 | Board of Visitors minutes September 12, 1878 |  |
12th of September 1878
Board met pursuant to the Call of the Rector of the
University and was called to order by the Rector.
Present: A.H.H. Stuart, Rector, in the Chair, and Messrs.
Hart, Marye, Goode, Randolph, Conrad, Bocock & Whitehead.
Pursuant to an order of the Board, the Secy. pro tem
informed Dr J. F. Harrison, Chairman of the Faculty, that the
Board had organized and was ready to receive any communications
from the Faculty. Dr. Harrison reported in person, verbally,
that he had as Chairman no communication to make.
The Rector read to the Board the following letter from
Mr. W. W. Corcoran of Washington City:
August 13th, 1878.
I propose to make the University of Virginia a similar
donation with same conditions as that made on the 8th December
1876, for the purpose of endowing a professorship of Natural
History, as a token of my warm personal regard, and as an expression
of the gratitude which I, in common with the Citizens
of the Old Commonwealth, feel for the profound scholarship it
itself on the Universities of the Old World, and enlisted the
sympathy of the honored Queen of England.
I am sure that the admiration in which we hold the memory
of its illustrious founder, whose statesmanship was only equalled
by his masterly pen, will make the condition I am about to name,
a pleasure and not a burden.
It is that the authorities of the University pledge themselves
to keep the Monument and the grounds around it in good
order for all time.
We owe a duty to the memory of one who gave dignity to
office, and who showed his high appreciation of letters by
kindling so bright a light in the earlier age of the Republic.
We cannot forget his own inimitable epitaph, "Here lies
buried, Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of American
Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom,
and Father of the University of Virginia."
Nor can we forget the reasons assigned for it, which are
thus beautifully expressed,
"Because by these, as testimonials that I lived, I wish
most to be remembered."
I am satisfied that I could in no way reflect greater
honor on your University, than by connecting at more closely,
if possible, with the tomb of Jefferson: and I could crave no
greater blessing to the country than its return to the grand
principles of wise government he has unfolded.
Please say what disposition I shall make of the bonds.
Your friend and obedient servant,
To Hon A. H. H. Stuart,
Rector, University of Virginia
Staunton, Virginia
To the foregoing letter Mr. Stuart replied as follows:
I had the pleasure of receiving by the mail
of yesterday, your letter, dated 13th inst: in which you communicate
to me officially, your purpose to make, to the University
of Virginia, a farther donation of $50,000 in Virginia
Consol bonds, for the purpose of endowing a Professorship of
Natural History, in the Institution.
On behalf of the Visitors & Faculty of the University &
of the people of Virginia, I hasten to tender to you their
thanks for this munificent gift. I am sure, too, that they
will be especially gratified by the particular appropriation
of the fund to the endowment of a professorship of natural
history, as it will enable the University to enlarge its circle
of instruction, & contribute, more effectually, to the development
of the natural resources of Virginia, & her sister states.
The condition which you have thought proper to annex to
the gift, to wit: "that the authorities of the University pledge
authority over the grave of Jefferson] & the grounds
around it, in good order, through all time," must be recognized
by all, as not only reasonable, but exceedingly appropriate.
As he was the "Father of the University of Virginia" there
seems to be a peculiar propriety in entrustine, to this child
of his old age, the sacred duty of keeping guard at his tomb,
& protecting from injury & decay, the monument erected by national
gratitude, to commemorate his patriotism & illustrious
public services.
A meeting of the Visitors of the University will be held,
at an early day, to take the necessary measures to give practical
effect to your generous purposes.
In regard to the disposition of the bonds, I would respectfully,
suggest, that they be sent to Richmond, to the care of
Genl Asa Rogers, Second Auditor, to be held by him, for the use
of the University, until the meeting of the General Assembly
of Va. in December next.
Your friend & obt servant,
Rector U. Va.
The Rector reputed that Mr. Cordoran has delivered to
Genl Asa Rogers the Virginia bonds referred to in the foregoing
letter.
The Rector then read a communication from Professors Mallet
& Smith, in reply to a letter from himself to them asking for
in the school to be organized now by the Board.
On motion of Mr. Bocock,
Resolved, that the new Chair to be established and maintained
in the University of Virginia, by means of the recent
donation of Mr. Corcoran, shall be designated and known as the
"Corcoran School of Natural History and Geology."
On motion of Mr. Bocock,
Resolved that in the Corcoran School of Natural History
and Geology in the University of Virginia, shall be taught Geology,
Mineralogy, and such branches of Natural History as the
Board of Visitors may, hereafter, determine.
