Washington and Lee President's House color post card, 1910
- Containers:
- Box 12, Folder 13
- Biographical / historical:
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The president's house at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, is the official residence of the university president. In 1869 the brick mansion was designed specifically to accommodate the needs of Robert E. Lee and his family and it has served as the official dwelling for every university president since its completion. Before the Lee House was built, university presidents resided in a faculty home constructed in 1842, which is now known as the Lee-Jackson House or Simpson House. This original house was also the residence of Major Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson from 1853 to 1855, who lived there with his wife Elinor, the daughter of then University President George Junkin. When Robert E. Lee arrived in 1865 to serve as college president, he initially stayed in the 1842 house. Because it was too cramped for his family, the Board approved the construction of the adjacent Lee House. Lee moved into the new home in 1869 but lived there for only a short time before passing away inside the house in 1870.
- Other descriptive data:
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This post card was published by the McCrum Drug Store, Lexington, Virgnia using a photo taken by photographer James L. McCown of Lexington, Virginia.
Access and use
- Location of collection:
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Special Collections and ArchivesJames G. Leyburn LibraryWashington and Lee University204 W. Washington StreetLexington, VA 24450
- Contact for questions and access:
- POC: SCA StaffPhone: (540) 458-8649Email: specialcollections@wlu.eduPhone: (540) 463-8109Fax: (540) 463-8964
- Parent restrictions:
- The collection is open for research use.
- Parent terms of access:
- The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source.