George Mason University 40th Anniversary Exhibition
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Archival materials from: Simplicity, Permanence, and Economy: The Origins of George Mason University's Fairfax Campus an exhibition by George Mason University Libraries, Fall 2004. Materials document the planning, construction, and dedication of the Fairfax Campus during the years 1957-1964.
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Item A. Smith Bowman, Jr. and E. DeLong Bowman(2005-04-06T18:55:20Z) Planned Community Archives, Nan Netherton Papers Special Collections & Archives, University LibrariesPhotograph of A. Smith Bowman, Jr. (standing) and E. DeLong Bowman (seated in foreground). The Bowman brothers, executives of the A. Smith Bowman Distillery, made two offers of land and money (in 1954 and 1957) to UVa with which to build George Mason College. The land was located in the Sunset Hills area near Herndon, just to the south of Route 7. Though the offers were quite attractive, and the UVa BOV nearly accepted the second offer, the Advisory Council and the Board of Control (both comprised of Northern Virginians) stood firmly against any selection of the Bowman property, citing its inconvenient location much too far west of the center of Northern Virginia’s population. Portrait hanging on the wall behind them is of their father, Abram Smith Bowman, Sr. Planned Community Archives Collection, Nan Netherton PapersItem Advertisement by Melpar, Inc., in Fairfax Sun Echo, September 10, 1964(2005-04-20T17:39:10Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesAdvertisement by local defense contractor Melpar, Inc., welcoming George Mason College to Fairfax. This advertisement was placed in the “Special Dedication Issue” of the local Fairfax Sun Echo newspaper. Note illustration at top borrowed from the George Mason College Master Plan. C. Harrison Mann, Jr. CollectionItem Aerial Photograph of George Mason College Fairfax Campus, 1964(2005-04-20T17:45:18Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesAerial photograph taken from the southwest showing the newly-completed George Mason College Fairfax Campus. Note that only forty acres were cleared to construct the first stage of the campus, while the remainder of the former Farr property was left forested. The southern edge of the Town of Fairfax can be seen in the upper left. George Mason University Facilities Planning PhotographsItem Aerial Photograph of George Mason College Fairfax Campus, 1965(2005-04-20T17:42:20Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesClose-in aerial photograph taken from the northeast showing the completed George Mason College Fairfax Campus. Note that many of the features of the original buildings and their surroundings, such as the unique triangular parking area/driveway, are still in existence today. George Mason University Facilities Planning PhotographsItem Aerial Photograph, Farr Property, 1958(2005-04-06T19:12:04Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesDetail from aerial photograph of the Farr tract and its surroundings. Route 123 can be seen at left. Braddock Road (Route 620) at bottom. The initial buildings of George Mason College’s Fairfax Campus were built in the upper center part of the property in this photograph near the edge of the tree line. George Mason University Facilities PlanningItem Building C., Construction, March 14, 1964(2005-04-13T19:52:58Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesPhotograph depicting construction of Building C (now known as West Building) taken from the vantage point of today’s George Mason Boulevard. The roofline of what is now Finley Building can be seen at left. George Mason University Public Relations PhotographsItem Classroom, Bailey’s Crossroads, ca. 1960(2005-04-06T18:33:48Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesPhotograph of a classroom in the Bailey’s Crossroads building. George Mason University Public Relations Photographs 1960 – 1972.Item Construction Sign, George Mason College, October 1963(2005-04-13T19:49:14Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesThis sign was erected by construction contractor, Eugene Simpson and Brother, Inc., at the southern terminus of the former Mechanic Street. This area is now the 90-degree right turn of University Drive as it makes its way onto campus from the City of Fairfax to the north. Note behind the sign the gently rolling hill where the CUE Bus stop is now located, the construction crane, and the barely visible roofline of today’s Finley Hall. George Mason University Public Relations PhotographsItem Detail from Civil War Map Illustrating the Farr Property, 1862(2005-04-13T17:53:37Z) U.S. Government Printing Office (USGPO)Detail from the Map of N. Eastern Virginia and Vicinity of Washington compiled in Topographical Engineers Office at Division Head Quarters Of General Irvin McDowell Arlington, January 1st 1862 showing the Farr property as it appeared on maps around the time of the Civil War. This tract of land had been owned by the Farr Family since the late eighteenth century. Visible in this map are both today’s Braddock Road and Route 123 on the south and west respectively. Also note the inscription “Wid. Farr” (Widow Farr) denoting a house at the intersection of these two roads. This was most likely the home of the mother of Richard Ratcliffe Farr III, a lawyer and Confederate soldier, who built a house and general store on the same site after the war. The part of the Farr property, which became George Mason‘s Fairfax Campus is shown shaded. Atlas of the Union and Confederate Armies, Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1895Item Elevations, Building A, Saunders & Pearson Architects, 1960(2005-04-06T19:20:08Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesArchitectural drawings of Building A (today’s Finley Building) from the 1960 George Mason College Master Plan showing north, south, and east elevations by Saunders and Pearson Architects, Alexandria, Virginia, August 1960. George Mason University Archives, Facilities Planning, Master PlansItem Examining Construction Plans, Groundbreaking, George Mason College, Fairfax Campus, August 1, 1963(2005-04-13T18:24:02Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesThis photograph taken at groundbreaking ceremony shows Robert Reid (second from left, who assumed directorship of GMC in November of 1964) Director, J.N.G. Finley, a construction foreman, and college building superintendent, Richard Best, studying construction plans for the college to be built upon the first forty cleared acres of the former Farr property. The new buildings would be erected about 600 feet to the south of the soon-to-be constructed University Drive. George Mason University Facilities PlanningItem Eye–Level Perspective from West Entrance of Building B, George Mason College of the University of Virginia, Saunders & Pearson Architects, 1960(2005-04-13T18:08:41Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesArchitect’s rendering of view of “The Court” (the space in the center of the buildings) from the vantage point of the west entrance of Building B, today’s Krug Hall. From the 1960 George Mason College Master Plan by Saunders and Pearson Architects, Alexandria, Virginia, August 1960. George Mason University Archives, Facilities Planning, Master PlansItem Film: Moving out of Bailey's Crossroads [August 27-28, 1964](2005-04-01T17:28:55Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesClasses began at the new University College in 1957 in a temporary building while a permanent site was being chosen. To satisfy this immediate need, an offer was made by the Fairfax County Schools to lease a recently-abandoned elementary school located on the south side of Columbia Pike, near Lake Barcroft. The owner of the building, Fairfax County Public Schools, agreed to lease the building to UVa for six-hundred dollars per year. The Bailey’s Crossroads School, located at 5836 Columbia Pike, was built in 1922 and had eight classrooms. Though it had fallen into disrepair after thirty-four years, the building was serviceable and affordable. Description: Film portraying the moving out of George Mason College from the original building at Bailey's Crossroads. Initial scene shows the nearly completed Fairfax Campus.Item Film: Tour of George Mason College Campus, July 1964(2005-04-06T15:27:50Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesIn this film George Mason College Director, Robert Reid, is taking a group of citizens on a tour of the unfinished campus. The tour begins in the North Building (today's Finley Building) and continues around the exterior of the campus. As the group makes its way around campus, carpenters are at work on the interiors, and painters and construction workers are putting finishing touches on the exteriors. The film ends with a brief segment in which an announcer interviews Robert Reid and an unidentified Town of Fairfax official.Item First Floor Plan, Buildings A-E, Saunders & Pearson Architects, 1960(2005-04-06T19:23:28Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesFloor plans for Buildings A-E from 1960 George Mason College Master Plan by Saunders and Pearson Architects, Alexandria, Virginia, August 1960. This drawing details planned space use on the first floor in each building and the total square footage of all buildings. Building E (Lecture Hall in upper left) was not included in the final construction plans when the campus was constructed in 1963-1964. George Mason University Archives, Facilities Planning, Master PlansItem George Mason College, Bailey’s Crossroads, View from the North, 1963(2005-04-06T18:30:56Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesPhotograph of the original George Mason College building from the north facing Columbia Pike (Route 244). This building had eight rooms. Note the modified sign, which previously read: University of Virginia University College. George Mason University Public Relations Photographs 1960 – 1972.Item George Mason College, Bailey’s Crossroads, View from the South, 1963(2005-04-06T18:26:54Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesPhotograph of the original George Mason College building from the south. This building was the former Bailey’s Crossroads School built in 1922. Parking for students, faculty, and staff was on this side of the building in foreground. George Mason University Public Relations Photographs 1960 – 1972.Item Governor Albertis Harrison, Jr. Speaking at the Dedication, George Mason College, November 12, 1964(2005-04-13T19:57:26Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesVirginia Governor Albertis Harrison, Jr. addresses attendees to the George Mason College Dedication. George Mason University Public Relations PhotographsItem Groundbreaking, George Mason College, Fairfax Campus, August 1, 1963(2005-04-13T18:16:35Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesPhotograph of groundbreaking ceremony for George Mason College. State Senator Charles R. Fenwick turns the first shovelful of earth on forty of the original 150 acres. Joining him (from left to right) are Fairfax Mayor John C. Wood: Clarence Steele of the Advisory Council; Director of George Mason College J.N.G. Finley; and Virginia Delegate C. Harrison Mann, Jr., of Arlington. George Mason University Facilities PlanningItem Horse Barn, Ravensworth Farm, Ca. 1957(2005-04-06T18:48:16Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesPhotograph of one of the buildings on the Ravensworth Farm property. A caption on the back of the original reads: “Romanesque Barn to be Converted for Classroom Use.” George Mason University Facilities Planning