This study relates the history of The College of William and Mary in Virginia during the first twenty-seven years of the nineteenth century, 1800-1827, and examines the history in terms of the leadership provided for the College for the purpose of determining whether or not the College experienced a loss of leadership during the period of the study. The history is related chronologically through the administrations of President James Madison, 1800-1812; President John Bracken, 1812-1814; President John Augustine Smith, 1814-1826; and President William Holland Wilmer, 1826-1827, and is examined in terms of the leadership experienced by the College during each administration. The study concludes with a summary analysis of the extent to which, if any, the College experienced a loss of leadership during the period 1800-1827. The historical method and principles of historical research were employed in the examination of College papers, manuscript collections, rare books, archival records, and historical documents.;On the basis of her history, one must conclude that the College of William and Mary in Virginia experienced a loss of leadership during the years 1800-1827; yet, at no time during this period did she experience a total loss of leadership. Within the context of the Charter, four entities may be identified as occupying leadership positions: the Chancellor, the Board of Governors and Visitors, the Society, and the President. The position of Chancellor was vacant throughout this period; consequently, the College experienced the loss of whatever leadership this entity may have provided. The other three positions fluctuated in the exercise of their leadership roles: providing no leadership; a coercive leadership; a well-intentioned but misdirected leadership; and a strong, wise, productive leadership, the result of a concerted leadership posture. Two other entities not specifically charged with leadership responsibilities exerted an influence, both positive and negative, on the leadership experienced by the College during the period of this study: the community of Williamsburg and the alumni.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:wm.edu/oai:scholarworks.wm.edu:etd-1952 |
| Date | 01 January 1981 |
| Creators | Osborne, Ruby Orders. |
| Publisher | W&M ScholarWorks |
| Source Sets | William and Mary |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects |
| Rights | © The Author |
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