Collections in the 
Radford University Archives

Historical Note

As part of the 1910 legislation establishing the State Normal and Industrial School for Women, a Board of Trustees was appointed to oversee the activities of the school.  In 1913, President John Preston McConnell sent a one-page report to the Board, beginning an uninterrupted link of information from the President to various oversight agencies that continues to this day.

Subsequent to the original Board of Trustees, the school's operations were supervised by the Virginia Normal School Board (1915-1924), the Virginia State Teachers College Board (1925-1939), the State Board of Education (1940-1944), the Board of Visitors of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1945-1964), the Board of Visitors of Radford College (1965-1978) and the Board of Visitors of Radford University (1979-present). For a more complete history of Radford University and its predecessors see David Horton's "Radford University Through the Years."

Scope and Content Note

Reports, minutes, correspondence, and printed materials, 1910-present, created in the conduct of affairs of the Radford University Board of Visitors and its predecessors document the organization's work in governing and oversight of Radford University and its place in Virginia's higher education system. Arranged in five series, with a small initial sub-series documenting enabling legislation, representing reports (1913-present, 14 linear ft.), supplementary materials (1916-present, 6.25 linear ft.), minutes, correspondence, and general materials presented to the Board of Visitors (and their predecessors).

Reports to the Board of Visitors makes up the largest series. Reports are prepared by the Office of the President and are presented to the Board. Supplementary Materials include correspondence, extraneous reports, and printed materials presented to the Board documenting issues reflected in the Reports. Minutes (1910-1970, 1980, 1994-present, 1.75 linear ft.) document activities in Board meetings. The Correspondence series contains a sporadic documentation of correspondence between Board members and the Office of the President. The smallest series (3 in.), General Materials, holds Board handbooks and information regarding Radford's merger with Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

The size of each series of Record Group 1 is given in linear feet and inches with 1 inch being the smallest unit used.

For the complete inventory of the Records of the Board of Visitors click here.