University of Virginia Library

Barrett Expresses Concern For Library

By Steve Johnson
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

All men have their own special
projects. Clifton Waller Barrett's in the
University's library. He has declared his
concern for it both personally and as a
member of the Executive and Academic
Affairs Committees of the Board of
Visitors.

Mr. Barrett, in his first term on the
Board, has been an unwavering
proponent of progress and quality in the
development of the University's academic
affairs, and states that he is especially
concerned with the present attitude toward the
construction of new and better library facilities.

"In the last fifteen years, the composition of
the University has changed immensely," Mr.
Barrett says. "It is becoming more complex
every day and the demand on the library is at a
crucial state. We need more money for books, a
larger staff, and building space for reading
rooms, carrels, and more books."

Keep Up Fight

Mr. Barrett further explained that such
provisions rested mainly in the hands of the
Legislature and the State Board of Higher
Education, but that there is no reason to stop
the fight when new facilities are sorely needed
when the student body, faculty, administration,
and Board of Visitors can join to inform these
groups of the University's needs. The next
session of the Legislature to consider such
measures will be in January of 1972.

"Plans for addition of a new "West Wing" to
the library have begun," states Mr. Barrett,"
but we've got to have the capital in order to
begin construction. There are also provisions
for an undergraduate library in Clark Hall as
soon as the Law School moves to Copeley Hill.

With the University's present expansion rate
we'll need every available space for new library
facilities. Ray W. Frantz (University Librarian)
and Kenneth G. Peterson (Assoc. Librarian)
have done an amazing job with conditions as
they are, but its only a matter of time until the
library will be in trouble if we are to maintain
the standards a University should strive to
insure."

Expansion Inevitable

When asked about the plans for increased
enrollment at the University, Mr. Barrett
replied that "most alumni hate to see the
University grow" but explained that the
demand for education made expansion an
inevitable fact.

He expressed his concern in maintaining
high standards for admission and diversity in
the student body, saying "we can't allow the
percentage of out-of-state students to slip. It
would be, first of all, a financial disaster. The
superior quality of our faculty would be lost
and the educational experience of living with
people from all over the nation would be gone
forever."

Mr. Barrett, a native of Virginia, attended
Alexandria High School (now Geo. Washington
High School) and graduated valedictorian of his
class. He attended the University and went
directly into the steamship business. He worked
as co-founder and president of the North
Atlantic and Gulf Steamship Company of New
York until 1954 - his childhood dream.

Mr. Barrett's interest in the University stems
from the education he received here as a
member of the class of 1920 and his
participation in fund-raising activities for the
University during the past 35 years. In this time
he has served as Class Manager, and General
Chairman and President of Board of Trustees.

Along with these duties he is a member of
development committees for the Medical
School of the University and the Graduate
School of Business Administration. The Barrett
Library of American Literature, noted as the
most complete collection of American
Literature in the world, was founded by Mr.
Barrett. Appraised value for the collection is
$10,000,000.

C. W. Barrett

Member Of Board Of Visitors

For his contributions to the University, Mr.
Barrett has received the Raven Society Award,
the Z Society Award, the 7 Society Award, and
honorary membership in Phi Beta Kappa. His
philanthropic actions include yearly donations
to the Barrett Library and gifts to the Barrett
Foundation, a charitable organization. He also
donated the Rare Book Room of the Library
here at the University.

In reference to the State Legislature, Mr.
Barrett stated that he hoped those in Richmond
would realize the exceptional opportunities at
the University and understand it's need for
funds in expanding these opportunities. He
stressed the point that students today are more
willing to accept challenge and should be given
every chance to excel. "The present student
generation is much superior to that in my day,"
mused Mr. Barrett. "They work harder and
they're smarter. Students here are much more
idealistic and anxious to improve."

He summarized his work for the University
as extremely rewarding. "I've really enjoyed my
part in helping out and I hope to be
reappointed to my present position for a
second term.