 | Board of Visitors minutes November 18, 1910 |  |
November 18, 1910.
At a called meeting of the Board of Visitors, of
the University of Virginia, at 2:30 P. M., on above date,
in the office of the President, East Lawn.
Present: The Rector, and Visitors Harmon, Craddock,
Shackleford, Irvine, and Flood, and President Alderman.
The Board having been called to order by the Rector,
Armistead C. Gordon, the following was adopted:
Resolved: That the salary of Professor J. S. Grasty
be fixed at $1,500.00, beginning July 1, 1910, as Adjunct
Professor of Geology. This increase to be derived from salary
of Professor W. M. Fontaine whose salary ceased on September
1, 1910.
Resolved: That $150.00 be appropriated to the Linden
Kent Memorial School of English Literature for additional
instructorship in English Composition.
Resolved: That $500.00 be appropriated from the monies
hitherto used to defray expenses of Department of Pharmacology,
to Dr. Theodore Hough for a Laboratory course in Pharmacology
for second year students.
Resolved: That Dr. M. L. Rea be elected demonstrator of
Dermatology vice Dr. R. W. Garnett, resigned. No salary attached
Resolved: That Dr. W. H. Goodwin be elected Adjunct
Professor of Surgery at a salary of $1200 per annum beginning
September 15, to succeed Dr. Harvey B. Stone, resigned.
Resolved: That a Committee be appointed to consider
the communication of Mr. R. Hall McCormick dated June 11,
1910, and report to the Board at its next meeting. This
committee shall consist of President Alderman, and Visitors
Harmon and Gordon.
The correspondence follows:-
President, University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, Virginia
I received a copy of passages from the Records of
the University of Virginia, having to do with the establishment,
of the University Observatory by Mr. Leander McCormick and the
endowment of the professorship and working fund in connection
therewith.
From an examination of these records, I find, first,
that Mr. McCormick presented the telescope to the University
and also built an observatory for it. Second, that a society
of alumni of the University, in consideration of this gift,
through a committee of which Col. C. S. Venable was chairman,
raised a fund of $50,000 for the endowment of a directorship
for the Observatory, and that in accordance with the
wish of Mr. McCormick, it was made a condition of this endowment,
that the Director should have no teaching to do in
the University, except in Practical and Theoretical Astronomy.
Third, Mr. W. H. Vanderbilt, made a gift of $25,000 which
to be known as the "W. H. Vanderbilt Endowment." Fourth,
it appears that the Board of Visitors of the University
on June 26th, 1884, passed a resolution assuring Mr. McCormick
that the fund donated to the Observatory had been and would
continue to be regarded as a sacred fund never to be diverted
from the original purpose contemplated by the donor.
It is therefore clear from these statements from the
University records, that $50,000 was raised by the alumni
for the purpose of endowing a directorship of the Observatory;
that this Director should be a Professor of Astronomy, but
should have no teaching to do in the University, except
in Practical and Theoretical Astronomy.
I have been informed by Professor Ormond Stone that he
discussed with Col. Venable, who was the chairman of the
committee of Alumni, who raised this fund, what was intended by
the words practical and theoretical astronomy, Mr. Venable
explained to him that graduate work which would prepare
persons who wanted to make astronomy a profession, was what
was meant, and this construction that practical astronomy
was considered by the donors of the fund as graduate work is
corroborated by a resolution adopted by the University on Nov.
16th, 1883, which provides: "that a prescribed course in
Practical Astronomy"———should "be considered as the equivalent
of the graduate course in either mathematics or Natural
Philosophy for graduates in these schools who are offering
I was further informed by Professor Stone that astronomical
work of this order means research work, and can only be
carried on at the observatory. The $50,000 fund was therefore
clearly given for paying a Director of Astronomy, who should
give his time to teaching post graduate courses in Practical
and Theoretical Astronomy at the Observatory, and devote
the balance of his time to research work, and the fund was to
be used for no other purpose.
