About the William and Mary
GALA Tartan
Designed in 2004 by Carol Worthley of South Hiram, Maine for Stephen H. Snell of Alexandria, Virginia for his Alma Mater, The College of William & Mary in Virginia.
Originally intended to be given to the Swem Library, the gift was declined because the College was legally unable to risk expenditure on having it woven. In 2011 the name was changed to 'William and Mary GALA' and the tartan was gifted by the Estate of Mr. Snell to an associated organization - "William and Mary Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae, Inc." or 'GALA'.
Before that organization merged with the College's Alumni Association in 2014, ownership of the Tartan was transferred to
a new independent non-profit, "The William & Mary GALA Foundation."
Items of clothing made from the Tartan are available at any on-campus events sponsored by the Foundation during William
and Mary's annual Homecoming Weekend in October.
At the present time, we do not have the capability of offering them online as premiums for donations.
About the Colors in the William and Mary GALA Tartan
Stephen Snell, the first President of William and Mary GALA, directed Ms. Worthley to include every color in the Great Seal of the College of William and Mary into the design of the tartan.
As a symbol of the inclusiveness of GALA, the tartan bears not only the school colors of green and gold, but also blue, black, and silver (white).