Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [item], [box], [folder], Records of the Department of Graphics, RG 18/12, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Records of the Department of Graphics were acquired by Special Collections and University Archives prior to 1969.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Records of the Department of Graphics, was completed in August 2021.

Administrative History

Mechanical drawing was offered as part of the "Mechanical" course of study in the Department of Technical Mechanics, in 1872. In 1875, this became the Department of Mechanics and Drawing. From 1878, courses in drawing were offered under various department names, until 1902 when a Department of Drawing was formed. In 1904, the name became the Department of Graphics. From 1914-1920, it was called the Department of Mechanism, Descriptive Geometry, and Graphics, and then from 1920-1947, it was called the Department of Graphics and Mechanism. In 1948, it became the Department of Graphics again. In 1963, the department was reorganized as a division under the Department of Industrial Engineering.

Biographical Notes

William Henry "Bosco" Rasche (1875-1951) came to the university in 1895 and was head of the Graphics and Mechanism Department from 1936-1948.

John Rolfe Castleman (1895-1983) joined VPI in 1923 and was head of the Department of Graphics from 1956-1966.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of the correspondence of William Henry Rasche and John Rolfe Castleman, former professors and heads of the department. The collection includes correspondence with VPI Presidents Joseph Eggleston, Julian Burruss, John Hutcheson, and Walter Newman (1913-1962); correspondence with Vice Presidents Walter Newman, C. Clement French, and Louis Pardue (1946-1957); correspondence with Treasurers Charles Wade, J. H. Taft, and J. B. Fogleman (1918-1945); correspondence with Engineering Deans L. S. Randolph, S. R. Pritchard, Earle B. Norris, and J. W. Whittemore (1913-1959); correspondence with faculty (1919-1932, 1937-1946); and correspondence with other universities (1940-1944). Additional items concern the Intercollegiate Rankine Memorial Movement (1939-1940) and the bust of William Rankine (one of the founders of modern scientific engineering) presented by the class of 1902 to the University in 1940.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into eight series based on correspondence and subject:

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Faculty and staff
• University Archives
• University History
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Department of Graphics

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Records of the Department of Graphics, by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).