James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
880 Madison DriveMSC 1704
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Telephone: (540) 568-3612
library-special@jmu.edu
URL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/
Chris Bolgiano and Kim Johnson, Julia Merkel, Emily Rehault, Brianna Melchione, Tiffany Cole
Administrative Information
Use Restrictions
Copyright for materials authored or otherwise produced as official business of James Madison University is retained by James Madison University. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. For more information, contact the Special Collections Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Other Formats Available
Beginning with the March 26, 1999 meeting, JMU Board of Visitors meeting minutes are available online at: https://www.jmu.edu/visitors/meetings/minutes/index.shtml. Selected material from this collection has also been digitized and made available at: http://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/foundingdocs/.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Office of the President : Board of Visitors, 1908-2001, UA 0010, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Acquisition Information
This collection was formed from the merger of several groups of materials received from Fred Hilton in JMU Media Relations (accessions 93-0107, 93-0210), Gail May in the President's Office (accessions 99-1122, 00-0215), and Machelle Rader in the President's Office (2005-0519). These accessions were combined under the collection number PR 99-1122.
Processing Information
The collection was reprocessed in 2016 and contains all documents from the original accession (PR 99-1122) except for the Faculty Minutes, 1908-1998, which were removed to form a separate collection (UA 0011). A copy of the original finding aid is located in the collection control file. Old collection folders were reused during reprocessing and folder titles were retained when possible. Inserts found in the Board of Trustees Minute Book were removed and foldered separately. The inserts were subsequently photocopied and those copies are also foldered separately. The Board of Visitors meeting minutes and President's Reports were originally bound, but were disbound in 2016 during reprocessing.
Administrative History
James Madison University's Board of Visitors was created in 1964 with the prime directive of overseeing the effective government of the university, then Madison College. When the institution opened in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the governing body was its own Board of Trustees. The school changed its name to the State Normal School for Women at Harrisonburg in 1914 and governance was shifted to the Virginia Normal School Board, a state agency. The institution was renamed once again in 1924 to the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg. The governance also experienced change as control was transferred to the State Board of Education. In 1964, the final change occurred when the Virginia General Assembly established independent boards of visitors for each of the state's former teacher colleges.
The Governor of Virginia holds the power of appointing each member of the Board of Visitors. The first Board of Visitors was comprised of 11 members; its first rector was Burr P. Harrison. The Virginia General Assembly acted to have the board size increased to 15 members in 1989. Of the selected members, no more than two can be non-Virginians and board members include both JMU alumni and non-alumni. In addition to appointed members, a student representative and the speaker of the JMU Faculty Senate serve on the board. Terms of service do apply as board members are not eligible to serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. Officers of the board (rector, vice rector, and secretary) are elected annually by the board for one-year terms.
Scope and Content
The Office of the President : Board of Visitors Records, 1908-2001, document the activities of the James Madison University Board of Visitors and its predecessor, the Board of Trustees. The collection is comprised primarily of meeting minutes and correspondence. Minutes from the Board of Visitors' first meeting on July 16, 1964 are included. Researchers should note that meeting minutes from the various iterations of university governing bodies between 1914 and 1963 are not included. The correspondence is chiefly official memoranda, letters concerning business and new board members, and contractual agreements granting faculty members temporary leaves of absence. The collection also includes annual reports and reports to the Board of Visitors, financial materials documenting lease agreements involving James Madison University, athletic program expenditure statements, and audit reports. Miscellaneous items include documents explaining the origins of buildings' names, a Board of Visitors manual, and a document of Board of Visitors Resolutions.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into five series. Series 5 is arranged further into subseries. All series are arranged chronologically with the exception of subseries 5.1 which is arranged alphabetically and subseries 5.2 which is arranged topically.
Meeting Minutes, 1908-2001 Correspondence, 1964-1995 Miscellaneous, 1981-1994 President's Reports, 1909-1967 Financial Documents, 1922-1989Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Annual reports
- Audits
- Black-and-white photographs
- Contracts
- Fire insurance maps
- Insurance policies
- James Madison University -- Administration
- James Madison University -- History
- Leases
- Letters (correspondence)
- Madison College -- Administration
- Madison College -- History
- Minute books
- Minutes (administrative records)
- Official reports
- Reports
- Resolutions (administrative records)
- Schedules (architectural records)
- State Normal and Industrial School for Women (Harrisonburg, Va.) -- Administration
- State Normal and Industrial School for Women (Harrisonburg, Va.) -- History
- State Teachers College at Harrisonburg (Harrisonburg, Va.) -- Administration
- State Teachers College at Harrisonburg (Harrisonburg, Va.) -- History
Bibliography
"Board of Visitors" James Madison University Centennial Celebration. Accessed January 26, 2017. http://www.jmu.edu/centennialcelebration/wm_preview/rectors.shtml.James Madison University - Board of Visitors. Accessed January 26, 2017. https://www.jmu.edu/visitors/about/index.shtml.
Container List
Arranged chronologically.
This series is comprised chiefly of Board of Visitors meeting minutes from 1964 to 2001 beginning with the first meeting on July 16, 1964. During that first meeting the members decided on the official design for "The Visitors of Madison College," agreed upon making the meetings of the Visitors closed to the public, approved of the revised faculty salary, and approved the continuation of degrees being offered to students. Also included is the original Board of Trustees minute book dating from 1908 to 1914. A full transcript is also contained within this series.
- Mixed Materials [1000898749] box: 1 folder: 1
Board of Trustees Minute Book1908-1914
- Mixed Materials [1000898749] box: 1 folder: 2
Board of Trustees Minute Book – Inserts1908-1914
- Mixed Materials [1000898749] box: 1 folder: 3
Board of Trustees Minute Book – Inserts (Copies)1908-1914
- Mixed Materials [1000898750] box: 2 folder: 1
Board of Trustees Minute Book – Transcript1908-1914
- Mixed Materials [1000898750] box: 2 folder: 2
MinutesJuly 1964-November 1965
- Mixed Materials [1000898750] box: 2 folder: 3
MinutesJanuary 1966-August 1967
- Mixed Materials [1000898750] box: 2 folder: 4
MinutesNovember 1967-March 1968
- Mixed Materials [1000898750] box: 2 folder: 5
MinutesApril 1968-September 1968
- Mixed Materials [1000898750] box: 2 folder: 6
MinutesJanuary 1969-May 1969
- Mixed Materials [1000898750] box: 2 folder: 7
MinutesAugust 1969-September 1969
- Mixed Materials [1000898451] box: 3 folder: 1
MinutesNovember 1969-August 1970
- Mixed Materials [1000898451] box: 3 folder: 2
MinutesOctober 1970-November 1970
- Mixed Materials [1000898451] box: 3 folder: 3
MinutesFebruary 1971-April 1972
- Mixed Materials [1000898451] box: 3 folder: 4
MinutesMay 1972-November 1972
- Mixed Materials [1000898451] box: 3 folder: 5
MinutesJanuary 1973-June 1974
- Mixed Materials [1000898451] box: 3 folder: 6
MinutesAugust 1974-October 1976
- Mixed Materials [1000898451] box: 3 folder: 7
MinutesJanuary 1977-September 1978
- Mixed Materials [1000898452] box: 4 folder: 1
MinutesOctober 1978-January 1980
- Mixed Materials [1000898452] box: 4 folder: 2
MinutesMarch 1980-May 1981
- Mixed Materials [1000898452] box: 4 folder: 3
MinutesJuly 1981-October 1983
- Mixed Materials [1000898452] box: 4 folder: 4
