Professional Papers

Scope and content:

Series 1. Professional Papers, 1941-1998, chiefly contains correspondence, reports. It is arranged by subject, which is how the files were organized at the time of reprocessing.

The Virginia Council on Higher Education files are comprised of correspondences and reports. The bulk of the correspondences are between President Miller and Paul Farrier, Executive Secretary of the State Council of Higher Education until 1957, and subsequently, with William Hugh McFarlane Director of the State Council of Higher Education. Interfiled with the correspondence are reports, studies, questionnaires, other forms that pertained to Virginia Council matters. Some topics covered are: capital outlay requests, coeducation, enrollment and admission policy, dining facilities, budgets, salaries, campus visit by members of the state Council of Higher Education, scholarships, space utilization studies and questionnaires, teacher supply studies, and educational television.

The Virginia Presidents' Council of State Aided Institutions files contain correspondence between Miller and other presidents and administrative staff of Virginia colleges and universities. Topics include a cost study of state-supported institutions of higher learning, and a committee to study admission problems of state-supported institutions of higher learning, and a budget proposal for the state. The 1963 file includes correspondences, agendas, meeting minutes, and a 1963 issue of "The School Administrator." It also contains several reports: The Council of Presidents Economic Development Report (1963), Statement of the Council of Presidents State-Aided Institutions of Higher Learning in Virginia to the Commission on State and Local Revenues and Expenditures and Related Matters (1963), Higher Education and Economic Development in Virginia" report, a report on "admission problems" (1963), and faculty salary guides. Other items include a report called "Virginia's Crisis in Higher Education," a budget and capital outlay questionnaire regarding instructional maintenance and operations budget, invoices, correspondence with L.M. Kuhn of the State Governor's budget office, and Association of University Professor report on Academic Salary data and compensation indices for 1964-1965.

The Virginia Board of Education files, 1950-1964, are largely comprised of correspondence with state officials. Topics include preparations for a visit with Virginia governor, John S. Battle, to contest state budget appropriations; the admittance of men students and coeducation; proposed graduate programs (1954); and the naming of buildings. A 1954 report of local public school divisions in Virginia; Elementary School Principals conference (1954). Also included here are reports and correspondence with J.L, Blair Buck, Coordinator of Teacher education; Nannie Mae M. Williams, Assistant Supervisor of Teacher Education; J.H. Bradford, Director of the Budget; Senator Robert Button; Thomas T. Hamilton, Associate Director of Instruction; Dowell J. Howard, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Alfred L. Wingo, Supervisor of Research; Dr. Woodrow Wilkerson, Supervisor of Secondary Education; Llyod S. Myer, State Records Administrator; Rosa H. Loving, State Supervisor Home economics Education; Percy H. Warren, Madison College Academic Dean; Leonard G. Muse; and Senator Robert Button.

The Civil Defense files contain correspondence, questionnaires and reports documenting how Madison College dealt with defense strategies during the Cold War. Files includes blueprints of many Madison College buildings on campus, and the use of other Harrisonburg buildings, such as Rockingham Memorial Hospital, as bomb shelter sites.

The folder, "Biographical sketches of Miller Presidency" contains reminiscences of Miller's secretary Carolyn Caracofe Rabunsky; memorial services that were held in 1988 after President Miller's death; and Paul C. Cline's article, "Madison College in the 1960s."

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Parent restrictions:
Collection is open for research with the exception of Series 3: Disciplinary Papers, which is closed due to FERPA restrictions. 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.
Parent terms of access:

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).

Staff have taken special care to identify and remove sensitive materials, particularly those relating to students' academic records, found within this collection. However, in rare instances, privacy protected information may be revealed during use of this collection. Researchers agree to make no notes or other recordation of privacy protected information if found within this collection, and further agree not to publish or disclose such information for any purpose. Researchers agree to alert Special Collections staff if potentially privacy protected information is found within this collection. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Contents