ATTACHMENT I
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
CHARLOTTESVILLE
22903
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
ROTUNDA CHRONOLOGY
| 1826-1895 |
Dome Room, occupying 2/3 of cubic space, used as library-museum-ceremonial room. 6 oval rooms on lower floors were the administrative center of the University: Board of Visitors, Offices of Chairman and other officers. Other academic uses. Burned in 1895. |
| 1895-1904 |
Dome Room enlarged as bookstack to occupy 3/4 of building. 2 large oval rooms (49' X 28') and 2 small oval rooms (37' X 16') eliminated. Title of "Chairman" changed to "President," office moved to Pavilion IV, thence in 1947 to Pavilion VIII. |
| 1938-1939 |
Library moved to Alderman Building. Exterior of Rotunda restored (P.W.A. grant and General Assembly appropriation). Restoration and reconversion of interior deferred. World War II and post-war expansion caused further postponement. |
| 1953-1964 |
Garden Club of Va., University, and private donors spend approximately $300,000 on restoration of pavilions, gardens, & crosswalks, looking toward ultimate restoration of Rotunda's interior form and functions. |
| 1955 Feb. 11 |
Va. State Art Commission hears Board of Visitors' Committee on Buildings and Grounds' proposal for restoration of Rotunda's main floor and 4 oval rooms for use by Board and President. Approves, provided there are "no considerable compromises." |
| 1955 Feb. 12 |
Committee reports to Board. Minutes (Vol. XI, p. 395): The Chairman described a conversation with Fiske Kimball, leading authority on Jefferson's architecture and the neo-classic revival. Quotes Kimball as saying that Rotunda was Jefferson's "last great architectural monument . . . the functional idea of making the Rotunda the administrative center of the University was strictly in accord with Jefferson's conception of academic
architecture." |
| March |
F. D. Nichols' illustrated article on Rotunda in Alumni News: "oval rooms on main floor . . . could be used by the Board of Visitors and the Administration." Alumni response favorable. |
| Dec. 17 |
Board of Visitors minutes (Vol. XI, p. 438). President authorized to construct model of Rotunda to show original oval rooms and main floor. |
| 1957 June 7 |
Board of Visitors minutes (Vol. XII, pp. 42-3). B. & G. Committee presents Mr. Whitehurst's Rotunda model. Board votes approval of tentative plans "conditioned only upon the necessity of procuring funds for the work from private sources." Committee authorized to seek funds from foundations. |
| 1957 |
National Trust for Historic Preservation lists Rotunda in its Survey of Historic Buildings. |
| 1963-1972 |
Several hundred gifts of funds received for restoration, largest from several members of the Scott family. |
| 1963-1974 |
Annual Rotunda Ball inaugurated by student groups. Excerpt from printed program: "The restoration of the Rotunda's interior to Mr. Jefferson's original plan would provide three oval rooms on the first floor for the offices of the Board of Visitors and the President . . . would make the Rotunda once again what he intended it should be -- the administrative and social center of the University." |
| 1964 |
General Assembly appropriates $55,000 to replace Rotunda roof. |
| 1965 July 28 |
Architectural Advisory Committee (T. K. Fitz Patrick, chairman) recommends Ballou & Justice as planning architects. Approved by Board of Visitors' Executive Committee. |
| Sept. 25 |
President appoints a building committee (Rotunda Restoration Committee) to guide planning. |
| Nov. 9 |
Restoration Committee's first meeting (9 members present). Agree unanimously upon general plan, as outlined by chairman and Mr. Nichols, to plan restored dome room as visitor center for exhibits, receptions, meetings, etc., main floor rooms for use of President and Board. |
| Dec. 20 |
Secretary of Interior designates Rotunda as one of 4 National Historic Landmarks in Virginia for protection under National Park Service regulations. |
| 1966 Jan. 7 |
President signs agreement with N.P.S. for preservation of Rotunda as National Historic Landmark. |
| Feb. 24 |
Director of Budget requested to ask Appropriations Committee to change 1964 allowance of $55,000 for new roof to planning funds for restoration. |
| April 2 |
Board of Visitors orders employment of Ballou & Justice as restoration architects. Private funds to be sought by President and committee. |
