University of Virginia Library

ROTUNDA RESTORATION

Mrs. Smith reported that the Buildings and Grounds Committee had met on February 11th with
the Virginia Art Commission, with all members of the Commission present. Professor Frederick D.
Nichols of the School of Architecture had attended the joint meeting by invitation, and had presented
photocopies of Jefferson's original architectural drawings for the Rotunda, with photographs
and other documentation on the interior of the Rotunda prior to the fire of 27 October 1895
The Art Commission, impressed with the unusual detail of the documentation, and the beauty and
functionalism of the original plans, had thereupon adopted the following resolution

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA ROTUNDA.

1. Art Commission approved heartily of the proposal for a restoration of the Rotunda to its
original plan and appearance.

2. The data presented indicates that there is ample documentation for a complete and accurate
restoration

3. The Commission's action is based on the understanding that this would be a faithful and
complete restoration with furnishings and with no considerable compromises.

Professor Nichols, Mrs. Smith said, had discussed his ideas for the interior restoration
work with Mr. Fiske Kimball, leading living authority on Jefferson's architecture and the neoclassical
revival in America. After some hesitation over any tampering with the work of so
important an architect as Stanford White, Mr. Kimball had expressed great enthusiasm for
Mr. Nichols' proposal. Mr. Kimball had remarked that Jefferson was a greater architect than
Stanford White, that the Rotunda was his last great architectural monument, and that Mr. Nichols'
functional idea of making the Rotunda the administrative center of the University was strictly
in accord with Jefferson's conception of academic architecture.

Mrs. Smith noted that the Art Commission's suggestion that the Rotunda be suitably furnished
might be costly, and said that her Committee did not recommend any decision or action by the
Board at this time.

The Board resolved that Mrs. Smith's Report be accepted and approved and that the signed
Resolution from the Art Commission be filed with the Secretary.