Benefactor’s family demands refund after U. Richmond removes name from law school

A family wants its 132-year-old donation to the University of Richmond refunded as the school changes the name of the law school over claims of slave ownership.

Thomas C. Williams attended Richmond College in the mid-1800s and was later a trustee. After his death, his family donated funds to help establish the law school, which came to be known as the T.C. Williams School of Law. In 2022, the University of Richmond board voted unanimously to officially change the name of the law school to the University of Richmond School of Law. Now, descendants of T.C. Williams are arguing that $51 million should be returned to the family.

According to the university’s naming guidelines, they reserve the right to remove the name of a person who directly engaged in the trafficking or enslavement of others or openly advocated for the enslavement of people. The Williams family denies accusations and counters that Williams contributed to the demise of slavery.

For more information see Rafael Oliveira “Benefactor’s family demands refund after U. Richmond removes name from Law School,” The College Fix, January 19, 2023.

Special thanks to Deborah Matthews (Law Office of Deborah G. Matthews) for bringing this article to my attention.

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/trusts_estates_prof/2023/02/benefactors-family-demands-refund-after-u-richmond-removes-name-from-law-school.html