| 1966 April 10 |
Illustrated article by Prof. Nichols in Richmond Times-Dispatch states that main floor oval rooms will be used by President and Board as offices. |
| April 13 |
Rotunda ceremony for delivery of plaque as National Historic Landmark. Elbert Cox of National Park Service emphasizes University's commitment to restore functions as well as form to Rotunda. |
| June 20 |
Restoration Committee minutes: "President's Office and Board of Visitors room are to occupy the larger oval rooms on main floor." Planning Office to submit Feasibility Report to State Budget Director. |
| July |
Project Criteria submitted to Budget Director, providing in detail for use of large oval rooms on main floor by President and Board, small oval room (37' X 16') by Secretary of Board. |
| Sept. 16 |
University's "Program" for Rotunda submitted to Art Commission. President's letter commits University to restoration of "both function and design to central building which now houses only portions of scattered central administration." Art Commission approves "restoration of the building and adaptation for current uses." |
| Oct. 11 |
Governor grants authority (CO-1 form) to prepare capital outlay plans for interior restoration to "provide meeting rooms for the Board of Visitors, administrative space for the President, and a large dome room for special meetings ...exhibits and memorials." |
| Oct. 18 |
Restoration Committee minutes. Unusual degree of support by Art Commission acknowledged. Use of rooms by President and Board found to be feasible. |
| 1966 Oct.-Nov. |
Student Society of the Purple Shadows begins widespread distribution of pamphlet supporting and soliciting funds for Professor Nichols' interior restoration plans. |
| 1966 |
Report and "Program" submitted to Budget Director. Calls for President's offices and Board of Visitors on main floor, Dome Room as visitor center, restoration of Pavilion VIII as faculty residence. |
| 1968 April 3 |
Inquiry from National Park Service requesting assurance that rumored plans for restoration and use are in accord with 1966 agreement. |
| 1969 May 8 |
Architects' Project Report: The Rotunda "exists solely as a symbol of its past glory and usefulness, and houses no function commensurate with the dignity of its design or the eminence of its concept." Sets forth general plan for Rotunda to house the President's Office, Board of Visitors' meeting room, and assembly hall above. |
| May 19 |
Officers of Langhorne Trust meet with Restoration Committee and architects for review of plans. Pledge dollar-for-dollar matching funds. |
| May 28 |
Pledge confirmed by letter up to $750,000. |
| 1970 Oct. 9 |
Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission accepts Rotunda for listing in Virginia Landmarks Register. Nominates it for National Register of Historic Places. |
| 1971 April 2 |
Virginia Division of Engineering and Buildings authorizes submission of drawings and specifications to Art Commission. |
| May 1 |
Favorable review by Art Commission. |
| 1972 March 27 |
Application for $1,088,250 submitted to Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. President pledges that Rotunda "will be maintained through the University's annual budgets as a central administrative building of the University. ... The restoration will once again provide for central administrative functions, for board meetings ... restoration of reconstructed oval rooms to administrative and committee functions." |
| April 6-7 |
Architects present completed preliminary plans to Buildings and Grounds Committee. Taylor and Parrish's cost estimates of $2,176,500 approved. Board approves application to HUD for half of needed sum. |
| April 14 |
Bicentennial Committee recommends Rotunda restoration as No. 1 priority for 1976. |
| April 28 |
HUD grant of $1,088,250 and agreement signed at Monticello in presence of state, local, and national officials. President outlines plans for restoration (promising the restoration of "every function ... except the library function") in addresses at Monticello and at subsequent luncheon in Rotunda, attended by public officials and representatives of Garden Club of Va., Langhorne Trust, Rotunda Ball Committee, student leaders, Alumni, Visitors
