Arthur S. Brockenbrough to Philip P. Barbour: A Bill for Thomas Barbour’s Expenses as a Student at the University of Virginia
| Sir, | 15th February 1827 |
One of the enactments of the University of Virginia, directs that, “as soon as any student shall have matriculated, it shall be the duty of the Proctor to address a letter to his parent or guardian and send it by mail; informing him of the regulations of the University relative to the expenditures of the student, apprizing him particularly of the limitation upon each particular item of expenditure, and that all the funds of the student must pass through the hands of the Proctor.” I know of no form in which I can more effectually discharge the duty which this enactment imposes upon me, than by annexing to this a transcript of the regulations themselves, and directing it to you as the parent of Ths Barbour who has recently matriculated himself for the present session of the University.—The reasons which have induced these regulations are expressed with irresistable force in the regulations themselves, and cannot fail to impress themselves, with the deepest convictions, upon the bosom of every parent and guardian. Experience proves that the morality and proficiency of the student, as well as the prosperity of this institution, will be alike promoted by imposing this moderation and equality of expenditures. The deep anxiety which the Rector and Visitors feel upon the subject, is displayed not only in the enactments themselves, but in the personal appeal which they have directed to be made to every parent and guardian of the matriculate. It is earnestly hoped none will, by any partial indulgence to the student, defeat this scheme of obvious general benefit: and that the Faculty will have the co-operation of every parent and guardian in preserving inviolate, the limits of a moderate and uniform expenditure among the students.
P UVa
“In order that the expenses of the students may be restrained within that reasonable limit which will make the benefits of this institution attainable by the greatest number; that their funds may be administered with the least interruption to their studies and in the manner best calculated to subserve the purposes for which they are supplied;—that their minds may not be unnecessarily withdrawn by the temptations of parade and pleasure, from the acquirement of literature and science, and useful habits and honorable distinction;—the Rector and Visitors do enact as follows:
No student resident within the precincts shall matriculate till he shall have deposited with the Proctor all the money, checks, bills, drafts and other available funds which he shall have in his possession or under his controul in any manner intended to defray his expenses while a student of the University, or on his return from thence to his residence. Nor shall he matriculate till he shall have deposited a sum at least sufficient after deducting the Proctor’s commission therefrom to pay for the use of his dormitory and the public rooms,—to pay the fees of the Professors whom he may design to attend,—to pay three months board to his hotel-keeper,—to purchase the text books and stationary which he may want at the commencement, and a deposit of ten dollars, to cover contingent charges and assessments against him.—If he pay more than this, he shall designate the uses to which it is to be applied; whether for board, for clothing, for books and stationary or for pocket money.
In like manner, he shall deposit with the Proctor, and designate the uses, all other funds which he shall receive while a student of the University, for the purposes aforesaid.
At the end of the first three months of the session, he shall deposit enough to pay his board and other expenses for the next three months;—and at the expiration of the second period of three months, he shall deposit enough to pay his board and other expenses for the residue of the session.
If the student fail to pay in advance the two last instalments of his board, as herein required, and shall be in default for ten days, the Proctor shall report him to the Chairman of the Faculty, that proper measure may be taken to compel performance, and if necessary punish the default.
When the student shall deposit any funds with the Proctor, he shall take from him a fair receipt, stating the amount deposited, the several purposes to which it is to be applied, and the sum to be applied to each—which receipt he shall deliver to the Chairman of the Faculty, to be preserved carefully by their secretary. And if the student desire it, the Proctor, at the same time, shall give him a duplicate receipt, for his own keeping.
The expenses of the student resident in the University, shall be limited as follows—
For tuition fees, if he attends but one Professor $50, for the session of ten months and a half; if two, thirty dollars to each, if three or more, $25 to each,
For board, including diet, bed and bedding, furniture for the dormitory, fuel, candles and washing; also proper attendance of servants for domestic and menial duties, one hundred and fifty dollars per session of ten and a half months,
For the use of a dormitory sixteen dollars—one half by each occupant, or the whole by one if there be only one,
For the participation in the use of the public apartments during the session, fifteen dollars,
For clothing, during any session a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars.
For pocket money, during an ordinary session not exceeding forty dollars; and for the next+
session, not exceeding twenty-five dollars.For books and stationary, whatever the parent or guardian may think fit to allow.
For medicine and medical attendance, whatever may be necessary.
The limits here prescribed, shall in no case be exceeded; unless under special circumstances the faculty may allow it.
The dress of the students, wherever resident, shall be uniform and plain. The coat, waistcoat and pantaloons, of cloth of a dark gray mixture, at a price not exceeding six dollars per yard. The coat shall be single breasted; with a standing cape, and skirts of a moderate length, with pocket flaps. The waistcoat shall be single breasted, with a standing collar; and the pantaloons, of the usual form. The buttons of each garment to be flat, and covered with the same cloth. The pantaloons and the waistcoat of this dress may vary with the season: the latter of which, when required by the season, may be of white; the former, of light brown cotton or linen. Shoes, with black gaiters in cold weather, and white stockings in warm weather,—and in no case, boots—shall be worn by them. The neckcloth shall be plain black, in the cold; white in the warm season. The hat round and black.
