University of Virginia Library

MELCHERS PROPERTY - BELMONT

The Chancellor called the attention of the Board to the previous authorization granted to
the College to enter into an agreement with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to serve as agent
of the Museum for the management of the Gari Melchers Memorial in Fredericksburg until 30 June
1960. The Museum originally requested the College to accept the trusteeship of this property
on a permanent basis. It was felt, however, that it would be better for the College to enter
into an agreement for a temporary period in order to familiarize itself with the responsibilities
involved.

At the time the agreement was completed, it was understood that by the spring of 1959 the
College would advise the Museum whether it would be interested in accepting the trusteeship on
a permanent basis. This understanding was reached in order that it might be determined whether
the budget covering this item for the 1960-1962 biennium would be included in the College budget
or continued in the Museum budget.

The Chancellor was of the opinion that it would be to the advantage of both the College and
the community for the College to assume permanent trusteeship of the property. It was his understanding
that the Museum would petition the courts and request a transfer of the trusteeship to
the College on a permanent basis. All expenses occurring as a result of this legal procedure
would be borne by the Museum.

The following resolution was adopted by the Board

RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
that Mary Washington College be and it is hereby authorized to accept the permanent trusteeship
of the Gari Melchers Memorial from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and be charged with the
responsibility for executing the terms of the will as set forth in an act of the General Assembly,
and that the budget item for the operation of the Memorial be set apart in the biennial budget
from the operations of the College, subject to the approval of the Governor and the appropriate
legal authorization.