Podcasting at Fancy Hill
April 3, 2025
One of the best features of the Fancy Hill office is our new recording studio. With this installation, we can capture professional audio for videos, podcasts, and radio announcements. The opportunities are endless, and we hope you will support us by contributing to these initiatives!
Last month we launched a $75,000 match gift in honor of “Jockey” John Robinson, a critical university benefactor who is buried on the Colonnade. Unfortunately, his legacy — one which saved the antebellum institution — was dismantled by university officials in 2019.
We are excited to share with you today TWO new productions (recorded at Fancy Hill) that attempt to redeem Robinson’s legacy.
The first is a two-minute video on his life and connection to Washington and Lee. We prepared this for students who, unfortunately, know nothing about this great Revolutionary veteran, whiskey-distiller, and college trustee.
The second link directs you to the first installment of our new podcast series: General Lee Speaking: An Alumni History of Washington and Lee.
For this episode, I am joined by alumnus Tom Camden, who served as Director of W&L Special Collections before retiring in 2023. In our discussion, Tom describes John Robinson’s bequest, and recounts his own experiences as a member of the 2017 Committee tasked with evaluating campus historic sites. Despite what he believes were good intentions, Tom critiques the superficial decisions and compromises that the Committee made: namely, the renaming of Robinson Hall.
If you enjoy the podcast and would like to hear more, please DONATE today and share your feedback! And the next time you are in Lexington, be sure to come by Fancy Hill to see the studio for yourself!
VIDEO--“The Munificent ‘Jockey’ John Robinson”: https://youtu.be/38jR8A0EJz4?si=Hqb9rAP38YoDbird
PODCAST--“The Lost Legacy of John Robinson.”: https://youtu.be/U3M-MK69B58?si=iIAZAfmxxcorbOso
Historically,
Kamron M. Spivey, ‘24
Campus Director & Research Fellow
The Generals Redoubt