University of Virginia Library

At a meeting of the Board of Visitors, September 5, 1882.
Present: Wyatt M. Elliott, Rector; and Messrs Lamb, Hansborough,
Ruffin, Ruggles, Bell and Fauntleroy.

Resolved, unanimously, That Dr. James F. Harrison is
hereby re-elected Chairman of the Faculty.

On motion, adjourned till tomorrow morning at Ten O.Clock.

Present: Wyatt M. Elliott, Rector; and Messrs Lamb,
Hansborough, Ruffin, Ruggles, Bell, Blair and Fauntleroy.

Resolved that James M. Garrett is hereby declared to
be unanimously elected Professor of English in the University
of Virginia.

Resolved that the Board, having carefully examined the
Report of the Committee of the Faculty appointed for conference
on the subject of arranging the course of study in the School
of English, doth approve the same; and in accordance with the
indications thereof, doth direct that the Chair of English
shall be charged with the duty of giving instruction in,

I. The nature of Language, and the relation of language
to though, exhibited in connection with the structure and
applications of the English Language.

II. The correct, effective and elegant employment of the
English Language, Composition in speech and in writing, Rhetoric,
or Belles Lettres.

III. The principles and art of polished composition elucidated
by the master pieces of the Language: the History and
Criticism of English Literature.

IV. The History of the English Language, the historical
explanation of its vocabulary, its forms, and the successive
changes of both, occasioned and explained by the vicisitudes
of English races.

V. The comparative Grammar of English, or the agreements
and contrasts of English forms with the forms adopted in kindred
tongues, especially in the Classical, Romance, Germanic,
Scandinavian and Celtic Languages.

The order and degree, in which these several topics shall
be treated, shall be left to the determination of the Professor
of English; but, until further order, the Anglo-Saxon Language
shall continue, as heretofore, to be taught in the School of
Modern Languages.

Resolved that all Instructors, or Assistants to the
Professors of the University, shall be furnished dormitories,
and be exempt from the payment of room-rent.

Whereas, at an informal meeting of the Executive Committee
of the Society of the Alumni, held at Charlottesville, September
5, 1882, it was resolved that the Board of Visitors be requested
to give their approval of efforts which the Committee desires
to make for the purpose of raising endowments for the University
of Virginia; and asking the Board of Visitors to co-operate
with them in such efforts as far as the limited means of the
University will permit; and expressing a desire that the Board
of Visitors shall indicate which Chair, or Chairs, in the University
they shall first seek to endow; and the proceedings
of the Society of Alumni having been this day communicated
to this Board, through Prof: Charles S. Venable, and the Board
having duly considered the same: Therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Board of Visitors, fully appreciating the
spirit which animates the Society of Alumni upon this important
subject, do readily, and with pleasure, accept their offer of
such aid and assistance as the Society may be able to give to
the University.

2. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to
confer with the Executive Committee of the Society of the
Alumni on the propriety of at once taking steps to raise money
to aid in endowing a Chair of English, and to secure tuition
free in the Departments of Applied Chemistry and of Civil &
Mining Engineering to all Virginia students in those Departments;
and to report the result of such conference to the next
meeting of this Board.

And thereupon, Mess: Bell, Ruggles and Lamb were appointed
the Committee to act under the foregoing resolution.

Resolved 1. That a sum not exceeding $8,000.00 be and
the same is hereby appropriated to the erection of a suitable
residence for the Director of the Observatory, according to
the second condition of the Society of Alumni, received March
30, 1881, and in execution of the order of the Board made on
that day.

Resolved 2. That in order to raise the sum of $8,000.00
for the purpose contemplated by the above resolution, the
Executive Committee shall issue Registered Bonds of this Corporation
in sums of $100.00, or any multiple thereof, to run
not more than ten years, bearing interest at a rate not exceeding
six per centum, per annum, payable semi-annually, at
such place as the committee may see fit, and to designate and
dispose of the said bonds at any price not less than par.

Resolved, first, That with the view of expanding the sphere
of usefulness of the University of Virginia in conformity with
the intentions of its eminent founder, Thomas Jefferson, it
has become expedient to appoint a special agent and to empower
him to solicit endowments, benefactions, donations, and contributions,
in every available form, from the liberal and
philanthropic at home and abroad.

Second, That the compensation of such special agent appointed
by the Board of Visitors shall be contingent on such
terms and conditions as said Board shall deem it expedient
to establish.