MinutesJanuary 1984-April 1985
- Mixed Materials [1000898452] box: 4 folder: 5
MinutesJuly 1985-April 1986
- Mixed Materials [1000898452] box: 4 folder: 6
MinutesJuly 1986-May 1987
- Mixed Materials [1000898452] box: 4 folder: 7
MinutesJuly 1987-April 1988
- Mixed Materials [1000898453] box: 5 folder: 1
MinutesAugust 1988-December 1988
- Mixed Materials [1000898453] box: 5 folder: 2
MinutesFebruary 1989-June 1989
- Mixed Materials [1000898453] box: 5 folder: 3
MinutesJuly 1989-December 1989
- Mixed Materials [1000898453] box: 5 folder: 4
MinutesMarch 1990-July 1990
- Mixed Materials [1000898453] box: 5 folder: 5
MinutesAugust 1990-December 1990
- Mixed Materials [1000898453] box: 5 folder: 6
MinutesFebruary 1991-April 1991
- Mixed Materials [1000898453] box: 5 folder: 7
MinutesJune 1991-October 1991
- Mixed Materials [1000898454] box: 6 folder: 1
MinutesJanuary 1992-April 1992
- Mixed Materials [1000898454] box: 6 folder: 2
MinutesMay 1992-July 1992
- Mixed Materials [1000898454] box: 6 folder: 3
MinutesAugust 1992
- Mixed Materials [1000898454] box: 6 folder: 4
MinutesOctober 1992-December 1992
- Mixed Materials [1000898454] box: 6 folder: 5
MinutesMay 1993
- Mixed Materials [1000898454] box: 6 folder: 6
MinutesJune 1993-August 1993
- Mixed Materials [1000898454] box: 6 folder: 7
MinutesDecember 1993
- Mixed Materials [1000898455] box: 7 folder: 1
MinutesMarch 1994
- Mixed Materials [1000898455] box: 7 folder: 2
MinutesMay 1994-June 1994
- Mixed Materials [1000898455] box: 7 folder: 3
MinutesAugust 1994
- Mixed Materials [1000898455] box: 7 folder: 4
MinutesDecember 1994
- Mixed Materials [1000898455] box: 7 folder: 5
MinutesFebruary 1995-April 1995
- Mixed Materials [1000898455] box: 7 folder: 6
MinutesMay 1995-July 1995
- Mixed Materials [1000898455] box: 7 folder: 7
MinutesDecember 1995
- Mixed Materials [1000898455] box: 7 folder: 8
MinutesFebruary 1996-April 1996
- Mixed Materials [1000898456] box: 8 folder: 1
MinutesJune 1996-September 1996
- Mixed Materials [1000898456] box: 8 folder: 2
MinutesOctober 1996
- Mixed Materials [1000898456] box: 8 folder: 3
MinutesJanuary 1997-March 1997
- Mixed Materials [1000898456] box: 8 folder: 4
MinutesApril 1997-June 1997
- Mixed Materials [1000898456] box: 8 folder: 5
MinutesOctober 1997-February 1998
- Mixed Materials [1000898456] box: 8 folder: 6
MinutesMarch 1998-September 1998
- Mixed Materials [1000898456] box: 8 folder: 7
MinutesOctober 1998
- Mixed Materials [1000898457] box: 9 folder: 1
MinutesJanuary 1999
- Mixed Materials [1000898457] box: 9 folder: 2
MinutesMarch 1999
- Mixed Materials [1000898457] box: 9 folder: 3
MinutesMarch 1999-May 1999
- Mixed Materials [1000898457] box: 9 folder: 4
MinutesJune 1999
- Mixed Materials [1000898457] box: 9 folder: 5
MinutesSeptember 1999
- Mixed Materials [1000898457] box: 9 folder: 6
MinutesOctober 1999
- Mixed Materials [1000898458] box: 10 folder: 1
MinutesOctober 1999-January 2000
- Mixed Materials [1000898458] box: 10 folder: 2
MinutesMarch 2000-June 2000
- Mixed Materials [1000898458] box: 10 folder: 3
MinutesJune 2000-September 2000
- Mixed Materials [1000898458] box: 10 folder: 4
MinutesSeptember 2000-January 2001
- Mixed Materials [1000898458] box: 10 folder: 5
MinutesJanuary 2001-March 2001
- Mixed Materials [1000898459] box: 11 folder: 1
MinutesMarch 2001-June 2001
- Mixed Materials [1000898459] box: 11 folder: 2
MinutesJune 2001
- Mixed Materials [1000898459] box: 11 folder: 3
MinutesJune 2001-October 2001
- Mixed Materials [1000898459] box: 11 folder: 4
MinutesOctober 2001
Arranged chronologically.
