 | Board of Visitors minutes July 20, 1893 |  |
July 20th 1893.
The Board met in pursuance of adjournment on the 13th of
June last.
Present. Messrs Randolph, Rector and Kean, Parrish,
McCabe, R. W. Martin, McCormick and T. S. Martin of the Visitors.
The Committee appointed on the 12th of June last to which
was referred matters relating to the Department of Law submitted
its report which was read and is in the following words
and figures, to wit:
To the Rector and Board of Visitors of the University,
The Committee appointed on the 12th June last to whom was
referred the "Communication of Profr J. B. Minor to the Rector
in relation to increasing the salary of J. B. Minor, Jr, and
all other matters relating to the Department of Law in the University,
with instructions to report at an adjourned meeting of
the Board to be held on the 20th of July next," met, pursuant
to appointment, on Wednesday the 19th of July at the University
at 11 o'clock A. M..
The attendance of Mr Patteson was prevented by serious indisposition.
The other members of the Committee proceeded to
give to the whole subject their most earnest and anxious consideration.
First. That in view of the advanced age of Professor Minor,
and the physical weakness consequent upon his having past
eighty years of age, and having during the last spring suffered
from a long and severe illness, while his intellectual
powers appear to be not in the slightest degree impaired,
there is reason to apprehend that his physical strength may
prove insufficient to enable him to support the labors of his
school through the session, with unabated efficiency. Hence
it appeared to us that the interests of the University and of
the Law Department imperatively require that such provision
be made for instruction in the Law Department, as will enable
the exercises therein to be conducted with the highest attainable
efficiency, in any event that may befall.
Secondly. Information was received in regard to the neuralgic
trouble from which John B. Minor, Jr., (heretofore appointed
from year to year Instructor in the school of Common and Statute
Law) has been suffering, which led your Committee to make
particular inquiries, of medical experts, whether the neuralgic
affection by which he has been troubled, was one likely to be
transient, or whether it is of a kind from which material interference
with the discharge of his duties as an instructor
is to be apprehended. These inquiries have led us, with reluctance
and pain, to the conclusion that the danger of material
interference with his usefulness is such that we cannot,
especially in view of the chances that Prof. Minor's health
may yield to the strain of the senior's work, recommend his
reappointment.
Penetrated as we are, by the strongest sense of the great
work Prof. Minor has done in the Law Department, and by his incomparable
skill and excellence as a teacher of Law, as well as
by what is due to his character, and eminent qualities in every
respect, we felt most anxious that any recommendation we might
make to the Board should have, if possible, his cordial approval.
We therefore addressed him a letter, of which a copy is
herewith returned, conveying to him our willingness to recommend
the appointment of Mr. R. C. Minor as his assistant, with
a salary of $1500., and to lighten his labors by a division of
the chair of Common and Statute Law.
Dear Sir:
Owing to the present condition of the health of your
son, Mr. John B. Minor, Jr., we, the Committee appointed by the
Board of Visitors to consider and report upon all matters pertaining
to the School of Law in the University, hesitate to
recommend him for re-election as your assistant for the ensuing
session. We are informed, however, that your son, Mr. Raleigh
C. Minor, is in vigorous health, and that he is now assisting
you in your summer school. We desire to recommend him to the
Board as your assistant for the ensuing session at a salary of
Fifteen Hundred Dollars. We trust you will appreciate our position
in this matter and that you will know that we place a
high value upon the work done by Mr. John B. Minor, Jr., in
your classes so long as his health continued good. We greatly
trust that he may speedily be restored to perfect health.
We desire to ask through you whether Mr. Raleigh C. Minor
will accept the position of assistant in your school, and
as we are considering the propriety of establishing a new
chair in the School of Law, we will deem it a favor if you
will kindly suggest the subjects to be assigned to the new
chair if established. We hand you, herewith, an outline of
a scheme of reorganization of the School of Law that we are
considering, and we would be glad to have you give your views
of the same. With sentiments of high esteem, we are
In response to this letter, he appeared before the Committee
and strongly stated his objections to the suggestion of a
third professorship, substantially the same as those glanced
at in the Report made to the Board by the Committee of which
Mr. R. L. Parrish was chairman, on the 8th day of August,
1890—see Record p. 235-7 [210-1]. He also expressed the confident
belief that Mr. John B. Minor, Jr.'s ill health is of a
temporary kind and should not be regarded as likely to impair
his efficiency.
Your Committee have felt most earnestly disposed to conform
any recommendation they should make to the opinions and
wishes of Prof. Minor, if it was possible to do so consistently
with their duty to the University.
