A Guide to the Virginia Intercollegiate Association 1954-1969
A Collection in
Special Collections and Archives



Contact Information:
Johnston Memorial Library
P.O. Box 9406
Virginia State University
Petersburg, Virginia 23806
USA
Phone: (804) 524-5749
Fax: (804) 524-6959
Email: ledwards@vsu.edu
URL: http://www.vsu.edu/library/index.htm

Processed by: Lucious Edwards, Jr.
Funding: Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

© 2002 By the Board of Visitors of Virginia State University.

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Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

Virginia Intercollegiate Association Papers, 1969-37, Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

A Tranfer from Virginia State University.

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University
Collection number: 1954-1969
Title: Virginia Intercollegiate Association papers 1954-1969
Physical Characteristics: 100,000 items.
Language: English
Collector: Virginia Intercollegiate Association.
Abstract: The records of the Association that governed all non-academic activities of the black high schools in Virginia. This manuscript group has correspondence, photographs, minutes, reports, films,tapes,news clippings and artifacts. The VIA was headquartered at Virginia State University from 1954-1969. Acc #1969-37

Scope and Content Information

Minutes, Reports, Correspondence, and Photographs, Printed items and three-dimensional items documenting the programs and activities of the African American secondary schools during the Era of segregation in Virginia. These materials documented how African Americans view the importance of extra curricular activities in the educational matrix?

Biographical/Historical Information

The Virginia Interscholastic Association (VIA), which existed from April 1954 through August 1969, was an association of the high schools attended by African-Americans in Virginia. During the years of operation, more than a hundred high schools with a student population of more than forty thousand had membership in the association.

An outgrowth of the Virginia Intersholastic Athletic League (VIAL), which had provided an athletic program for the black schools of the state for several decades, the VIA originated with the Black school principals at the period in Virginia education when the Black high school was developing into a significant part of the school system of the state. Large student enrollments, new school facilities with drama and music departments, gymnasiums and athletic fields, science departments, student newspapers and other organized school activities increased the demand of the students and the community for an adequte program of supervised and organized interschool group relationahip and competitions which would contribute to the fullest development of the high school student.

at the urging of the African-American high school principals Association, Virginia State College requested the general Assembly to appropriate a budget for a central coordinating agency. This agency would administer a state- wide activities program serving the needs of the African-American high school students of the state. Because there was support being provided for the Virginia High School League, A white student activities program administered through the University of Virginia.

In 1954, the General Assembly provided an allocation in the budget of Virginia State College for the administration of a state-wide activities program in the African-Americans high school of the state.

This budget, which was administered by VSTL through the field services division, did not include provision for the operation of the activities which were supported by student membership fees in the high school having membership in the Association. The Legislature support was discontinued in 1969 after the Virginia Interscholastic association was merged with the Virginia High School league as Virginia no longer operated seperate black and white school system.

Series Description

Series I. Minutes and Annual Reports Sub-series A. Executive Committee The Executive committee consists of the minutes from the meetings of this committee there from the years 1954-1969. Some of the topics that were discussed were reclassification of schools, rules and regulations, and the agenda for the legislative council meeting. Also find present is correspondence between the executive committee and various principals of the V.I.A. This section should be helpful in your research.

Sub-series B. The Legislative Committee The Legislative committee was responsible for settling the disputes amongst the V.I.A. The Legislative committee also nominated and voted for the members at large of the executive committee. Also correspondence between the legislative committee and various principals and organizations that were important to the V.I.A. There are a few reports from the executive secretary to the legislative council in 1968-69 the year the VIA came to an end. This file extends from 1954-1969.

Sub-Series C. Annual Reports This series conmsist of annual reports submitted by the executive secretary to the legislative council of the V.I.A. The dates of these reports are from 1955 to 1969. These reports basketball tournaments, the drama and musical festivals and other events throughout the years of the V.I.A. There is also a section where various principals of the VIA correspond with the executive secretary.

Series II. Financial Sub-series A. Budgets This series consist of the proposed budgets of the VIA during the years 1968-1969, salaries invoices from various companies along with inter department requisitions.

Sub-series B. Membership Fees This series consist of the VIA membership fees the years 1958-1961. There are also partial payments papers and the total fees paid by various schols in the VIA.

Sub-series C. Ledgers Reciepts disbursements and deposits according to the bankbook from the year 1953-1955. the second ledger consist of the fees paid by the various high schools and junior high school in the VIA from the years 1954-1966.

Series III. Records Sub-series A. Handbooks These handbooks range in years from 1955 to 1968. These books instruct the V.I.A. members on how each event should be organized. There are also maps, districts, district officers, finances and awards listed in these books.

Sub-series B. Eligibility Records Eligibility records, 1955-1968 were kept inorder to prove who should be allowed to participate in various sporting activities.

Sub-series C. Seasons Records The records of individual schools, games won and lost, district and state championships.

Series IV. Administrative Correspondence Sub-series A. Presidents Office of Virginia State University Correspondence between the executive secretary and the presidents of Virginia State University from 1953- 1969.

Sub-series B. The Executive Secretary's Office Working papers and documents along with memorandums.

Sub-series C. Subject School Correspondence. Correspondence in Memorandums from the presidents office to member schools. Also includes public relations and protest from member schools.

Sub-series D. Member Schools Correspondence. Correspondence by Function.

Series V. Member School Correspondence. Correspondnece between executive secretary and member schools.

Series VI. Photographs Photographs and Printers box documenting the History of the Virginia Interscholastic Association. There are also a few photos from the V.I.A.L.

Series VII. Printed Official programs,flyers Playbills, and Certificates.

Series VIII. Artifacts. Trophies, Medals, and patches used by the VIA

Contents List