University of Virginia - Corks and Curls Yearbook (Charlottesville, VA)

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lew- F. D. C. RIBBLE Dean al the School of Law MAURICE H. RICHARDSON, III EDWARD T. CATON, III President V ice-President The Law School was one of Thomas JeHerson's favored projects and has been an integral part of The University ever since its founding in 1826. Since its start as one of the earliest law schools in the nation, a reputation for high academic standards and professional excellence among its graduates has been earned and maintained. The space here allows but few highlights from the long history of Mr. Jeffersonis School of Law. One name especially dominates the nineteenth century; John B. Minor, Professor of Law for over fifty years, who contributed so much to the fame of The University. Another Professor of Law. Henry St. George Tucker. is credited with starting the Honor System of The University. Down to this date The Law School has been fortunate in its outstandinz teachers and deans. including the late William Minor Lile, Judge Armistead M. Dobie 0f the US. Court of Appeals, and now Frederick D. G. Ribble. Dean since 1939. and Past President of the Association of American Law Schools. The study of Law at The University is a three-year program on the graduate level and leads to the LLB. or Bachelor of Arts degree. The first two years take up the basic course of subjects taught by the fourteen fulltime professors, while the third year offers a wide selection of seminars where smaller groups pursue more specialized fields under competent guidance. This Law School is proud of its high moral tone, which is based both on the Honor System and a study of legal ethics. Emphasis is also placed on a lively group of extra-curricular activities that help to develop well rounded graduates. Prominent among these are the Virginia Law Review, the Virginia Law Weekly, the Reading Guide, The John Bassett Moore Society of Iritemationali Law. the Student Legal Forum, and the Student Legal Research Group. A three-year Moot Court Competition develops oral advocacy and also produces teams that have done well in national contests with other law schools. Four active legal fraternities 3150 make their contributions. Since 1932 the Law School has been housed in Clark Memorial Hall, which was donated by an alumnus. Wings completed in 1950 and 1952 have given room to the largest law library in the South and t0 the Judge Advocate Generai's School. SCHOOL OF LAW

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WILLIAM L. DUREN. JR. Dean of the College HOWARD E. GILL I ALBERT A. PEARRE Presidenl l'ice-Prcsidenl The University was founded under the name of Central College by Thomas Jefferson. James Madison. James Monroe, and a group from Albemarle County. Three years later the General Assembly chartered the University. Thomas Jefferson became the first Rector of the Board of Visitors. The Board of Visitors provided for eight professorships. N0 degrees were to be granted, and there was to be no fixed curriculum. Students could pursue whatever subjects they pleased, for as long or as short a time as they liked. On completion of the basic courses in any School, as the eight departments were called. a certificate of graduation from that School was awarded. The first session began on March 7. 1825, with sixty-eight students in attendance. Mr. Jefferson originally attempted a system of self-govemment. but the failure of the student iicensorsii to enforce the few existing rules rendered the plan in- effective. He was then forced to inaugurate a system of rigid discipline. and the students were required to wear uniforms. rise at dawn. and retire to their rooms at nine o'clock. The policy of close faculty supervision of student conduct proved to be markedly unsuccessful. but conditions began to improve after the Honor System was adopted in 1842. This proudest tradition of the University was instituted under the inHuence of Professor Henry St. George Tucker. During the 1850's the University really came into its own. The enrollment rdse from 138 in 1845 to 645 in 1856. for Southern students were leaving Northern colleges and coming to Virginia. This necessitated an increase in the number of buildings in the University, and many annexes were built to accommodate the new infiux of students. Throughout the Civil War the University continued to function. though the enrollment only averaged about 64 students. The University experienced a period of prosperity after the War. until the Rotunda and its annex were gutted by fire on October 27, 1885. The Rotunda was soon restored. In 1904-. Dr. Edwin A. Alderman, President of Tulane University. was elected the first President of the University of Virginia. He served with distinction until his death in 1931. when he was succeeded by the late Dr. John Lloyd Newcomb. Upon President Newcomb's retirement in 1947. Colgate W. Darden Jr. was ap- pointed as his successor, and he continues in that capacity today. COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES