University of Virginia Library

Kinard Guides Unique Tour Of University History
As 200 Students Swell Seminar To Uncover Past

By RICHARD JONES

Commenting that students do not
know too much about the University's
history, James E. Kinard, assistant dean
of admissions, is now teaching a liberal
arts seminar dealing with that very
subject.

Over 200 students populate this
newly-organized course, The History of

the University, which Mr. Kinard says was
not created by him but "was a student's
idea." He added that "it sounded as if it
had possibilities." In class, he said, he
wants to try to tell students some of the
things that have gone on around the
University.

In studying the history of the
University, Mr. Kinard plans to ask
various people in the community who
have been or are now connected with the
University to talk to the class about
different aspects of the University life
and history.

The only requirement Mr. Kinard
mentioned is a project connected with
the University's history, saying that it
could be done individually or in groups.

Mr. Kinard himself has a long history
at the University. In 1946 he attended the
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences to
study history after graduating from
Newberry College. His first job was in the
placement office in 1949.

Later he joined the Dean's Office at
Hampden-Sydney and then returned to
the University in 1958 as the Director of
Admissions for the College of Arts and
Sciences. After the Office of Admissions
was created the next year, he took his
present position.

Mr. Kinard said that he did not know
why his seminar is so popular. His last
semester's seminar, The History of World
War II, had only 15 students in it.

A member of that seminar praised Mr.
Kinard for his approach to history.