James Farmer Bust and Hall at University of Mary Washington

The Board of Visitors voted in July 2020 to rename Trinkle Hall after James Farmer — one of the "Big Six" leaders of the civil rights movement, who spent his final years as a Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Mary Washington. The building, which the university's rector called "one of the most beautiful and iconic" on campus, had previously honored a Virginia governor identified as an active proponent of eugenics and segregation.

The renaming followed work that began in 2017, when a Campus Environment Presidential Ad Hoc Committee was charged with evaluating campus art, monuments, and representations of the university's history to ensure the place remained welcoming. The committee's 74-page report, presented to the Board in November 2019, found that certain works presented what it called "a one-dimensional interpretation" of UMW's history. The Board placed the greatest urgency on finding a new name for Trinkle Hall. A separate Naming Committee of alumni, faculty, staff, and students solicited nominations; the Board voted unanimously for Farmer.

The university frames this work under what it calls the Farmer Legacy 2020 initiative — "A Centennial Celebration and Commitment to Action." The rector commended the Board's action: "We are talking about one of the most beautiful and iconic buildings on campus, and its name should reflect our community and our values."

Fredericksburg sits halfway between Washington and Richmond — geography that made it contested ground during the Civil War, when more than 10,000 African Americans in the region crossed behind Union lines to claim their freedom in 1862 alone. Farmer spent his final years teaching history in this place. The Board noted that Farmer "left a lasting imprint as a key figure in the civil rights movement" and that his work at UMW "personified and carried forth our commitment to be a force for positive change." James Farmer Hall now bears his name. Students use it.