University of Virginia Library

A special meeting of the Board of Visitors of The Rector and Visitors of the University
of Virginia was held on this date at Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, with the
following present. The Rector, Barron F. Black, Chancellor Colgate W. Darden, Jr.,
President M. L. Combs; Visitors Barksdale, Carrington, Coxe, Emmett, Gay, Gravatt, Mrs. Smith,
Mr. Smith, Talbott, Wailes, and Wheeler. Absent: Visitors Howard and Mears

After introducing to the Board Mr. Charles Craig, who remained in the room throughout
the meeting and recorded in shorthand all testimony that was given, the Rector read aloud to the
Board letters received from the following: Ruby C. Harris, an Instructor in the College, an
anonymous parent of a student in the College, L. J. Houston, City Manager of Fredericksburg,
Mrs. H. H. Smith of Fredericksburg, Mrs. Paul W. Davidson, an alumna, of Richmond, Marion
Chauncey, Associate Professor of Music in the College, and Miss Gwenndolyn A. Beeler of the
College faculty. All of these were filed with the Secretary.

Other letters, telegrams, and statements were received later in the day, too late to be
read to the Board Copies were subsequently made of all of these, by direction of the Rector,
and delivered to each member of the Board, as follows. Memorandum from the Social Director to
the President, rules promulgated by the Social Director, Mrs. Dameron's typewritten transcript
of her shorthand notes of the interview between Dr. Combs and Mrs. Jacobus, telegram from Frances
Ramey Mooney of the history faculty, statement of policy signed by the Faculty Committee on the
student newspaper, statement reciting the instances in which the Committee has advised the
editors of "The Bullet" on specific items of publication, statement by three faculty members of
the Joint Council Committee on the administration of the honor code, resolution in support of
Dr. Combs signed by twenty-nine members of the faculty who were at the College during the
Christmas recess, statement signed by Emil R. Schnellock, letters from Milton H. Stanbury and
Charmenz S. Lenhart, a letter from Dean Alvey explaining his earlier report on the shifting of
science classes for the visits of the legislators

The Board went into executive session to determine procedure and Mr. Gay was requested to
undertake the lead in questioning all witnesses, but the Rector and Mr. Gay asked other members
to interrupt with individual questions at any time

The Board went into regular session, and Dr. Combs was called, and invited to testify
Prior to beginning his oral testimony, Dr. Combs handed to each member, and to the Secretary for
the files, copies of two documents: (1) a three-page letter of December 22nd addressed by him
to the Board, denying the charges made in the Rector's letter of December 12th (which Dr. Combs
said he did not receive until late on Saturday, December 19th) and stating his attitude towards
the College and its personnel, and (2) a memorandum entitled "Faculty Committees and their
Functions, Session 1953-54", showing the exceptionally detailed way in which the administration
of Mary Washington College is handled through committees of the faculty

Dr. Combs and each of the witnesses who followed him were cautioned by the Rector not
to reveal what went on during his appearance before the Board, the Rector pointing out to Dr.
Combs and to each of the other witnesses that the purpose of this admonition was to prevent
damaging publicity to the College.

President Combs then addressed the Board for more than two hours, elaborating on his
written statement and on other subjects. Before withdrawing from the room, he announced that
Dr. Parkinson, Mrs. Payne, Mrs. Wade, and other members of the College staff were waiting to
testify, some of them having voluntarily delayed their Christmas vacations for this purpose

The Board went into executive session to determine whether to cross examine Dr. Combs,
and it was decided not to do so

The Board returned to regular session, and the following witnesses then came successively
before the Board and were questioned regarding the incidents involving the five student waitresses,
the dormitory hostess, Mrs. Jacobus, and other recent administrative affairs of the College
Dr. B. L. Parkinson, Professor of Psychology and Education, Mrs. Mildred McGinnis, Supervisor
of Waitresses, Mrs. Ruth S. Wade, Dean of Freshmen; Mrs. Ann M. Dameron, Secretary to the
President, Mr. Pal Robison, Food Service Director, Mrs. Virginia Lawrence Payne, Social
Director, and Mrs. Lefa Faulkner, Director of Dormitories.

Dr. Parkinson, appearing at the Board Room later in the day to deliver the faculty
resolution and other papers, offered to bring in additional witnesses. Because the
hour approached 6:00 p.m., the Board having sat since 10:00 a.m., without the usual luncheon
recess, Visitors Coxe and Smith having already had to leave the meeting, it was decided that
additional witnesses should not be heard at this time

After extensive discussion the Board resolved to continue the consideration of the
charges against Dr. Combs at the regular Board meeting on January 8th. Chancellor Darden
was asked to approach Dr. Combs in the meantime to see if he would concur in a voluntary readjustment
of duties. It was proposed that under such a readjustment Dr. Combs should be
relieved of administrative jurisdiction over the faculty and students of the College, and
that, upon his adherence to this separation from administrative responsibility and
authority, he would occupy a position of dignity at the College, with a title to be
agreed upon, in which he would take charge of new construction, public relations, and such
additional functions as the Chancellor might from time to time find appropriate to assign
him in accordance with the prevailing state of Dr. Combs' health and his special talents
and experience

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On motion the meeting was then adjourned