University of Virginia Library


264

A called meeting of the Pector and Visitors was held
on this date at 8 o'clock in the evening. There were
present the Rector, R. Tate Irvine, and Visitors Goodrich Hatton,
C. Harding Walker, John Stewart Bryan, George R. B. Michie,
and Alexander F. Robertson. The minutes of the previous
meeting, copies of which had been mailed to the several
Visitors, were approved.

The President announced to the Board the death of Professor
William H. Heck on January 4, 1919, and on motion motion it
was

RESOLVED: That the President prepare suitable resolutions touching
the death of Professor Heck to be spread upon the minutes
of this meeting.

The President asked for instructions as to continuing
the salary of Professor Heck to his widow as has been customary
in similar cases, and on motion it was

RESOLVED: That the salary heretofore paid to Professor Heck be
paid to his widow until September 15, 1919, and that she be
given the privilege of retaining the use of Pavilion 2, East
Lawn until that date under the arrangement as to rent now existing

The President announced the following gifts and stated
that he had made due acknowledgments of the same on behalf
of the Board:

Ferrell D. Minor, $10,000 Liberty Bonds for Law Library
Endowment.


265

Bequest of Elizabeth B. White, $4750.

Samuel Sachs, $1000 for Art Study.

Peabody Bust, J. P. Morgan, Jr., $600.

Cobb Portrait.

Andrew Courtney Campbell Tablet.

The President brought to the attention of the Board some
new developments in connection with the bequest of $200,000
to the University of Virginia by Col. Oliver H. Payne, stating
that since the last meeting a paper containing a schedule
of the bequests in Col. Payne's will had been found in his desk
and the item of $200,000 for the University of Virginia had been
changed in pencil to read $250,000, and across this was marked
the word "paid"; that this paper had been examined by him
in company with Mr. W. W. Fuller, who was familiar with the handwriting
of Col. Payne, and that he, Mr. Fuller, was of the opinion
that the writing was that of Col. Payne. Mr. Hatton then asked
President Alderman what action the executors wished the Board
to take in the matter, and he replied that it was their wish
for the Board to renounce the bequest. After some discussion
the matter was disposed of in the following resolution offered
by Mr. Hatton:

RESOLVED: That the opinion in writing of Dean Lile in relation
to the bequest of Col. Oliver H. Payne to the University be
referred to Dean Lile with the request that he reconsider the
same in the light of the facts which have developed since that


266

opinion was written, and which have been reported by the
President, and with the request that Dean Lile after such
reconsideration, give a further opinion.

Professor J. L. Newcomb, Chairman of the Special
Committee on Establishment of R. O. T. C. Units at the
University of Virginia, personally presented the following
report of his committee:

REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ESTABLISHMENT OF R. O. T. C..
UNITS AT UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

To the Rector and Visitors
of the University of Virginia.
Gentlemen:

At a meeting of the General Faculty held February
8, 1919, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
(Resolved, That the General Faculty recommends to the
Rector and Board of Visitors that one or more units of the
R. O. T. C. be established at the University of Virginia.)

The President then appointed the undersigned
committee to study the tentative R.O.T.C. programs for
the various branches of the service and make recommendations
in regard to the most effective R.O.T.C. service that
the University of Virginia might be able to render.

The War Department Committee on Education submitted
programs for the following units:

  • Infantry

  • Cavalry

  • Field Artillery

  • Coast (heavy) Artillery

  • Engineering Corps

  • Signal Corps

The members of the committee unanimously join
in recommending the establishment of a Coast (heavy)
Artillery unit for these reasons:

1. Such a unit would in no manner interfere
with the normal course of student life and study at the
University of Virginia because neither uniforms nor drill


267

would be required during the regular session, all practical
military work being done in summer camps. Moreover, the
equipment which the Government furnishes for a Coast
(heavy) Artillery unit can be readily housed and cared
for by the University.

2. The instruction of the volunteer student members
of a Coast (heavy) Artillery unit is of genuine scientific
character, maintained and carried on in accordance with the
University's regular standard of learning and scholarship.
This course would seem to be a peculiarly appropriate
educational as well as patriotic duty for the University
to undertake.

The establishment of an Infantry, Cavalry, or
Field Artillery unit would not possess the advantages
mentioned above.

The work of the Engineering Corps and Signal Corps
unit would be of the same scientific character as the
training for Coast (heavy) Artillery, but would seem
(from the tentative programs of study) to involve serious
readjustment of courses in the Department of Engineering,
and the enlargement of the Engineering Faculty. Moreover,
in the case of an Engineering Corps unit such military
features as uniforms, drill and marching to class would be
required. It should be understood, however, that these
conditions laid down in the programs submitted are
only tentative and may well be changed after conference
between the University authorities and proper representatives
of the War Department.

