Conditions Governing Use

The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Vergil Dykstra slide collection, C0423, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Donated by Leslie Dykstra in February 2020.

Processing Information

Processing completed by Meghan Glasbrenner from February-March 2024. Finding aid completed by Meghan Glasbrenner in March 2024.

Biographical Information

Dr. Vergil H. Dykstra (1925-2010) was named the second President of George Mason University (GMU) on April 3, 1973 when he was only 48 years old. He was the first person to be hired specifically for that position, since first President Dr. Lorin A. Thompson was originally appointed President of George Mason College. Dykstra received his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin, where he later accepted a teaching position. He served as Associate Dean of Harpur College in New York from 1962-1964 before becoming its Vice President, a position he held for five years, overseeing the transition of the college to the State University of New York at Binghamton. Dykstra served as President of GMU for four years before leaving the position in April 1977, being succeeded by Robert C. Krug. Dykstra passed away on December 31, 2010.

During his tenure as GMU's President, Dykstra oversaw both a rapid expansion in the student body and major campus development projects, as well as new academic programs and the development of the Council on Minority Relations and an Affirmative Action Task Force. Additionally, in 1975 and 1976, he joined a delegation of other U.S. college and university Presidents sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) in visits to China and Taiwan.

Scope and Content

A collection of slides taken by George Mason University (GMU) President Vergil Dykstra. The collection is arranged in three series.

Series 1: China AASCU visit (March – April 1975) includes images taken during Dykstra's visit to China with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), including layover locations. Slides are divided by major location where possible.

Series 2: Taiwan AASCU visit (October 1976) includes images taken during Dykstra's visit to Taiwan with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). Slides are divided into numbered and unnumbered groupings.

Series 3: Personal (1973-1977) includes images depicting locations on the GMU campus, including many of the President's House, the general Northern Virginia and D.C. Metro area, and various sites in Binghamton, New York. Slides are divided into these general location groups.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in three series.

Series Series 1: China AASCU visit Series 2: Taiwan AASCU visit Series 3: Personal

Related Material

The Special Collections Research Center holds other slide and photography collections including the Christine Drennon European lantern slide collection , and the Edith McChesney Ker papers .

The University Archives hold the George Mason University Office of the President records .

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• American Association of State Colleges and Universities
• China
• Cities and towns -- China
• Education, Higher
• Educators
• George Mason University
• Great Wall of China (China)
• San Francisco (Calif.)
• Slides
• Taiwan
• Virginia, Northern
• Washington (D.C.)