Recognizing the danger that the age and ill health of
the valued professor may at any time produce serious and injurious
disorganization in the means of instruction, they
have anxiously considered the best means in the power of the
Board to conserve the valuable strength of the noble veteran
at its head—to preserve to it as long as possible the prestige
of his name and services, and at the same time so to organize
it that, notwithstanding any material expansion of subjects
which would prevent the course from being accomplished
in one year, would at the same time provide a corps of competent
instructors who, if any one of them should be disabled,
would be able to continue the work without serious, or at any
rate with the least possible, loss to the class.
To these ends your Committee, after the most anxious consideration,
have felt constrained to go counter to the views
of the venerable senior professor—views which appear to them
to be the result rather of his indomitable spirit, than of a
realization of the conditions which actually exist.
Our conclusions were communicated to Prof. Minor in the
following letter:
Our Dear Sir:
We have maturely considered your views in relation
to the School of Law in the University, and have given them the
weight that we feel your opinions on such a subject are entitled
to. We have also consulted medical experts as to the
prospects of the ability of Mr. John B. Minor, Jr., to give
necessary for you to have, and we are strongly advised that
there is but little probability of his being able to do so.
Sincerely trusting that he may in time regain his health,
we feel it our duty not to recommend him for re-election for
the ensuing session, and we beg that you will assure him that
we have been moved to this action solely by the present condition
of his health. We have determined to recommend as your
assistant during the session Mr. Raleigh C. Minor, at a salary
of Fifteen Hundred Dollars.
We are profoundly impressed with the fact that the best
interests of the University demand that we shall endeavor to
prolong your usefulness by lightening your labors, and we have
therefore determined to recommend the appointment of a new
Professor to whom shall be assigned the subject of Mercantile
Law and also the subject embraced in the first and third volumes
of your Institutes.
We have not reached our conclusions without much difficulty,
and we trust you will find in them the burning desire
to recognize your great value to the University, and to discharge
our duties in the manner least objectionable to you.
We beg therefore that you will convey to Mr. John B.
Minor, Jr., our appreciation of the valuable work he has done
as your assistant, and we again request that you will assure
him that so far as he is interested in our action, we have
been constrained to our course solely by the present condition
of his health.
Assuring you of the highest consideration, and of our very
warm personal regard, we are
It will be seen that the measures we submit involve somewhat
more strength in the corps of teachers, than the actual
course contemplated will at all times require. This is unavoidably
involved in the idea of a reserve of force to meet
emergencies. We have thought that it is due to Prof. Minor
to lighten his labors and prolong his usefulness, by giving
him his son, Mr. R. C. Minor, as an assistant, and to relieve
him personally of such a portion of the course in the School
of Common and Statute law, as will reduce the lectures he
shall have to deliver, from six per week to three per week.
To accomplish this we propose to establish a second chair in
the School of Common and Statute Law, and to transfer to it
the subjects embraced in the 1st. and 3rd. volumes of Minor's
Institutes. Also to restore to this school Mercantile Law,
a branch of the Common Law.
There will thus be kept for Prof. Minor and his Assistant,
the law of Real Property, and Procedure (that is the subjects
embraced in the 2nd. and 4th volumes of Minor's Institutes)
and Criminal Law.
The school of Mr. Gilmore will remain as at present, except
that Mercantile Law will be transferred to the new chair.
It is contemplated that no addition to the present number
of lectures in the Law Department shall be made (unless
on each week day.
Such increase to be left to the discretion of the professors.
At present there are six lectures per week, of an hour
and a half each, one on each week day in the School of Common
and Statute Law: and 5 lectures, of same length, in the other
school) It is further desired that Prof. Minor shall personally
not undertake to deliver more than three lectures a week,
and that the remaing 8, or (if the aggregate number be increased
to 12) 9 be distributed between Mr. Gilmore's chair
and the new one, according to the time now given to the subjects
taught. We therefore recommend to the Board the adoption
of the following orders.
1st That Raleigh C. Minor be appointed Assistant in the School
of Common and Statute Law for the ensuing session, 1893-4, with
the salary of Fifteen Hundred Dollars, and be assigned to duty
under the direction of Prof. John B. Minor, to aid him in the
work of his chair as he shall direct.
2nd That the subject of Mercantile Law be, and is, hereby restored
to the school of Common and Statute Law.
3rd That the School of Common and Statute Law be divided into
two chairs, to wit:
First. The Law of Real Property, Procedure (that is to say
the subjects comprised in the 2nd. and 4th volumes of Minor's
Institutes), and Criminal Law. This chair will remain in charge
of Prof. John B. Minor and his Assistant.
Second. The Law of Persons and Personal Relations, Personal
Property (that is, the subjects comprised in vols. 1 & 3 of
be appointed to said Chair.
4th The Chair now occupied by Prof. J. H. Gilmore will remain
constituted as at present, with Mercantile Law omitted.
5th That not exceeding twelve lectures per week, of one and
a half hours each, or the equivalent thereof, be required in
the Law Department. The time now devoted to the subjects
taught by Prof. Gilmore, and remaining in his class, to remain
as at present, and the time now devoted to the subjects embraced
in the two chairs of Common and Statute Law, to be so
apportioned that three lectures per week, or the equivalent
thereof in time, be delivered by Prof. Minor (or his assistant),
and three per week by the Professor of Law of Persons and Personal
property with such additional lectures as under the present
allotment are devoted to the subject of Mercantile Law.
The lectures in the Department of Law shall be so arranged as
to avoid conflict.
Respectfully submitted,
R. G. H. Kean.
R. L. Parrish.
Marshall McCormick.
Thomas S. Martin.
University of Virginia,
July 19th, 1893.
Yours of this date is received, and whilst I desire
to make my cordial acknowledgments for the kindly spirit manifested
obliged to confess that it occasioned me not a little concern
in respect to what I conceive to be the interests of the University,
as affected by the creation of another professorship.
A multiplication of teachers is frequently, if not generally,
a curtailment of instruction. I trust it will not be so here.
I am directed by my son Raleigh C. Minor, to say that if
the Board in pursuance of the recommendation of your Committee,
shall think fit to confer upon him the appointment of my Assistant,
at the salary indicated, he will accept the post, and
will perform its duties, to the extent of his ability.
The kindness and consideration manifested by your Committee
thus far for my son John, and for myself, justify me in hoping
that in the action of the Board care will be taken to show that
the omission to reappoint John arose altogether from the supposed
state of his health, and not from any dissatisfaction with
the performance of his duties.
I remain, gentlemen, with the greatest respect & esteem,
John B. Minor.
Messrs.
R. G. H. Kean. Committee
R. L. Parrish. Committee
Marshall McCormick. Committee
Thomas S. Martin Committee
Resolved. That the report of the Committee to which was
referred all matters pertaining to the Department of Law at
the University, be and the same is hereby adopted, and that
said report, together with the correspondence between the Committee
and Professor Minor be spread upon the records.
their thanks for the efficient manner in which he has discharged
his duties as assistant in the School of Common &
Statute Law, and while regretting that the present condition
of his health prevents his re-election for the ensuing session,
they trust that he may in due time be fully restored
to his usual physical health and vigor.
Absent R. W. Martin, called home by professional engagements.
Resolved that the resolution adopted at the annual meeting
(Record page 365-6 [316]), appropriating $1275.00 to the
making of a card catalogue of the Library, and also appropriating
$1000.00 to be applied to the purchase of books and
periodicals be hereby rescinded, and that the Executive Committee
be hereby authorized to appropriate such sums to the
purposes above named, not exceeding the sums aforesaid, as,
in the opinion of said Committee, the finances of the University
shall justify.
Resolved, that the recommendations of the Faculty in
relation to extending the aid of the University "to young
women desirous of higher culture", be hereby recommitted to
the Faculty with the request that they formulate and present
to the Board the regulations under which they deem it advisable
for young women to be admitted to the Academic Schools of
the University.
Resolved, that Rev. J. Wm Jones Chaplain for the sessions
of 1893-95 has permission to sublet the parsonage upon such
of Grounds and Buildings.
Resolved that the Proctor pay to Mrs Mary Burthe the
sum of $59.46, the board bill of the members of the Board
of Visitors during the annual meeting in June 1893.
Resolved, that the Superintendent of Grounds and Buildings
be hereby directed to have the small sewer from water
closets on Carr's Hill relaid in in the manner recommended
by the Board of Health at a cost not exceeding One hundred
and twenty dollars.
Resolved, that the Superintendent of Grounds & Buildings
be hereby directed to convert the Mess Hall on Dawson's
Row into a Dormitory of Seven rooms, at a cost not exceeding
$385, which will be taken from the fund appropriated to Repairs
& Improvements, provided that the rents from said Dormitory
for the ensuing session shall be added to the Repair and
Improvement Fund.
Resolved, that after the end of the ensuing session, and
until otherwise ordered, Dormitory No. 11, West Lawn, be assigned
to the Student Superintendent of the Students' Reading
Room, the usual rent being paid.
Resolved, that Jesse Ramsburg, of Frederick, Maryland
be hereby appointed to the Birely Scholarship for the session
of 1893 & 4.
In regard to the nomination to the "Jno. Y. Mason Fellowship",
mentioned in the Faculty report, Resolved that the Faculty
be requested to prepare & forward to the Board a general
end that the Board may be guided intelligently in making such
nominations.
Resolved, that the Rector and Visitors hereby consent to
accept the title to the Young Men's Christian Association Athlectic
Grounds at the University upon such reasonable trusts
as the present holder of the legal title may prescribe; provided
that no use shall be made of said grounds that will not
be acceptable to the Rector and Visitors; and provided further
that no expense be absolutely imposed upon the University,
but that the sums that the University may expend on the
said grounds shall be left to the discretion of the Rector &
Visitors.