Resolved, That the special agent for the University
shall be entitled to receive as his compensation for his services
ten per centum of all contributions obtained through
his agency, and the sum of one hundred dollars of the money
first contributed to meet preliminary expenses in the prosecution
of this service, excluding all other claims. All contributions
to be promptly reported to the Secretary, and remitted
as directed by the Board.

Resolved, That the agent, who may be appointed by this
Board confer with the Society of the Alumni of this University
with a view to securing the appointment of an agent of said
Society to canvass in behalf of the purpose of that organization.

Resolved, That this Board, in grateful appreciation of the
liberality of those munificent friends of this University,
William W. Corcoran, Leander J. McCormick, and William H.
Vanderbilt, do hereby found three free Scholarships: One to
be named "The Corcoran Scholarship", the student of which to
have the choice of the Academic Studies; one to be named "The
McCormick Scholarship", and the third to be named "The Vanderbilt
Scholarship". The students in these last two scholarships
to be obliged to pursue the study of Practical Astronomy. The
students under these Scholarships to be nominated, respectfully,
by the gentlemen in honor of whom they are named.

Resolved that a committee of three be appointed to confer
with the Faculty, or a committee of the Faculty, on the subject
of the distribution of schools amongst the professors.

Messrs Ruggles, Blair and Hansborough are the committee
appointed under this resolution.

Resolved that the proctor shall contract and pay for
all University printing and advertising in such form as may be
prescribed by the Chairman of the Faculty.

Resolved that hereafter the salaries of all the professors
shall be paid at regular times, viz: October 15, January 15,
and April 15, with the final settlement at the close of the
session.

Resolved that in reply to the communication of Professor
Price, the Rector is instructed to inform him that the salary
paid the Chair of Greek was $3,000.00 for each session; and
we consider that when he was paid the said sum of $3000.00
for the session of 1881-82, he received all that was due him;
and that his successor is entitled to receive $3000.00 for the
session of 1882-83, regardless of the time of his acceptance
of his appointment as Professor of Greek.

Resolved that the Professor of Astronomy and the Professor
of English shall, each, be entitled to the commutation of
$300. per annum, for rent, until they shall be duly provided
with a dwelling house.

Resolved that the appropriation for commutation of rent
to the professors be raised from $1200.00 to $1800.00

Resolved that the Caterer of the Mess be hereafter designated
as the Purveyor of Supplies, who shall perform all the
duties of Caterer, and be paid as the Caterer was paid; and
who shall be appointed by the Board of Visitors the existence
of caterer terminating at this time; and thereupon B. R.
Eddins was unanimously appointed Purveyor of Supplies.

Resolved that when the Miller Board of Trustees shall
turn over to the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia
the $500.00 now due the School of Agriculture &c for
the session of 1882-83, said amount shall be paid to Professor
Page so as to re-instate his salary to $3000.00 which was
reduced to $2500.00 by the action of the Miller Board in with
holding the $500.00 due.

Resolved that a committee of two be appointed to confer
with Prof: Jno. R. Page, of the Department of Agriculture,
and with him select a fit and suitable person to whom shall
be entrusted the management of the experimental farm of the
University of Virginia, subject to confirmation or rejection
by the Board of Visitors; and the Board shall have power to
make said appointment in the event the committee and Prof.
Page cannot agree.

Whereupon, Judge Bell and Mr. Ruffin were appointed the
Committee to confer with Prof. Page.

Resolved that the $200.00 appropriated to the Schools
of Chemistry be divided between them as may seem best in the
opinion of the Executive Committee.

Resolved that the designation of the several Schools in
the University affected by the establishment of the Chair of
English shall be fixed by the Faculty in accordance with the
Report of the Faculty upon the scope &c of the Chair of English;
and that the said School of English, as well as the modification
of the style and scope of the other Schools affected thereby
shall be as of the first of October, 1882.

Resolved that the Executive Committee are hereby authorized
to use a sum not exceeding $5,000.00 of the University Funds
in the hands of the Proctor or Bursar in the construction of
the residence of the Director of the Observatory, to be returned
as soon as the loan authorized by this Board can be obtained.

Resolved that the Proctor and Bursar are permitted to
make the deposits, required to be made in Charlottesville on
their responsibility, in such Banks as the said Proctor and
Bursar may see proper with the consent in writing of their
official sureties.

On motion, adjourned sine die.

Memorandum. The Rector appointed Messrs: Ruffin, Hansborough
and Bell the Committee on Grounds and Buildings.

Teste,