In view of these facts the committee again unanimously
recommends that the President of the University be authorized
to invite proper representatives of the Engineering
and Signal Corps to confer with the Engineering Faculty in
regard to the removal of objectional requirements, and also
with regard to the feasibility of the Government's furnishing
the number of additional instructors needed. Provided
this conference should safeguard and prove satisfactory to
the University's best interests, the Committee recommends
the the President be given discretionary power for the
establishment of either an Engineering Corps unit, or
Signal Corps unit, or both.

Respectfully submitted,
J. L. Newcomb Committee.
W. H. Echols Committee.
John J. Luck Committee.
W. H. Faulkner Committee.

268

The question of establishing at the University certain
units of the R. O. T. C. was disposed of in the following
resolution offered by Mr. Bryan and unanimously adopted:

RESOLVED: That the Board of Visitors having heard the report
of the faculty of the University of Virginia on the establishment
of a R. O. T. C., hereby accepts and approves that report,
and the Board of Visitors specifically reserves the right to
discontinue the R. O. T. C. whenever and for whatever reason
it may desire.

The President stated that in contemplation of the establishment
in the vicinity of Charlottesville of a tuberculosis sanatorium
by the State Board of Health, he had been approached
by a committee of the State Board asking for effective cooperation
between the University Medical School and hospital staff and the
proposed sanatorium, to which he replied as follows:

COPY OF PROGRAM SUGGESTED FOR AFFILIATION BETWEEN
THE TUBERCULOSIS SANATORIUM OF THE STATE BOARD
OF HEALTH AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.

If the State Board of Health will establish and maintain
a Tuberculosis Sanatorium sufficiently close to the Medical
School of the University of Virginia for effective cooperation,
and if the State Board of Health will permit the Medical
Director of the Sanatorium to teach the problems of tuberculosis
to the students and nurses of the medical department of the
University, and for this purpose use such patients in the sanatorium
as may seem suitable to the Medical Director; the Medical
School of the University will on its part affiliate with the
sanatorium, and promote the work of the sanatorium in so far
as such promotion and affiliation is compatible with the other
objects and duties of the Medical School and the University
Hospital.


269

It is the judgment of the President that the Visitors
of the University will be glad to make the Medical Director, and
if necessary his assistant, members of the Faculty of the
Medical School, provided these officers show the proper qualifications
for such positions; the Hospital authorities will undertake
to take such measures as are customary for hospital authorities
in order to provide the Tuberculosis Sanatorium with internes
or other medical officers; the fourth year students in suitable
groups will be available for ward work in the Tuberculosis
Sanatorium, as they are in the University Hospital, and
similarly the third year students will be available as in the
University Hospital; the Training School for Nurses will provide
in rotation groups of nurses for the Tuberculosis Sanatorium who
shall receive special instruction in the Sanatorium and round
out their complete training in the University Hospital; the
wards of the University Hospital and the staff of the Hospital
will be available for the treatment of such complicating diseases
as the patients in the Sanatorium may present and on the
same basis as other Virginia state patients presenting at this
hospital; the X-ray out-fit at the Hospital will be placed
at the disposal of the medical authorities of the Sanatorium.

The above propositions are to be understood as applying
in so far as compliance with them will not interfere with the
proper development and conduct of the Medical School and Nurses
Training School, and will not interfere with the proper development
and conduct of the University Hospital. Moreover,
expenses attached to the carrying out of this program, (for
example, the expenses incidental to the use of the X-ray apparatus),
must either be borne by the Sanatorium, or adequate arrangements
must be made outside of this outlined program between the
State Board of Health authorities and those of the University
of Virginia.

The Sanatorium will undertake to board and lodge doctors,
students and nurses while they are acting as workers in the
sanatorium.

In addition to the above it is also the judgment of the
President that the Rector and Visitors of the University will
be willing to contribute annually towards the support of the
Medical Director, or his assistant, provided the State Board
of Health shall consider it wise to accept such contribution.
The amount of this contribution, which shall be between one thousand
dollars and three thousand dollars a year, remains to be
determined by conference between the Commissioner of Health and
the President of the University of Virginia.

The President of the University is indeed anxious that this
affiliation shall be established, and any further propositions
not contemplated in the above program will be considered in the


270

most cooperative spirit compatible with the other interests
of the University of Virginia.

Respectfully,
E. A. Alderman.

The foregoing matter was disposed of in the following
resolution offered by Mr. Bryan, and unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED: That the Rector and Visitors of the University
of Virginia having heard with approval of the action of the
State Board of Health in reference to the erection of a tuberculsis
hospital near the city of Charlottesville, express
their desire to cooperate with that undertaking along the lines
of the communication of Dr. Alderman to the State Board of
Health December 27, 1918.

The President stated that it was desired to erect a tablet
in the Chemical Laboratory commemorative of the generosity
of Mr. John B. Cobb in donating to the University the sum of
$60,000 toward the erection and equipping of the laboratory,
and the President was authorized to have prepared and erected
a suitable tablet at such cost as he deemed proper.