Resolved, that the present "school of English & English
Literature" shall be known hereafter as the "School of the
English Language", and that the division of the work between
the "School of the English Language" & the "Linden Kent Memorial
School of English Literature", shall be that stated on
pp. 11-13 of the Catalogue of the University of Virginia for
1892-93; and it is further
Resolved, that the work in Rhetoric and English Literature,
now one of the B. A. courses in the "School of English"
shall be transferred to the "Linden Kent Memorial School of
English Literature", and shall form one of the B. A. courses
in that school.
Resolved that the Board, as at present constituted, is
willing that Profr Perkinson be granted leave of absence during
the session of 1894 & 5 for the purpose of perfecting his
foreign countries; provided, that he secure at his own expense
a substitute in his department who is acceptable to
the Board.
Resolved that the Proctor, allow Profr Charles W. Kent
to draw against the interest in hand, paid in on account of
the endowment of his chair, to an amount not exceeding $500.00
for the purchase of Books, maps and other equipments, necessary,
and to be held, for the use of the Linden Kent Memorial Chair
of English Literature.
Resolved that the present Adjunct Professors in the University
of Virginia shall hereafter have a seat in all Faculty
meetings, with the same powers as the full Professors of the
University.
Resolved that the Executive Committee be authorized to
add not exceeding One hundred & fifty dollars to the salary
of the Assistant in Mechanical Engineering for the ensuing
session, if, after the Commencement of the session, the Committee
shall be of opinion that the finances of the University
will justify and increase.
Resolved that the financial condition of the University
forbids the erection of the building at present, that is recommended
in the communication of Messrs W. A. Lambeth and R.
D. Anderson.
Resolved, That the recommendation of the Superintendent
of Grounds & Buildings in relation to changing the old Gymnasium
building into a dormitory be hereby referred to the
in the opinion of the committee, the financial condition
of the University will justify the same.
Resolved, That so much of the Report of the Superintendent
of Grounds & Buildings as refers to the Temperance Hall, be referred
to a committee to consist of the Rector and Mr. Thomas
S. Martin, with instructions to investigate and report to the
Board at its next meeting how the said property is held, together
with all the documentary or other evidence, which may
be presented to them, by, or they shall procure from, the persons
claiming to be trustees of said property, showing or bearing
upon the claim of said Trustees or those whom they consider
themselves to represent.
Resolved that the application of T. W. Elsom to have certain
repairs made upon the house occupied by him be referred
to the Superintendent of Grounds & Buildings with directions
to examine the building and if the repairs are needed, to have
them made at a cost not to exceed $125.; provided the cost
shall be paid out of the rent paid by said Elsom for the use
of the Dormitories occupied by him during the present summer,
and provided it is proper for the University to bear the expense
of such repairs.
Resolved that Professor W. M. Thornton, Chairman of the
Faculty be hereby requested to devote his vacation months to
the interests of the University and that the sum of One hundred
and sixty six and 66 2/3/100 dollars per month during the vacation
be hereby appropriated to the payment of the salary of
on August 1st 1893 and will continue during the summer vacations
until the further order of the Board.
On motion the Board decided by a vote taken thereon to
proceed at once to elect the Professor to fill the new Law
Chair.
Mr Wm M. Lile, of the City of Lynchburg, Va was nominated
for professor to fill the new Chair in the Law Department. The
Rector inquired if there was any other nominations, to which
there was no response, it was then moved that Mr Lile be unanimously
elected to said Chair, which motion was adopted by a
unanimous vote and he was declared elected.
Resolved that the sum of $25. be appropriated to be use
in repairing the old Lynchburg road through the grounds of the
University, the same to be expended under the direction of the
Rector.
A communication was received from the Miller Board in the
following words and figures, to wit.
"Appropriations of the Miller Board for the session 1893-4.
| Profr Tuttle | 3000.00 |
| Profr Thornton | 500.00 |
| Profr Dunnington | 500.00 |
| Assistant to Profr Tuttle | 500.00 |
| Apparatus & working expenses of Laboratory | 500.00 |
| Library | 500.00 |
A copy, Teste, R. T. W. Duke"
Resolved that Mr Wm B. Tuttle be hereby elected assistant
to the Professor of Biology for the ensuing session.
Resolved that the Proctor be authorized to pay the cost
incurred by the Washington Literary Society in lighting the
grounds of the University during the final exercises in June
last amounting to $40.00
Resolved that the salary of the assistant in Biology for
the ensuing session be reduced to $500.00 and that the amount
appropriated to the working expenses and apparatus of the Agricultural
Department be reduced to $500. and that $500. be appropriated
to the addition to the library of works desired for
use in connection with the Agricultural Department.
On motion the Board adjourned sine die.
Rector
Secretary.
| Board of Visitors minutes July 20, 1893 | |