Commemoration and Historical Documentation

Davidson College is formalizing its commitment to permanent remembrance and institutional accountability through significant physical and digital memorials. 

These efforts ensure that the stories of enslaved and exploited individuals are not only preserved but integrated into the daily life and visual identity of the institution.

Building on the foundational 2020 Institutional Apology, the college is transforming its campus landscape with the dedication of Hank Willis Thomas’s sculpture, "With These Hands," and the conversion of Oak Row into a dedicated exhibition space. 

The new George Lawrence Abernethy Library will feature a premier rooftop gathering space honoring Dr. Thelma Davidson Adair, the college’s first Black trustee and trailblazing champion of education.