Object Lesson

Telling the history of UVA one piece at a time

This collection of historical objects contains some of the tangible reminders of the University’s past that can be found on, or nearby, Grounds. From a lock of Thomas Jefferson’s hair cut off just after his death in 1826 to the basketball net cut down just after the Cavaliers won the 2014 ACC Tournament, each of these objects has a story to tell.

Credits

Text by the magazine staff

Objects courtesy of the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, the Office of the Architect for the University, the Rotunda, the Eleanor Crowder Bjoring Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry, the Lorna Sundberg International Center, UVA Athletics, the UVA Alumni Association, the McIntire School, the Leander McCormick Observatory, Monticello, the Virginia Historical Society, Bill Wulf, Paul Mott and Fred Shields

Photographs by Luca DiCecco, Stacey Evans, Stephanie Gross and Chris Tyree

Jefferson’s Telescope

University Mace

Silk Handkerchief

Knife of “The Honor Men” Poet

Key to the Rotunda

Bust of John B. Minor

Hot Foot Crown

Jefferson’s Hair

Rotunda Cigar Box

Whalebone-and-Ivory Walking Stick

Faulkner’s Typewriter and Pipe

McGuffey Reader

A Strip from James McConnell’s Crashed Plane

Early Tools

Cast of John Powell’s Hand

Rotunda Chemical Furnace

Consent Form from Walter Reed’s Yellow Fever Experiment

Wooden Doll

Nursing Cape

Civil War Trepanning Kit

Graduation Invitation

Loving Cup

Rouss Hall Floor Joist, Bracket and Nails

William Barton Rogers Cabinet

UVA Track Medal

Bust of Lafayette

Album of the University of Virginia

Garrett Hall Ceiling

The Cracker Box

Bowie Kuhn’s Student ID Card

Mama Rotunda’s Outfit

Everard Meade’s Cannon

First Women’s NCAA Championship

Control Panel from UVA’s First Computer

Coffee Carafe

Coeducation Lawsuit

International Center Egyptian Plate

Walter Ridley Scrapbook

Edgar Shannon’s Blue-and-Orange Phone

Newcomb’s Tea Service

Ed Roseberry’s Ciro-flex Camera

Carroll’s Tea Room Menu

Parachute Wedding Dress

Abercrombie & Fitch Catalog

UVA Barbie

The Last Easters T-Shirt

Peach Bowl Coke Bottles

Shoe from Sullivan Controversy

Bice Device

ACC Basketball Tournament Net

University Historian

A Rare Finder: Paul Mott

Comments (3)

Rick Hodges on 01/01/2018

I finally know where the “loving cup” lyric comes from.

Michele L. Faison on 10/09/2017

This is why I am College of A&S ‘75! Especially appreciated the Coeducation Lawsuit article, online and in print. I was aware of the lawsuit at the time and followed it in the Richmond T-D. However, I don’t think I realized all of the details. Thanks so much! WahooWa!

Nancy M. Staub on 06/19/2014

Loved this “Object Lesson.” Delightful.