Professor Stone gave his time to research work and advanced
instructions to post-graduates only until 1889, when
his services were diverted to other channels.
Professor Stone has informed me that one of the obstacles
in his way is that there is no money which enables the Observatory
to print its results in its own publications, and
states that a few hundred dollars annually would enable him
to do this. It seems to me that the Vanderbilt Endowment was
made for just such purposes as this, since it was to be kept
as a distinctive and separate working fund. The income from
$25,000. should be at least $1000 a year. I should think that
$1000 a year would go a long way towards carrying out such
requirements.
It is quite clear from the University records and the
statements of Mr. Venable and Professor Stone, first that the
donor of the telescope and observatory made his gifts for the
purpose of their being used along lines of scientific astronomical
research which is the only object for which they can be used.
endowment to provide the observatory with a trained astronomer,
all of whose time should be devoted to the use of the telescope.
This is further shown by the fact that a condition of the gift
was that a house for the astronomer should be built, and that
one was built adjacent to the observatory. The desire to
make the telescope useful was further shown by the setting
aside of a separate endowment as a distinctive and separate
working fund for the Observatory. The desire to keep the observatory
distinct from the University is shown by its location
at such a distance from the college.
It seems to me, as trustee of the estate of Mr. McCormick,
that everthing was done by him, and by Mr. Vanderbilt and by
the alumni of the University to found and equip a first class
and practical working observatory, and endow it so that it
might obtain the best results, and it further seems to me
that by the using by the University of a great portion of the
Director's time for undergraduate teaching at the college, the
object of the foundation and endowment have been and are being
defeated.
In view of the above, I would suggest that the Director
of the Observatory should give all his time to the objects
prescribed in the endowment, and that the Vanderbilt Fund be
used as a distinctive and separate working fund in connection
with the observatory as provided. If there is anything in
either of these two endowments which prevents the observatory's
accomplishing within reason, the purposes which are disclosed
trustee of Mr. McCormick.
I would like to make a further suggestion. I thought
I noticed while at Charlottesville that Professor Stone's
predilections run more to teaching than to practical work
in the Observatory. Would it not be advisable that Professor
Stone be retained by the Board of Visitors for the purpose
of teaching at the University and that a younger astronomer
whose tastes and ambitions lie in the field of astronomical
studies and research, should be engaged who can devote himself
to the objects of the foundation. It seems to me that
the observatory will not do itself justice until some such
change has been made.
of the estate of Leander J. McCormick
145 La Salle Street
Chicago, Ill.
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your communication
of June 11th, containing a presentation of the conditions
under which the McCormick Observatory was established at the
University of Virginia, and making certain suggestions as to
of the astronomical work at the University. I had hoped
to be able to present that matter to the Board at their
June meeting, but by reason of circumstances beyond my control,
that meeting was not held, and it is not possible
to bring the matter before them before the early fall.
Your letter and all the facts must be brought before them and
a clear decision reached. The great majority of the Board
are men who have taken up service on the Board since these
matters were handled, and it will be necessary for them to
go back over the records and make a study of the situation
themselves.
The whole matter, as I understand it, hinges on the
definition of practical and theoretical astronomy. It
is perfectly clear from the nature of the telescope and the
observatory that it was expected that research work should
form an important part of the whole undertaking. That is
quite to my taste, and it has been done to a certain extent,
but if only research work is to be undertaken, an absolute
revolution in the whole astronomical situation here is involved.
The subject of Astronomy, as a subject in a liberal
education, must be erased from our curriculum, the present
Professor of Astronomy practically excluded from our Faculty,
because there would be no students within his jurisdiction,
except the Vanderbilt Fellows. There is no money available
for the University to create another Professorship of
cultural and descriptive Astronomy, with the instruments,
However, this matter is a matter of twenty years revolution
and quiet growth. It cannot be changed in a twinkling, and
its change must go through the only form that changes can
be brought about here.
I shall certainly see that your communication an all
the facts are taken up by the Visitors.
President, University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, Virginia.
I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of
June 20th which has been forwarded to me.
