Great Lives Archives

Great Lives to Feature GPS Technology Pioneer Gladys West

January 30, 2023 by Laura Moyer

Growing up in King George County, Carolyn West Oglesby ’83 didn’t really think about what her parents did all day at work. She just knew that Gladys and Ira West were civilian mathematicians at the naval base at Dahlgren, where the family lived and she and her two brothers attended school. It wasn’t until long […]

Virtual ‘Great Lives’ Season Showcases UMW Faculty Expertise

December 16, 2020 by Jill Laiacona

In a year when many are sticking close to home, the upcoming William B. Crawley Great Lives lecture season, now in its 18th year, will be virtual this spring, returning to its roots by featuring the expertise of University of Mary Washington faculty. Authorities in their respective fields, they will chronicle the lives of Goethe […]

Family Weekend: Connecting With UMW From the Comfort of Home

October 28, 2020 by Jill Laiacona

Every fall, University of Mary Washington students gather with loved ones on campus for exciting events and activities that showcase Eagle life. Now in its 47th year, Mary Washington’s Family Weekend is going virtual for the first time. Even in the digital realm, this beloved tradition, held Oct. 29 through Nov. 1, promises families ample […]

Great Lives Series Explores Perceptions of Past Presidents

October 19, 2020 by Anna Billingsley

In the midst of 2020’s contentious presidential election season, most Americans are looking ahead – to Nov. 3 and beyond. In the meantime, UMW Professor Emeritus of History William B. Crawley is looking backward, serving up some snapshots of past presidents. With the spring Great Lives series cut short by COVID-19, Crawley decided to videotape, […]

UMW’s Great Lives Lecture Series Announces 17th Season

November 11, 2019 by Jill Laiacona

Abolitionist Frederick Douglass, Hollywood actress-turned-inventor Hedy Lamarr and children’s author Theodor Geisel – better known as Dr. Seuss – are among the prominent individuals to be featured in this year’s William B. Crawley Great Lives lecture series. Now in its 17th year, the stellar season was revealed to a packed reception Wednesday evening at the […]

UMW Linked to Secret Lives of WWII Women

February 1, 2018 by Kristin Davis

In 1942, the U.S. Army sent its most handsome officers to women’s colleges across the South. The soldiers came to Virginia, and to Mary Washington, to recruit graduates to break German and Japanese codes. Southern women, the Army believed, were more susceptible to the charms of a good-looking man. Sworn to secrecy, the women—more than […]

UMW’s Great Lives Lecture Series Begins 15th Season

January 12, 2018 by Marty Morrison

The University of Mary Washington kicks off its annual Great Lives lecture series on Thursday, Jan. 18. Officially known as the William B. Crawley Lecture Series, the popular four-month program examines the lives of historical figures told through lectures by nationally prominent biographers and authors. The talks will be held at 7:30 p.m. on selected Tuesdays […]

Great Lives Series Renamed to Honor Director

October 19, 2016 by Hilary Kanter

The University of Mary Washington’s popular Great Lives lecture series will return in January 2017 with a new name. The popular program has been renamed The William B. Crawley Lecture Series to honor its director, the University’s Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History who created the series in 2004. The announcement was made at a 2017 […]