Louise Traylor Lambert Kale, retired executive director of the historic campus of William & Mary, died at Williamsburg Landing on March 26 after a lengthy illness. She was 76 years old.
The daughter of the late J. Wilfred and Anne Nenzel Lambert, Louise was born in 1948 and reared in Williamsburg, where her father was longtime dean of students and vice president of student affairs at William & Mary. During her high school and college years, she served as a Colonial Williamsburg hostess, working in many of the foundation’s public buildings and homes.
Louise graduated from James Blair High School in 1966 and Sweet Briar College in 1970, where she was salutatorian and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Later, she was a Kress Fellow in art history in the Master of Arts degree program at the University of Minnesota, 1970-1971.
Returning to Williamsburg after her university studies, Louise joined William & Mary’s fine arts staff in 1975 as registrar of the College Art Collection, and in 1983 became registrar of the newly established Joseph and Margaret Muscarelle Museum of Art.
Both a dedicated community volunteer and avid reader, Louise was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Williamsburg Regional Library from 1978-1986 and during that time served as both chair and secretary.
In 1995, by the appointment of then-President Timothy J. Sullivan, Louise became the executive director of William & Mary’s historic campus, encompassing the historic Sir Christopher Wren Building, the President’s House, and the Brafferton.
During her 19 years overseeing the historic campus, she established the Spotswood Society, and led the “Wrenewal” Project, Brafferton refurbishment and other historical and archaeological projects.
Throughout her nearly 40 years of service to William & Mary, Louise was recognized for her commitment to and care of the university. In 1998, Louise was a recipient of the Alumni Association’s Faculty & Staff Service Award. In 2007, she was awarded the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. She was named an honorary alumna by the William & Mary Alumni Association in 2009, and in 2016 was recognized for her contributions to the university as a former administrator by The Society of the College with its Three Keys Award.
When she retired in 2014, Sullivan called her “a William & Mary treasure. Few can know how much she has done to protect and enhance the crown jewels of the College. Louise’s brilliant stewardship has also illuminated our understanding of William & Mary’s early history and the power of its relevance not only for our time, but for the future.”
President W. Taylor Reveley III said of her: “Though not a card-carrying alumna…[she] is a child of the college in every other meaningful respect. As the intrepid interpreter and faithful steward of our historic campus, she enjoys iconic status among us, just as do the Wren, the Brafferton and the President’s House. Louise’s knowledge of William & Mary’s storied past and her devotion to its explanation and preservation are simply extraordinary.”
In the spring of 2022, The Anderson-Kale Garden beside the Wren Building was co-named in her honor, citing her as “Keeper of the Flame” of history at William & Mary. Earlier this year, a new room in the expanded Muscarelle Museum was named the Louise Lambert Kale Collection Records Center.
Louise was preceded in death by her parents, a son, David Irwin Kale, and her brother, Charles Francis Lambert.
Louise is survived by a daughter, Anne-Evan Kale Williams of Mt. Pleasant, Utah (Jeremiah) and grandson, Franklin Douglas Williams IV of Gambier, Ohio, as well as nephews Matthew T. Lambert (Karen) of Williamsburg and Brian S. Lambert (Esteffany) of Haymarket, Virginia.
The family will host a celebration of Louise’s life on Saturday, April 5 from 1-3pm in the Great Hall of the Wren Building at William & Mary. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to support William & Mary through the Louise Lambert Kale Historic Campus Research Fund (3880).
