Edited by Dan Perkins '78

The images of the BSU Murals, shown below, were taken by Michael Reed (Class of 1975), and were the work of my then spouse Jerome Meadows. Though not a Williams student, Jerome was a pivotal person in my life, and in the lives of many at Williams.  I met him there on campus in the summer, prior to my start in September of 1971.  He was an ABC (A Better Chance) summer student; and then later an ABC tutor. Later, we were on staff at the Williams ABC House.  I was their cook and other mom-big sister. We ate with the ABC students; and this was important as the House was one of the first to have inner city kids attend a public high school in the area, in this case, it was Mount Greylock.

Jerome was, and is a brilliant artist. He articulated for me personally, and to many of us collectively, the intersection between art, history, family, community, and all the things we address in policy and public action. Seeing yourself conceptually, with and without words, is very important.  This mural was "commissioned" by the BSU; and when it was cold, unfamiliar, or we just needed to see some other images and dreams in color, we could go to the basement of Mears House and reflect.  Jerome took the stories of the students, and our journey, and brought them to life, and in living color. The mural took several months, or most of his first year there. He worked when he could, first at Potvin Lumber; and then later, he taught at Pine Cobble School; and we lived there on their campus my senior year.  When Mears House was remodeled, and the BSU no longer housed there, Michael Reed, then a dean in the administration at Williams, had the foresight to take photos, when no way could be found to have the murals reproduced, or safely moved for the reconstruction.