Let me know when the matter has been taken up
by the Board of Visitors, and what their decision is in regard
to it.
estate of Leander J. McCormick.
Leander McCormick Observatory.
Please accept thanks for yours of the
University, the duties of the Professor of Astronomy were to
be two-fold: 1st. To teach theoretical and practical astronomy:
2nd. To spend any remaining time in the use of the telescope.
Before I accepted the position I was told by Col. Venable,
Chairman of the Committee which extended the invitation to me
that I "could teach as little or as much as I chose." As,
however, general astronomy was taught at that time in the
School of Natural Philosophy, and Astronomy was not recognized
as a part of the work for the titled degrees of the University,
I assumed that I was to give advanced instruction only,
which I did until 1889, when the conditions for the degrees
of Master and Bachelor of Arts were changed, and all the
academic subjects taught in the University, were for the first
time included in the general scheme of those degrees. At the
same time, at the urgent request of the Professor of Natural
Philosophy, the instruction in Astronomy which he was giving
was transferred to the School of Astronomy where it properly
belonged.
I had conversation with your father at various times between
then and his death in 1900, and both he and Col. Venable,
were of course aware of the transfer referred to. If the School
of Astronomy founded in connection with the observatory is to
"do something for Virginia" as he expressed it, then it is manifestly
life of the University of Virginia, of which it forms a
part. From my conversations with your father, I have reason
to believe that the policy I have pursued met his approval.
It has been a cause for regret that the endowment of
the observatory is so meager, since the efficiency of every
institution depends upon the amount available for current
expenses, above all for the salaries of competent men, to do
the work of the institution. The one need of this Observatory
is not more telescopes, but more endowment. All the great
Observatories have large incomes. Without such income it is
hopeless to compete with them.
On the other hand, even a small addition to the financial
power of the Observatory would bring commensurate results.
For instance an added annual income of a few hundred dollars
would enable the Observatory to print its results in
its own series of publications, instead of scattering them
elsewhere. One or two thousand dollars a year would permit
the employment of at least one assistant who could devote
his entire time to the work of the Observatory, the character
of such assistance depending on the amount that could be given
him. An endowment of even $10,000 would accomplish something,
but an endowment of $50,000 would accomplish much more, even
though it might not permit us to compete on a basis of equality
with the larger observatories of the country.
(Director of Leander McCormick
Observatory)
Resolved: That the thanks of the Rector and Visitors
of the University of Virginia be conveyed to Mr. W. Gordon
Merrick for his action in the establishment in connection
with the Engineering School of the University of Virginia
of the "Isabella Merrick Sampson Scholarship."
Copy of correspondence and deed of trust here follows:
Trustees of the
"Isabella Merrick Sampson"
Endowment to the Engineering School of the
University of Virginia.
Enclosed please find a copy of the above mentioned
trust, the original of which is recorded and filed in the
clerk's office of the Albemarle Co., court, also an order
on the Albemarle Nat. Bank for the two bonds mentioned in
said document, the interest from which is to be devoted to
the scholarship.
This Deed of Gift made this 23rd day of July, in the
year 1910, between W. Gordon Merrick, of the County of Albemarle
in the State of Virginia, party of the first part, and Edwin
A. Alderman, Wm. M. Thornton, and Wm. S. Humbert, Trustees
as hereinafter appearing, all of the City of Charlottesville,
Witnesseth, that for and in consideration of one dollar
cash in hand paid and other good and valuable considerations
him thereunto moving, the said party of the first part doth
bargain, sell, assign, and deliver unto the said parties
of the second part, and their successors as such trustees,
the following property, to-wit:
(a) One (1) one thousand dollars ($1,000) Bond of
the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad, bearing the
serial number 9763 (maturing in the year 1937), and bearing
interest at the rate of five per centum (5 percent) per annum,
payable semi-annually, in January and July of each year, and;
(b) One (1) one thousand dollar ($1,000) General Mortgage
5 percent Bond of the Public Service Corporation of
New Jersey, bearing the serial number 11661, (maturing in
the year 1959), and bearing interest at the rate of five
per centum (5 percent) per annum, payable semi-annually, in
April and October of each year.
