Washington and Lee University - Calyx Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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LOUIS MARSHALL HENRY VETHAKE II. WILLIAM GRAHAM AT THE HELM, 1776-1796 With the coming of the Reverend William Graham to assume direction of the school at Mount Pleasant, the Institution took on a more permanent character than formerly. This was also brought about by the decision of the hlanover Presbytery to establish a permanent school west of the Blue Ridge. Graham came to Virginia, in- deed, at the Invitation of the Presbytery; after preliminary arrangements, 1774-1776, it was decided that he should have permanent charge, and that the school should be established at Timber Ridge. There public- spirited citizens such as Samuel hHouston and Alexander Stuart donated lands for the academy, buildings were erected, and attuned to the patriotism of the times, the Trustees (local men chosen by Presbytery) in 1776 changed the name of the school from the Augusta Academy to Liberty hHall Academy. Because of troubled times at the opening of the American Revolution, the development of the academy was retarded. In 1781, the Rector, William Graham, aroused the countryside and raised a body of militia, which he led to Rockfish Gap, there to wait the British under Colonel Tarleton. Liberty hHall students also participated in the battle of Guilford Court hlouse. After the surrender of Cornwallls at Yorktown In 1781, the Rector and Trustees turned to the task of resuscitating their academy, which had been removed to the North River In 1780, securing In 1782 a charter from the new state of Virginia. Although this document said no word of creed or doc- trine, the self-perpetuating Board of Trustees created by it was composed largely of local Presbyterians. During the I780 ' s and I790 ' s the Rector, aided by tutors, offered instruction In Liberty hHall. Mr. Graham attempted to found a miniature replica of Princeton at his academy; for twenty-two years he labored to establish the struggling institution on a sound financial and academic basis. Presbytery, the Legislature of Virginia, and the public were repeatedly appealed to for contributions to the school; and some well-known Virginians, Including Thomas Jefferson, were among the donors. Mr. Graham also had to contend with disciplinary problems com- mon to academies and colleges in the era. In this he was often aided by members of the Board of Trustees who lived in the vicinity. About 1796 Mr. Graham decided to remove to the Ohio, there to seek his fortune, hie re- signed In 1796, but already events were in motion of great importance to Liberty hHall. The institution was deeply indebted to the Reverend Mr. Graham for his tireless efforts, and it is not too much to speak of him as the de facto founder of the academy. 1 7 4 9 . B I C E N T E N N I A L • 1 9 4 9

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DL SENIOR CLASS HUGH VERANO President ROBERT GOLDENBEPG . . Vice-Presldenl MAURICE FLYNN , . Secretary-Treasurer JIM LARRICK Historian O. T. KAYLOR .... Exec. Committeeman INTERMEDIATE CLASS JACK CROWDER President LEAKE WORNOM Vice-President WILLIAM LEDBETTER .... Secretary-Treasurer WILLIAM WAMSLEY Historian RAY S. SMITH Exocuiive Committeeman FRESHMAN LAW W. H. BALLARD President E. M. PARIS Vice-President WILLIAM G. WHITE .... Secretary-Treasurer FRED M. VINSON, JR Historian JOSEPH VICARS . . . Executive Committeeman