and formor Rectors, Bicentennial Commission, prominent private donors to restoration, General Assembly members, and many others. |
| May 4 |
Cavalier Daily news story and editorial refer to use of Rotunda for administrative offices. One of many such references before and after in Charlottesville newspapers. |
| 1972 May 5 |
Virginia Law Weekly editorial hails restoration, mentioning use of "main floor oval rooms for a much needed presidential office suite." |
| May 5 |
Art Commission reviews and approves preliminary plans. Requests review of working drawings and specifications when completed. |
| May 16 |
National Park Service sends representative to the review of plans by Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission. Favorable action. |
| May-June |
State newspapers carry lengthy illustrated articles on Rotunda's restoration and future uses. Editorials in Roanoke World-News, Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, and other papers carry enthusiastic editorials referring specifically to use of main floor oval rooms for President's offices and Board of Visitors meetings. |
| June 2 |
Board of Visitors adopts resolution thanking the Trustees of the Langhorne Trust, and assuring them that the University will "proceed with this long-planned restoration of design and function to its focal building." |
| June 12 |
Mrs. Edward C. Anderson gives $5,000 to restoration, supplementing earlier gifts from sister and brother, Mrs. William Reed and Mr. Frederic Scott. |
| June 20 |
Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission issues final letter of approval: "By good fortune the restoration of the original interior will result in making the Rotunda a more functional building. ... The East Oval Room appropriately assigned to the Board of Visitors. The West Oval Room, the North Oval Room, and approximately one-half of the hourglass-shaped hall is to be given over to the use of the President's Office." |
| 1972 June 28 |
Julian P. Boyd's letter: "This is indeed a splendid contribution to the Bicentennial. ..." The plan for administrative use is "in keeping with Jefferson's aim to combine the useful and the beautiful." |
| June |
Preservation News (organ of National Trust for Historic Preservation) announces restoration in full page illustrated editorial by its senior historian: "The restoration plan calls for reestablishing the main floor oval rooms and hallway for use by the President of the University and the Board of Visitors." |
| July-Aug. |
Alumni News feature and cover article on the restoration: "The rooms on the main floor will be reconstructed for administration, board meetings ... the Rotunda once again will be the functional as well as the visual center of the University." 7,500 reprints widely distributed to faculty, students, alumni, and others. |
| Aug. 4 |
Art Commission reviews working drawings and specifications with President and architects. Gives approval. |
| October |
President's Report to Board of Visitors. Sent to faculty, members of Alumni Association, student leaders. States on pages 28 and 46 that President's Office will be moved to oval rooms on main floor. |
| Nov. 20 |
Chattanooga Times editorial: "When completed, the Rotunda will once again be the hub of administrative direction with offices for the President. ..." |
| Dec. 14 |
President submits CO-2 form requesting inclusion of Rotunda in 1973 Supplemental Appropriations Bill "to provide an administrative center for the President, the Board of Visitors, a large dome room for special meetings. ..." This is the basis for State undertaking cost of maintenance. |
| 1972 December |
Challenge (magazine published by HUD): "The suite of elliptical rooms will include the President's Office and a meeting room for the Board of Visitors." |
| 1973 Jan. 11 |
Governor's Budget recommends to General Assembly authorization of Rotunda work; Federal, $1,088,250, non-Federal, $1,033,250. |
| July 1 |
Appropriation Act authorizes Rotunda work as recommended. |
| July 10 |
Governor authorizes award of contract to R. E. Lee & Son. |
| July 16 |
HUD authorizes award of contract to R. E. Lee & Son. |
| July 18 |
Contract awarded by University. |
| Sept. 20 |
Notice by University to R. E. Lee to proceed with work, to be completed December 31, 1975. |
| September |
Alumni News Rotunda reprint sent to all Deans and new faculty. |
MINUTES - BOARD OF VISITORS - APRIL 7, 1972
