Items related to the Academical Village

Content Description

This addition to RG-30/1 (Administration, Operations, and Extraneous Records/ Documentary Prints) and RG-30/19 (Administrative, Operations, and Extraneous Records/ Historical Artifacts) includes two photographs, a hand-drawn, illustrated building plan, and a commemorative a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) certificate related to the University of Virginia Lawn, Rotunda, and Academical Village. The two photographs are copies of earlier photographs; both copies are dated Spring 1976. One photograph stamped “University of Virginia Dept. of Graphics Photo” depicts the aftermath of the 1895 Rotunda Fire. The other photograph, captioned “Rotunda Restoration” on its verso, documents the post-Rotunda Fire rehabilitation. A 1961 manuscript plan of the Academical Village by Mary Hall Betts is entitled “University of Virginia: Original Buildings and Grounds designed by Th. Jefferson.” The plan illustration is based on the 1825 Maverick engraving of the University and features descriptions of the Pavilions, Ranges, Hotels, Rotunda, and Serpentine Walls. Betts was known as “Mama Rotunda” and served as the Rotunda hostess for nearly 25 years, starting in 1958. The UNESCO certificate dated December 11, 1987, expresses that “The World Heritage Committee has inscribed the Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville on the World Heritage List.” It is signed by the Director-General of UNESCO.

Acquisition Type

Transfer

Provenance

Provenance unknown. Transferred by Lauren Longwell, University Archivist, 17 December 2025.

Language of Description

English

Script of Description

Latin

Restrictions Apply

No