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 Program Design Analysis, Recommendations, Outline Specifications, George Mason College of the University of Virginia, Fairfax, Virginia, August 1960.(1960-08-01T15:52:04Z) Saunders and Pearson, Architects; Anderson, Beckwith & Haible, Consulting Site Engineers; Holland Engineering; Paul L. Gerringer & Accociates; Fortune Engineering AssociatesIn June 1959 UVa hired the architectural firm Joseph Saunders & Associates of Alexandria to produce a plan for the construction of George Mason College. The firm’s August 1960 report presented the entire concept of the new college to be built at Fairfax. Included in the report were: the Program, which outlined the stages of construction (both initial and future); the Design Analysis, which detailed the site development (use of land, grading, and landscaping); building design (architecture, aesthetics, and construction); and mechanical design (heating, cooling, and plumbing); recommendations, and specifications.Item 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 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 Photograph: Dedication, George Mason College November 12, 1964(2005-04-20T17:34:09Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesPhotograph of participants at GMC dedication. Dedication ceremony took place directly in front of North Building (today’s Finley Building). Note United States Marine Corps Band to the left rear of the platform. George Mason University Public Relations PhotographsItem Photograph: Director Robert H. Reid, George Mason College Dedication, November 12, 1964(2005-04-20T17:29:59Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesGMC’s new Director, Robert H. Reid (center) as he speaks with State Senator Charles Fenwick (in foreground) and Building Superintendent, Richard Best at right as they stand at the entrance of North Building (today’s Finley Building). Note the sign borrowed from the old Bailey’s Crossroads Campus, which was vacated on August 24 of that same year. George Mason University Public Relations PhotographsItem 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Letter: Colgate W. Darden, Jr. to J.N.G. Finley, December 17, 1957(2005-04-13T17:43:37Z) Darden, Colgate W. (Colgate Whitehead), 1897-1981Letter from University of Virginia President, Colgate W. Darden, Jr., to J.N.G. Finley, Director of Northern Virginia Center (and University College). This letter, in which Darden thanks Finley for mailing him a news clipping about the site selection controversy, demonstrates how the two chief executives were on the outside of the controversial process of site selection. The University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors and the two appointed Northern Virginia boards, the Board of Control and Advisory Board, were the main players in the sometimes difficult negotiations. George Mason University Facilities PlanningItem View of Stage I Construction, George Mason College of the University of Virginia, Saunders & Pearson Architects, 1960(2005-04-06T19:26:53Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesArchitect’s rendering of George Mason College’s original four buildings and proposed Lecture Hall from 1960 George Mason College Master Plan by Saunders and Pearson Architects, Alexandria, Virginia, August 1960. George Mason University Archives, Facilities Planning, Master PlansItem 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 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 Title Deed, Farr Property, February 10, 1959(2005-04-06T19:15:55Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesPhotostatic reproduction of first page of title deed to original 150 acres. George Mason University Facilities PlanningItem 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 Sign Raising, George Mason College, May 1962(2005-04-06T19:02:01Z) GMU Archives Special Collections & ArchivesPhotograph of Director J.N.G. Finley and some of the key persons from Town of Fairfax who, at the last minute, helped acquire the Farr property in 1958, securing a permanent home for George Mason University. This sign was erected on the northwest side of the property facing Route 123. It reads: GEORGE MASON COLLEGE of the UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA On February 10, 1959 This Tract of 150 Acres Was Given by the Citizens of the Town of Fairfax To the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia As a Permanent Site of the College From left to right: Stacy Sherwood (Fairfax Town Council), Daniel Harrison, Roland Clarke (Fairfax Town Council), Fairfax Mayor John C. Wood, J.N.G. Finley, George Hamill, and Dr. Fred Everly (Fairfax Town Council). George Mason University Public Relations Photographs 1960 – 1972