Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Papers of Joseph L. Vaughan #12716-b, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was given to the Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library in 1997.

Biographical/Historical Information

Joseph L. Vaughan was the first Provost of the University of Virginia (1956-1960) under University President   Colgate Darden. He was also Chancellor of the University of Virginia Branch Colleges (1960-1966) under President   Edgar Shannon. Vaughan was instrumental in upgrading George Mason College to a University and expanding Clinch Valley to a four year college. Most notably, he was considered to be one of the University's all time great teachers. One of his greatest talents was his extraordinary ability to teach english literature to engineering students in order to give them a broader perspective on life as engineers.

He was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on January 26, 1905. He received all of his degrees from the University of Virginia (B.A. in 1926; MA in 1927; Ph.D. in 1940) He taught at the University of Virginia from 1926 to 1975. He was also well known for his knowledge and anecdotes of the University. He authored several books and publications including the Rotunda Tales (1991) which reveals the history of the University and its presidents and professors.

Scope and Content

The collection contains ca.95 items (half of one Hollinger box) less than one linear foot and is related to former Provost and Professor Emeritus Joseph L.Vaughan, his wife Ann Doner Vaughan, and their close relationship with the University of Virginia spanning from 1935 to 1975, 1996. This includes one letter of correspondence from Bus Male, two letters from Dumas Malone, both addressed to Joseph L. Vaughan (1975) and a note from Vaughan describing the letters (1996). There are also honors received by Vaughan such as a letter from the Seven Society thanking him for his forty-eight years of service to the University of Virginia, an invitation for his retirement reception and a Daily Progress article on his retirement (1975). There is also a large photograph of the U.S.S. Laffey (1944-1945); a typewritten poem by J. Wyllie titled Chronicles of the class of '29; a newsletter for the Engineering Education Department called the American Society For Engineering Education, Liberal Studies Division (1970). The collection also includes some Kappa Delta Sorority correspondence of Ann Doner Vaughan and miscellaneous memorabilia such as dinner place cards, a Pi Chi fraternity invitation, and a reminder of the "four c's" of clean living on a card that she may have carried with her at all times.

Other items include an article on the future of Democracy from the Richmond Times Dispatch (1975); an ACC invitation to a luncheon in North Carolina (1960); admission tickets to graduating exercises; an invitation to the Modern Language Association of America's 47th Annual Meeting along with a pin that has Vaughan's name on it; bookmarks; a valentine card from his wife, Ann, and a list of several song lyrics such as Carry Me Back to Old Virginny. There is also a list of University of Virginia songs on a boxing and football schedule; a Thanksgiving prayer from Westminster Presbyterian Church (by Paul Lehman); and a cherished Easter greeting card from Vaughan's daughter, Ann.

There are newspaper clippings from College Topics (a University of Virginia publication) on the death of Dr. Page (1936), an article titled, Dr. Kepner To Open New Forum [1943], and a mention of Vaughan's talk about the history of the University of Virginia at Pritchett's First Year Forum Discussion (1943).

There are several of Joseph L. Vaughan's photographs of the University of Virginia including pictures of boxing coach, Johnny Larowe with his team; Dr. H.S. Hedges (1938); Dean of the Engineering School, John Lloyd Newcomb; Dean W.S. Rodman (1957); Copeley Hill with trailers for the war veterans returning to the University of Virginia for their degrees; the construction of Alderman Library (1937); Easter's (1935), Nude Figures on the Murals at the Clarke Hall Law Building; John Wyllie with Gertrude Stein (1935); the gravesite of Professor William M.Thornton (1935) and adding a personal touch, "Uncle Albert", the janitor on his 75th birthday. Many of these photographs were taken by Vaughan, particularly the photographs of the grounds of the University of Virginia.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in one series and is organized alphabetically by topic and chronologically within each folder.