This series contains correspondence between fellow board members, government officials, and members of the university administration. Contract agreements between board members and faculty of the college are included. Topics of interest include but are not limited to campus construction and related funding, appropriation increases, project requests, requests related to enrollment increases, G. Tyler Miller's retirement, and faculty promotions.
- Mixed Materials [1000898460] box: 12 folder: 1
Correspondence1964-1967
- Mixed Materials [1000898460] box: 12 folder: 2
Correspondence1968-1969
- Mixed Materials [1000898460] box: 12 folder: 3
Correspondence1970-1971
- Mixed Materials [1000898460] box: 12 folder: 4
Correspondence1972
- Mixed Materials [1000898460] box: 12 folder: 5
Correspondence1973-1974
- Mixed Materials [1000898460] box: 12 folder: 6
Correspondence1975-1977
- Mixed Materials [1000898461] box: 13 folder: 1
Correspondence1978-1983
- Mixed Materials [1000898461] box: 13 folder: 2
Correspondence1984
- Mixed Materials [1000898461] box: 13 folder: 3
Correspondence1985-1987 (Folder 1 of 2)
- Mixed Materials [1000898461] box: 13 folder: 4
Correspondence1985-1987 (Folder 2 of 2)
- Mixed Materials [1000898461] box: 13 folder: 5
Correspondence1988
- Mixed Materials [1000898461] box: 13 folder: 6
Correspondence1989-1990
- Mixed Materials [1000898461] box: 13 folder: 7
Correspondence1991 (Folder 1 of 2)
- Mixed Materials [1000898461] box: 13 folder: 8
Correspondence1991 (Folder 2 of 2)
- Mixed Materials [1000898462] box: 14 folder: 1
Correspondence1992-1993
- Mixed Materials [1000898462] box: 14 folder: 2
Correspondence1994
- Mixed Materials [1000898462] box: 14 folder: 3
CorrespondenceJanuary 1995-March 1995
- Mixed Materials [1000898462] box: 14 folder: 4
CorrespondenceApril 1995-June 1995
Arranged chronologically.
This series contains documents about the naming of buildings on campus as well as information on resolutions, manuals, honorary degrees and the Russell Weaver Society.
- Mixed Materials [1000898462] box: 14 folder: 5
Naming of Buildings1957-1976
- Mixed Materials [1000898462] box: 14 folder: 6
Board of Visitors Manuals1981-1991
- Mixed Materials [1000898462] box: 14 folder: 7
Honorary Degrees1983-1990
- Mixed Materials [1000898462] box: 14 folder: 8
Student Board Members1984-1985
- Mixed Materials [1000898462] box: 14 folder: 9
Russell M. Weaver Society1986-1988
- Mixed Materials [1000898462] box: 14 folder: 10
Board of Visitors Resolutions1993-1994
Arranged chronologically.
The reports contain data regarding enrollment, campus services, faculty salaries, and financial records. Also included are recommendations from the president on approvals of resignations and appointments, budget increases, academic changes, campus expansion, etc. These reports provide an overview of the administrative proceedings of the university from one year to the next and are comprised of reports to the State Board of Education, reports to the Board of Visitors, annual reports, and special reports.
