(1848-1929) R. T. W. Duke, Jr., remembered his older brother, William R. Duke (“Willie”), as an aggressive playmate in his youth. Whereas R. T. W. confessed that he “found great delight in paper dolls and books & paint boxes,” Willie “was a great tease & a tremendous fighter with the boys of his age. He […]

Richard Thomas Walker Duke, Sr. (1822-1898)   R. T. W. Duke, Sr. was his youngest son’s hero and role model. Writing after his father’s death, R. T. W. Duke, Jr. recalled of his childhood, “I worshiped him then with a devotion, which neither age nor years ever diminished.” (Recollections I. 13) Inspired by such devotion, […]

Four Generations of Albemarle County Dukes       Duke Family In 1653, Henry Duke arrived in Jamestown, Virginia from England. His descendents joined in the westward march across the state, and Richard Duke paused long enough in Albemarle County to establish there a robust line of the family tree.     Richard Thomas Walker […]

Children Of R. T. W. Duke, Jr. and Edith Ridgeway Slaughter     Photograph, c. 1896, of the Duke children and some close relatives. As indicated on the reverse of the image, those on the back row may be identified as: Mary Willoughby Duke Slaughter (cousin), RTW Duke, Jr.; Center row: Mary Duke, RTW Duke, […]

  The “Recollections” of R. T. W. Duke, Jr. consist of five leather-bound record books. Into these volumes, Duke poured his memories of people and events from a lifetime in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Duke began to compose his reminisces on November 20, 1899, in order to leave a record of his experiences behind for […]

of the University of Virginia, Upon the Death of Joseph Carrington Cabell in February 1856   Mr. Stevenson submitted the following statement & resolution to the board which were unanimously adopted. Since the last meeting of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia its late Rector Joseph C. Cabell departed this life at […]

at the University of Virginia, Upon Death of Joseph Carrington Cabell in February 1856   At a meeting of the Faculty of the University of Virginia, held February 8th 1856, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted— The Faculty having received intelligence of the death of Joseph C. Cabell, late Rector of the University […]

    The interior of the auditorium as it appeared in 1914.         G. W. Breck’s reproduction of Raphael’s “School of Athens,” presented to the University in April 1902 to adorn the interior of the auditorium.

Constructed 1895-1898   Following the destruction by fire of the Rotunda and its attached classrooms on 27 October 1895, the Board of Visitors launched an ambitious building program. They sought not only to rebuild the library in a fashion as stunning as the Jeffersonian original, but also to build a much-needed auditorium and to replace […]

Cabell Family Participation, 1819-1866   Thomas Jefferson struggled for many years to establish the University of Virginia, and he took especial care to make certain that the “hobby of his old age” would remain in good hands after his departure. Rather than hire a President or some other chief executive to administer the school, Jefferson […]