The students shall wear this dress on the sabbath, on examinations and public exhibitions, in the University; and whenever they appear without its precincts. On all other occasions, within the precincts, they may wear a plain black gown, or a cheap frock-coat. A surtout of cloth of the color and price above described may be worn, but shall not be substituted on the public occasions specified, for the uniform coat first prescribed.
The form of the dress, in each article, shall be according to a model to be provided by the Proctor under the direction of the Executive committee; with conspicuous badges on the coats, such as they will prescribe. In case of mourning, the customary badges may always be added.
These regulations of uniform, during the next session may be dispensed with, by the Chairman of the Faculty in all cases where the student shall have procured his clothing without notice of them.
No resident student shall contract any debt whatsoever; but, for every thing purchased by him he shall forthwith pay the cash, or draw upon a fund in the hands of the proctor adequate and applicable thereto.
No student resident out of the University shall matriculate, till he shall have deposited with the Proctor, funds sufficient, after deducting the Proctor’s commission, to pay the fees of the professors whom he designs to attend; the sum charged him for the use of the public rooms; and ten dollars, as a deposit to cover contingent charges, and assessments against him for injuries to the buildings and other property of the University. And if at any time this deposition shall be exhausted, before the end of the session, the use of the public rooms shall be denied him till he shall have paid any balance of assessments against him, and have made such further deposit1 with the proctor, as the chairman of the Faculty shall require.
No student, wherever resident, shall at any time visit any tavern or confectionary without leave from the Chairman of the Faculty, or some Professor whose school he attends.
No student resident within the precincts, shall be absent therefrom, after night, without such leave; unless when he shall visit some private family, and shall give notice of such visit and of the family visited, by a written memorandum signed by himself, and left with the Proctor before the visit, if convenient, or, if not, then before twelve o’clock of the next day. The Proctor shall preserve these memorandums till the end of the session, and shall register all such visits in a book to be kept by him for that purpose, in a form to be prescribed by the Chairman of the Faculty. Such memorandums and register, shall be at all times, subject to the inspection of the Chairman and shall be laid before the Faculty and Visitors, whenever required.
Before any student shall matriculate, he shall be furnished with a copy of the laws of the University, and shall carefully read them.
On matriculating, he shall sign his name in a book to be kept for that purpose, by the Proctor, in which shall be stated the name and residence of his father or guardian. The names of the resident and non-resident students shall be written under different captions. Those of the resident students under a caption in these words:
‘After having carefully read the laws of the University of Virginia, I subscribe myself a student thereof:—I enter the University with a sincere desire to reap the benefits of its instruction, and with a determined resolution to conform to its laws—I declare that I have deposited with the Proctor all the funds in my possession or under my controul, according to the obvious spirit and meaning of the enactment on that subject. In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.’
Those of non-resident students shall be subscribed under a caption in the same words, with the omission of the declaration relative to the deposit.
These captions shall be plainly and distinctly read to the student, or read by him, before he subscribes his name.
The copy of the laws furnished the student at the commencement of the session, shall be carefully preserved by him, as long as he continues a student.
If any student shall violate any of the provisions of this enactment, he shall be liable to any of the punishments provided by the laws of the University, according to the degree of offence. Perseverance in habits of expense and frequenting taverns or confectionaries, shall be punished with dismission from the University, at least, and refusal to re-admit.
Students heretofore at the University, who have provided themselves with any furniture for their dormitories, hereafter returning and desiring to use such furniture rather than depend on the hotel-keeper for a supply; shall be allowed a reasonable deduction from their board on that account, to be ascertained by the Proctor, subject to the controul of the Faculty.
Before any student shall be permitted to borrow any book from the Library, or to use any, he shall deposit with the Bursar, the sum of Ten Dollars, and deliver the Bursar’s receipt therefore2 to the Librarian for safe keeping.
The receipt shall purport that the deposit is on account of the use of the Library, and to be accounted for according to the laws of the University. The deposit shall be accounted for by the Bursar, as follows:—All fines incurred by the student and all damages assessed against him, on account of the Library, shall be paid out of it, and the balance returned to the student at the end of the session. A monthly settlement shall be made by the Librarian with the Bursar, on account of this deposit; and whenever the whole deposit is exhausted, it shall be renewed by a like sum, or such smaller sum as the Faculty [may?] direct. Until so renewed, the privilege of the student to use the Library shall cease. [If?] the student object to any charge made against him by the Librarian, the Faculty shall decide.”
| Received of Mr. Thomas Barbour One hundred & forty five dollars — cents, as his deposit the present session, to be applied as follows: | |||||
| For | fees to Professors, 3 professors | $ 37. | 50 | ||
| “ | Board, | 42. | 86 | ||
| “ | Use of dormitory and public rooms whilst
a student this session, |
} | 11. | 50 | |
| “ | Clothing, | ———— | |||
| “ | Text books and stationary, | 20. | — | ||
| “ | Contingent charges and assessments, | 10. | — | ||
| “ | Medicine and Medical attendance, | ———— | |||
| “ | Pocket money,3 | 20. | 24 | ||
| “ | Patron’s commission, | 2. | 90 | ||
| $145. | 00 | ||||
| University of Virginia,4 | |||||
| 7th Feby 1827 | A S Brockenbrough | ||||
| Balance due for Board | P UVa | ||||
| 1 May $32.14 | |||||