In Trust, nevertheless, for the following uses and pur-
poses, to-wit:
I. Name—
It is the purpose and desire of the party of the
first part to establish and endow a scholarship at the
University of Virginia, which shall be called and known as
the "Isabella Merrick Sampson Endowment."
II. Beneficiaries—
The said scholarship is established
for the purpose of assisting such deserving young men of Albemarle
County, Virginia, who are or may desire to become students of
the University of Virginia, in the Engineering Department, as
may be appointed by the said parties of the second part, or
their successors in office, as hereinafter provided.
III. Trustees—
(A) Appointment.—The said parties of the
second and their successors in the trusteeship shall have the
appointment of the beneficiary of the said scholarship, or endowment,
subject to the conditions and limitations herein set
out.
Should any of the said Trustees, named
herein as parties of the second part, decline to accept the
duties of the trusteeship, or should there be, at any time,
by reason of the death, resignation, or removal from the county
of Albemarle of any one or more of the said parties of the
second part, less than three persons acting as Trustees, then
and in that event the remaining Trustee or Trustees shall
elect such person, or persons who are residents of the county
of Albemarle, as may be necessary, in order that there may
be always three Trustees to carry out the provision of this
trust; but of the three Trustees serving at any time there shall
always be one who is a resident of the county of Albemarle,
and not officially connected with the said University of Virginia.
If at any time it should happen that all three of the
Trustees were to remove from the county of Albemarle, or if for
or become vacant, then and in that event, the then President
of the University, and the then Dean of the Engineering
Department, of the said university, shall have all the powers
and perform all the duties of the trustees hereunder, and particularly,
shall immediately proceed to elect some resident
of the county of Albemarle to act with them as the third
trustee.
(B) Duties—
It shall be the duty of the said Trustees,
and their successors in the trusteeship to nominate and appoint
some student of Albemarle County who is in need of financial
assistance in order to enable him to complete his course,
or to take up a course of study in the Department of Engineering
at the University of Virginia, and they shall pay to such a
student, from time to time, as to them may seem best, the
interest on the bonds hereinabove designated; it being
expressly understood, however, that no part of the principal
of the said bonds, or any sum that may be realized from a sale
thereof, shall be applied to such purpose. The person
awarded this scholarship shall hold the same for the full term
of his engineering course, provided his conduct and progress
shall be satisfactory to the Trustees. If at any time there
should not be a student of Albemarle in the Engineering Department,
or a prospective student from Albemarle County, desiring
to enter the Engineering Department, who, in the judgment of
the Trustees is entitled to this scholarship, then, and in that
scholarship to some other Virginia student in the Engineering
Department, who shall hold and enjoy the said scholarship
only until some student or prospective student from Albemarle
County shall be and become eligible therefor.
The said party of the first part hereby charges the
said Trustees, and their successors in office, with the
further duty of changing the investment so soon as the bonds
aforesaid shall mature and become payable, and hereby authorizes
and empowers the said Trustees, and their successors, to
collect and re-invest the full amount of said bonds at their
maturity and to re-invest the proceeds in some other security,
either real-estate, shares or bonds, to be held upon a
like trust, and the interest thereupon to be used for the
purposes of this scholarship, as directed herein, and none
other.
If there should be any point not covered in this instrument,
or if there should arise in the minds of the
Trustees, or their successors, any question as to the proper
construction to be placed on any part of this instrument, then
and in that event, the said party of the first part hereby
clothes the said Trustees with full power to decide any and
all such points, charging them to construe his directions
liberally.
In testimony of all of which the said W. Gordon Merrick
has hereunton set his hand and affixed his seal the day and
(signed) W. Gordon Merrick (seal)
State of Virginia,
County of Albemarle, to-wit:
I, S. R. Gault, a Notary Public for the County aforesaid,
in the State of Virginia, do certify that W. Gordon Merrick,
whose name is signed to the foregoing writing, bearing date
the 23rd day of July 1910, has acknowledged the same before
me in my said County; and I do further certify that my
Commission expires the 7th day of June, 1914.
