Board of Trustees records

Access and use

Location of collection:
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library
Special Collections and Archives
James G. Leyburn Library
Washington and Lee University
204 W. Washington Street
Lexington, VA 24450
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tom Camden
Phone: (540) 458-8649
Phone: (540) 463-8109
Fax: (540) 463-8964
Restrictions:

This collection is generally open for research use. Some portions may be restricted. When available, photocopies, digital surrogates, or other reproductions must be used in place of original documents.

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.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Board of Trustees Records (RG 1), Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA.

Summary

Extent:
20.5 Linear Feet 29 document cases, 6 flat boxes
Creator:
Washington and Lee University. Board of Trustees
Language:
The materials in the collection are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Board of Trustees Records (RG 1), Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The Board of Trustees records contain minutes, agendas, correspondence, reports, subject files, committee files, recommendations, resolutions, and the oath book.

The first series is the Minute Books. The first minute book dates to 1793. Someone, presumably the secretary, transcribed the earliest minutes into this volume. The subsequent volumes became the item of record for recording meeting minutes.

The second series contains other records of the Board, including correspondence, resolutions, reports, and financial documentations. Subjects vary but include items related to the overall business of running the university, faculty affairs, student affairs, alumni affairs, and the local community. The correspondence recipients vary and sometimes include university presidents. This series is divided into sub-series by decade when appropriate. This series keeps the order already established, likely by former faculty member and administrator, William W. Pusey. Pusey indexed the collection by trustee name and by subject in circa 1982. Every entry was typed onto a catalog card and can be accessed in the Special Collections and Archives reading room. Each name and subject card refers to a specific folder number. For the best interest of the researcher, it was decided to keep the sequential numbering. It should be noted here that during the time the collection was originally foldered and numbered, an oversight was made. There is no folder 485.

For reasons unknown, Faculty records and Treasurer's records were added to this collection at some point in the past. They are accounted for in the index and for that reason, and because it would throw off matching an index card to a folder number, they were left in the collection in the order in which they were added. The Faculty records series contains primarily correspondence. The Treasurer's records contain correspondence and financial documents.

One of the highlights of the collection is the letter sent by George Washington to the Board thanking them for changing the name of Liberty Hall Academy in his honor for his gift of James River Canal Company stock. The original stock indenture is also in the Board records.

At some time in the past, several items written by President Robert E. Lee were removed from the Board and placed into the Robert E. Lee family papers (WLU Coll. 0064). His first annual report to the Board (1866) has been placed back with the collection. In time, the others will be added back as well. Until then, researchers should know to consult the Lee family papers for items associated with Lee's time as president.

Biographical / historical:

From https://www.wlu.edu/about-w-l/leadership/board-of-trustees:

In accord with the University's charter, bylaws, mission statement, and other institutional plans, the Board of Trustees of Washington and Lee University serves as ultimate fiduciary by its oversight of institutional affairs and is responsible for the governance and management of the institution. The board is expected to execute its responsibilities of oversight of the University's operations through the activities of its standing and ad hoc committees and during the plenary sessions of the full Board of Trustees during its three annual meetings.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard