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Alums Look Forward to Returning to Campus for Monument's Unveiling on April 24

April 10, 2025
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Don't Forget to Remember (Me) as seen from the roof of the Cloisters in November 2024 during construction.

The official unveiling and dedication of the monument 鈥淒on鈥檛 Forget to Remember (Me)鈥  will take place on Thursday, April 24, and the event will bring several alums who contributed to the development of the work back to campus.

Located in the Cloisters of Old Library, the monument honors the lives and labor of Black staff members who worked on campus during the early 20th century and arose from the exploration of exclusionary histories on campus in recent years. Created by Nekisha Durrett, the artwork is the culmination of Bryn Mawr College鈥檚 ARCH Project (Art Remediating Campus Histories), a five-year collaboration with students, staff, faculty, and alums, and was produced in partnership with . 

In addition to the Twilight Unveiling Celebration, there will be a project lecture and lunch with Durrett and an ARCH Project Special Collections Open House on the 24th. The community is also invited to a campuswide celebration with tours, performances, and activities on Saturday, April 26.

VIDEO: Learn about The ARCH Project's purpose and process.

Among those returning to campus for the event is Jada Ceasar 鈥20, who was the program director for the Black at Bryn Mawr tour from 2017鈥2020 and a member of the

鈥淚n [M. Carey Thomas鈥橾 vision, students like me, students of color, and even Jewish students weren鈥檛 here,鈥 Ceasar told the Alumnae Bulletin in 2019. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e here now, and we鈥檙e making change 鈥 If we all act with great intention and clear hearts, there鈥檚 no way this place can鈥檛 be better.鈥

For Ceasar, the unveiling is a long-awaited moment.

鈥淭his monument is the result of a community of individuals dedicated to researching and advocating for change,鈥 she said recently鈥淭his achievement is the culmination of the efforts of those who came before me, my own contributions, and those who will come after me. For me, the monument symbolizes my contribution to the institution and serves as a reminder that, although it wasn't built for me, I will always belong there. I hope future students find feelings of hope and solace. This journey is far from over.鈥

Annalise Ashman 鈥24 was a student researcher on the project and will also be attending the unveiling.

鈥淏eing a part of the ARCH project has been one of the most transformative experiences I've had at Bryn Mawr,鈥 she says. 鈥淪tarting out as a research assistant during my sophomore year, I quickly realized how exciting public art can be as a community-building tool through storytelling.  I was fascinated by the experiences that former and current staff and alums had to share about the college's history and have been humbled to have seen these stories be cemented into the college in a tangible, visible way.鈥

Associate Professor of History of Art and Director of Museum Studies Monique Scott, who helped lead the ARCH Project, says the importance of student contributions to the project cannot be overstated.

"This project would not exist without the vision, research, and persistence of students,鈥 says Scott. 鈥淭heir work has been both courageous and transformational. 鈥楧on鈥檛 Forget to Remember (Me)鈥 is not only a tribute to the past鈥攊t鈥檚 a testament to the power of student leadership in shaping a more honest and inclusive future."

 

For more on 鈥淒on鈥檛 Forget to Remember (Me)鈥 and the ARCH Project, visit the ARCH Project section of the website.

The Arch Project

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