On motion of Mr. Goode,
Resolved, That the election of the Professor of "Natural
History and Geology" be postponed until Tuesday the 4th day
of February 1879 and, in the meantime, that the Executive Committee
be requested, by correspondence, and otherwise, to collect
such information as they can, in regard to the qualifications of
the Candidates.
A letter to the Rector from Professor Jno. R. Page, in
relation to the appointment of a Janitor for the "Brooks Museum"
and asking that the order of the Board directing Prof. Page
"to move into the building" be rescinded was referred to the
Committee on Public Buildings.
A letter from James F. Harrison, Chairman, dated 11th
Sept. '78, asking for instructions as to the precise extent and
degree of the control and authority of the Chief Executive
and temperance socities, by the students as a general reading
room and by the Hotels as dining rooms; and suggesting an increase
of the annual pay of the Janitor, Mr. J. L. Parker -
was also referred to the Committee on Public Buildings.
The Committee on Public Buildings through its Chairman,
Dr. Randolph reported the following which were adopted - in
response to the letter of Dr. Harrison;
Resolved, That the Literary societies, the Temperance society,
and the Young Men's Christian Association have control over
the rooms in which their several meetings are held and in which
they have their reading room; subject however to the supervision
of the Superintendent of Grounds and buildings as to any alteration
of the same, or as to any subject pertaining to the care
and safety of the Buildings; and to that of the Chairman of the
Faculty, the Faculty, or Proctor, as to such regulations as
may be necessary for due subordination to the University discipline,
provided also that the said rooms respectively shall be
used only for the purposes designated in the grant of the same
except only by the special permission of the Faculty and the
consent of the grantee, nor shall the Hotel dining rooms be
applied to any other uses than those provided by existing regulations,
except by permission of the Faculty and the consent
of the Hotel-Keepers renting them.
In regard to the suggested increase of the pay of the Janito
Resolved that the Board do not consider that the means of
the University justify this increase at the present time.
In regard to Prof. Page's communication touching the large
number of Visitors to the Museum & to the need of a janitor for
that Building the following was adopted:
Being desirous to do all in its power at present to meet
this exigency, the Board resolves that One Hundred and fifty
Dollars shall be applied to pay for this service during the ensuing
session out of any funds of the University not otherwise
appropriated, and that said sum shall be at the disposal of
Prof. Page to be applied by him in procuring the needful service
in such manner as he may determine-
also,
Resolved, that the orders assigning the lecture-rooms occupied
during the past session by Prof. Page to Prof. Smith and
the Lecture room in the Brooks Natural Science Museum to Prof.
Page be hereby rescinded.
A Committee consisting of Messrs. Bocock, Marye and Conrad
to prepare resolutions in regard to the donation of W. W. Corcoran,
Esq. made the following report which was adopted : viz:
The letter of W. W. Corcoran Esq. of the 13th of August
last, tendering to the University of Virginia a donation of
$50,000 of the consol bonds of the State of Virginia, to endow
a chair of Natural History in this Institution, and the reply
thereto of the Rector, the Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, having been
laid before the Board,
1. Resolved that we recognize in this munificent donation,
the third which has been received from the same source within
the last two years, a new and striking proof of the large
Virginia, and his warm interest in this, her foremost Institution
of learning. And we tender to Mr. Corcoran the expression
of our grateful acknowledgements and our assurances, that by
this new act of enlightened beneficence, he has erected a lasting
memorial in the hearts, not only of the people of Virginia
generally, but of the friends of thorough culture throughout
the land.
2. Resolved that we accept this donation, on the conditions
of its tender, regarding the requirement therein contained as
only affording us a new occasion to signalize our devotion to
the memory of that great Virginian, who having adorned the first
office in the gift of a people whose institutions he had aided
to form in wisdom, and establish in virtue, yet modestly preferred
to give to the world as one of the three testimonials
of his existence, for which he wished most to be remembered,
the fact that he was "Father of the University of Virginia."
3. Resolved as an enduring testimonial for this act of
liberality on the part of Mr. Corcoran, the chair endowed thereby,
be called the "Corcoran School of Natural History and Geology,
in the University of Virginia."
4. Resolved that a copy of these resolutions be forwarded
to Mr. Corcoran by the Secretary.
The following resolution was presented by Mr. Bocock and
by him presented to the Board & by them adopted;
Resolved that the letter of the Rector, the Hon. Alex: H.
H. Stuart, in reply to the letter of Mr. Corcoran tendering a
University of Virginia, meets our approval and entitles him
to our sincere thanks.
On motion,
Resolved that when this Board adjourns it adjourn to meet
on the 4' of February next.
Resolved that the Board do now adjourn.
Rector
Secretary, pro tem.
| Board of Visitors minutes September 12, 1878 | |