Joseph Vaughn statue, Furman Hall updates
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Dear Furman Community,
I’m writing to update you on the progress of several “Seeking Abraham” recommendations approved by the Board of Trustees.
A campus working group that is developing plans for the Joseph Vaughn statue and place of reflection and celebration has selected the architect and recommended a location for the space in front of the James B. Duke Library, which follows the suggestion of the Task Force on Slavery and Justice. This location is the site of an iconic photograph of Vaughn, Furman’s first African-American student.
The next step will be to select a sculptor and to create detailed plans for the space, which we will share with campus in the coming months. The university could break ground on the space this spring, pending final approval of the plans and location by the Board of Trustees.
Another working group, which is taking an inventory of signage and markers around campus, is preparing the plaques for the renaming of Furman Hall that will remove “James C.” and the renaming of the Lakeside Housing Complex for Clark Murphy.
Over the winter break, facilities will replace the Furman Hall building lettering, which will require the use of a crane and temporarily closing several entrances for safety. The working group expects to complete the new plaque for Furman Hall in the spring, when the university plans to hold an event to celebrate the building’s new name and its significance.
Other, related events are being planned for the spring and next fall, and we hope to share those details with you soon. Please see our news story for more information about the working groups and to view an early concept of the Joseph Vaughn space.
Please join me in thanking the task force, the special committee, the working groups and the many faculty, students, staff and trustees who are involved in moving this important work forward. I sincerely appreciate their hard work and dedication and I am excited to see the recommendations take shape and become real.
Warmly,
Elizabeth Davis
President