- Mixed Materials [1000898463] box: 15 folder: 1
Reports1909-1926
- Mixed Materials [1000898463] box: 15 folder: 2
ReportsApril 1927-July 1934
- Mixed Materials [1000898463] box: 15 folder: 3
ReportsOctober 1934-May 1938
- Mixed Materials [1000898463] box: 15 folder: 4
ReportsJuly 1938-May 1941
- Mixed Materials [1000898463] box: 15 folder: 5
ReportsJuly 1941-April 1943
- Mixed Materials [1000898464] box: 16 folder: 1
ReportsJune 1943-January 1945
- Mixed Materials [1000898464] box: 16 folder: 2
ReportsMarch 1945-August 1949
- Mixed Materials [1000898464] box: 16 folder: 3
ReportsSeptember 1949-June 1951
- Mixed Materials [1000898464] box: 16 folder: 4
ReportsAugust 1951-May 1956 (Folder 1 of 2)
- Mixed Materials [1000898464] box: 16 folder: 5
ReportsAugust 1951-May 1956 (Folder 2 of 2)
- Mixed Materials [1000898465] box: 17 folder: 1
Reports1956-1957
- Mixed Materials [1000898465] box: 17 folder: 2
Reports1958-1959
- Mixed Materials [1000898465] box: 17 folder: 3
Reports1960
- Mixed Materials [1000898465] box: 17 folder: 4
Reports1961
- Mixed Materials [1000898465] box: 17 folder: 5
Reports1962
- Mixed Materials [1000898465] box: 17 folder: 6
ReportsJuly 1964-June 1965
- Mixed Materials [1000898466] box: 18 folder: 1
ReportsAugust 1965-May 1966
- Mixed Materials [1000898466] box: 18 folder: 2
ReportsAugust 1966-November 1966
- Mixed Materials [1000898466] box: 18 folder: 3
ReportsFebruary 1967-August 1967
- Mixed Materials [1000898466] box: 18 folder: 4
Reports1970-1971
Arranged in two subseries – Subseries 5.1: Leases/Legal Documents, 1922-1981, and Subseries 5.2: Budget Reports, 1961-1989. Subseries 5.1 is arranged alphabetically and Subseries 5.2 is arranged topically.
- 5.1
Leases/Legal Documents1922-1981English.Scope and Content
Subseries 5.1: Leases/Legal Documents, 1922-1981, is comprised primarily of lease agreements between James Madison University, both as the lessor and lessee, and persons or companies. Of particular interest are the fire insurance documents which include a Schedule of Buildings at the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg (June 2, 1924) and a Fire Insurance Report (February 1932) prepared by the Philadelphia Fire & Marine Insurance Company. The Schedule of Buildings lists all campus buildings, their architectural type, date of erection, and total cost. The Fire Insurance Report provides a detailed description of all campus buildings including date of erection, occupancy, recommendations, and estimated insurable value. Photographs are included with each building description.
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 1
Andrews, Arthur M.1975
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 2
Baker House1966
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 3
Blue Ridge Gas Co.1966
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 4
Colonial Drive Apartments1973
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 5
Dingledine Property1940-1943
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 6
Lincoln House/951 S. Main Street1940-1975
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 7
Master's Property1980
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 8
Nicholas House1957, 1980
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 9
Old Agrico Building1961, 1973
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 10
Old Nurse's Home1963-1966
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 11
Shenandoah Apartments1922-1939
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 12
SPE House1976-1980
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 13
Sprinkle House1917, 1933-1934, 1942-1944, 1966
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 14
Steele Property/131 Warsaw St.1964-1966
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 15
Virginia National Bank1981
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 16
Walnut Lane1973-1974
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 17
Wellington Apartments1924, 1929, 1957, 1965-1969
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 18
Wolff, Mr. & Mrs. Frank A.1978
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 19
Wright Estate1963-1966, 1980
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 20
Schedule of Buildings, Fire Insurance Report1924, 1932, undated
- Mixed Materials [1000898467] box: 19 folder: 1
- 5.2
Budget Reports1961-1989English.Scope and Content
Subseries 5.2: Budget Reports, 1961-1989, contains annual reports, financial reports detailing the university's business and financial operations, reports on audits prepared by the auditor of public accounts for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and a limited amount of material related to athletic program expenses. Researchers should note that the 1966 expenditure statement for athletics is not included in this collection.
- Mixed Materials [1000898468] box: 20 folder: 1
Annual Reports1961-1963
- Mixed Materials [1000898468] box: 20 folder: 2
Annual Reports1964-1966
- Mixed Materials [1000898468] box: 20 folder: 3
Annual Reports1967-1968
- Mixed Materials [1000898468] box: 20 folder: 4
Annual Reports1970-1982
- Mixed Materials [1000898468] box: 20 folder: 5
Reports on Audits1969, 1972, 1978
- Mixed Materials [1000898469] box: 21 folder: 1
Reports on Audits1979, 1980, 1986
- Mixed Materials [1000898469] box: 21 folder: 2
Reports on Audits1987, 1989
- Mixed Materials [1000898469] box: 21 folder: 3
Athletic Program Expenses1963-1969
- Mixed Materials [1000898468] box: 20 folder: 1