Given under my hand this 6th day of August, 1910.
(Signed) S. R. Gault,
Notary Public.
Resolved: That the action of the Faculty in reference
to Course 2B in Public Speaking be approved.
The letter of Dr. J. M. Page, Dean of the Academic
Faculty, relating to the above, here follows:
November 9, 1910.
I have the honor to report that at their meeting of Nov. 7
last, the Academic Faculty approved the attached outline of a
proposal course in Public Speaking. By resolution the Faculty
recommended that the proposed course be approved by the
President and Visitors and the the course be given
Baccalaureate Degree.
Outline of Proposed Course 2B in Public Speaking.
The course to be taken in its entirety as an elective-at-large
for the B. A. degree or taken as separate term courses
for which term credits are to be given.
First Term
Content of course to be principles of argumentation
and debating; class to meet three times per week for hourly
lectures and quizes; written exercises to be required at least
once a week; course to cover Foster's "Argumentation and Debating"
which contains 486 pages.
Second Term
Content of course to be principles of public speaking
and also training in delivery; class to meet three times per
week for hourly lectures and quizes; written exercises to be
required for each lesson, course to cover Phillips's "Effective
Speaking" which contains 314 pages; in addition course to include
each week six hourly periods of "laboratory work" to
consist of platform drill and vocal and physical technic; text
to be used for training in delivery, Phillips's "Natural
Drills in Expression."
Third Term
Content of course to be practical debating; prerequisite
for this term course to be work of the two preceding terms in
this course of equivalent preparation; class to meet for
hourly periods three times per week; students in groups of four
or six to be assigned a question to be debated before the class
at a definite date; each group in rotation to analyze a new
question, search for evidence, draw a brief and write a forensic
in preparation for each debate to which the group is assigned.
Adjunct Professor of Public
Speaking.
Linden Kent Memorial Professor of English
Literature.
Resolved: That the salary of the Bookkeeper in the Pursar's
Office be not increased.
Resolved: That the action of President Alderman in paying
Sir Moses Ezekiel $800. in consideration of Jefferson Statue,
be approved.
Resolved: That the Rector be authorized to transmit as
heretofore, to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the
President's annual statement as the report of this Board.
The following petition of the C. & A. Ry. was presented,
and resolution thereto adopted:
of Virginia.
The Charlottesville and Albemarle Railway
Company of Charlottesville, Virginia, a corporation
duly chartered under the laws of the State of Virginia, respectfully
requests that your Honorable Board will grant
it the right to locate and operate an electric railway line
upon and through the property of the University of Virginia,
along the terrace West of what is known as "Rugby Road", and
between said Road and the walk immediately East of the Fayerweather
Gymnasium. Said line to begin at the Ivy Turnpike
Road, and run in a North-westerly direction to the C. & O.
Railway overhead bridge on the Rugby Road: said line to be
located and constructed under the general supervision and
direction of the President and the Superintendent of Grounds
and Buildings of the University of Virginia, and the Chairman
of the Executive Committee of your Board; and that an order
be entered on the minutes of your Board authorizing the said
line to be located on an through the property of the University
of Virginia, subject to the aforesaid provision.
Charlottesville and Albemarle Railway Company.
Resolved: That the above petition be granted on the
conditions named, and with the further condition that the tracks
the company on sixty day's notice from this Board—at the pleasure
of the Board. (Mr. Harmon excused from voting.)
Resolved: That the water committee be authorized to
purchase and have installed a water meter, on the water main
leading from the reservoir.
Resolved: That Dr. Alderman be granted a leave of
absence for four months, or such other time as he may desire.
On motion, the Board adjourned, subject to the call of
the Rector.
Secretary.
Rector.
| Board of Visitors minutes November 18, 1910 | |