The President stated that in response to an invitation
in June 1918 from the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Va.
to send a representative of its faculty to attend the eight
weeks Basic Course for artillery officers, beginning July 6,
1918, with a view of establishing in the University a course
preparatory to heavy artillery training camps, Professor John
J. Luck was requested to attend the school as a representative


271

of the University of Virginia faculty, and that he had
received a letter from the Commandant stating that the Coast
Artillery School had gained a vast amount of benefit by the
attendance of our representative, and that he had made a most
excellent impression upon all concerned. The President further
stated that in view of the fact that Mr. Luck had been put
to some expenses in attending the school, the University
should reimburse him for his necessary expenses, and it was so
ordered.

Upon recommendation of the President the Garrett Scholarship
in the Graduate School for the session 1918-19 was awarded
to Mr. Armistead C. Gordon, Jr.

In connection with the employers' liability insurance for
employees of the University of Virginia as is required to be
carried by all employers, including State Institutions, as provided
in the Virginia Workmen's Compensation Act of 1918, the following
was adopted:

RESOLVED: That compliance may be had with the requirements of the
Virginia Workmen's Compensation Act as to the protection of our
employees by insuring them against injury while in the service
of the University of Virginia, the President is hereby authorized
to apply to the Industrial Commission of Virginia for the privilege
of paying direct to any of its injured employees the compensation
provided for in said Act when due, in the amount and manner
and as may be directed by said commission; and that it be relieved
of insuring such payments, and the Bursar is directed to furnish


272

to the said commission the annual payrolls of the University
and to pay into the State Treasury the 4% premium tax as required
by Section 75 (j) of the Act.

The Rector stated that there had been brought to his
attention by the Bursar of the University for consideration
and recommendation to the Board a certain claim made against
the administrators of the estate of Arthur W. Austin, deceased,
by the administrator of the estate of Miss Florence Austin,
deceased, to recover certain deficiency appropriation made
to her under the will of Mr. Austin, but which had not been
called for during the past five years, amounting to something
like $900. After some discussion of the matter it was referred
to the Rector with power to act.

A petition from Professors Webb, Maphis and Forrest asking
that provision for automatic increases in professors' salaries
be re-established was referred to the President to consider in
connection with the budget for the next fiscal year.

Pavilion #2, East Lawn was assigned to Professor Ivey
F. Lewis upon its being vacated by Mrs. Heck at an annual rental
of $300.00.

Professor J. L. Newcomb asked for instructions in making
settlement between Section B. of the S. A. T. C. and the War
Department, and the matter was disposed of in the following
offered by Mr. Hatton, and adopted:

RESOLVED: That a settlement with the United States War Department
of the accounts of the Students' Army Training Corps, Section B,


273

be made in accordance with the contract, the buildings to be
retained by the University.

The President brought to the attention of the Board a request
through the Director of the Summer School from the Virginia
Division of the Woman's Land Army of America for permission
to use the barracks of Section B in which to conduct a training
school to train group leaders to meet the emergency need for farm
labor throughout the South. On motion of Mr. Bryan the following
was adopted (Mr. Hatton voting "No"):

RESOLVED: That the use of the buildings heretofore used by the
S. A. T. C. be granted, under the direction and approval of the
President, to the Woman's Land Army of America for the period of
the summer of 1919.

Certain needed repairs at the President's house costing about
$150 were authorized.

The President announced the following student registration
for the present session:

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

March 1, 1919.

                     
Total number of students registered Sept. 1918-March 1, 1919 
1203 
March 1, 1919, total enrollment by Departments, counting
from Jan. 1, 1919: 
The College  519 
The Graduate Department  21 
The Law Department  99 
The Medical Department  111 
The Engineering Department  168 
918 
Duplicates  28 
Number now present  890 

274

Pursuant to the request of the Board, as set forth
in the minutes of this meeting, the President prepared the
following resolutions touching the death of Professor Heck:

In recording the death of Professor William Harry
Heck on January fourth, 1919, the Rector and Visitors
of the University of Virginia desire to place on record
also their profound feeling of regret for the loss to the
University and to the field of scholarship; of sorrow
that a gentleman of the finer type will walk no more
among the scenes that knew him so well; and of profound
sympathy for the members of his family, who have been
so long associated with the University of Virginia and
who are so well loved in the University community.

Professor Heck was a devoted and enthusiastic student
of his subject. At the time of his death he was at the
heightof his productive power, having but just finished
theeignth and last of his contributions to our knowledge
of home study. The series constitutes a veritable magnum
opus
which reflects the greatest credit on American
scholarship.

As a teacher Professor Heck exerted his greatest
influence on the older and more thoughtful members of his
classes. His students testify that his carefully prepared
and stimulating lectures opened for them vistas into the
world of scholarship beyond the technical field of education.
He put into his class work a great deal of the force
of his own personality and the results of his own creative
thinking. It is said by competant critics that nowhere
else in the United States was a course given that was the
equivalent of his Education B-1.

The University mourns the loss of a gentleman, a
scholar, and a teacher of the Highest type.

On notion the meeting then adjourned.

[signed] R. T. Irvine.
Rector.
[signed] E. I. Carruthers
Secretary.