaughn and his significant contribution to Furman becoming more inclusive. I look forward to celebrating and honoring his legacy with our campus and the Greenville community.

Warmly,

Elizabeth Davis
President