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Richard Bland College
Richard Bland College (RBC) is a public junior college associated with the College of William & Mary and located in Prince George, Virginia. It was established in 1960 by the Virginia General Assembly as a branch of the College of William & Mary under the umbrella of "the Colleges of William and Mary". The "Colleges" system lasted two years. Although the other three institutions such as Christopher Newport founded as colleges of William & Mary became independent colleges and later universities, Richard Bland has continued as a junior college of the College of William & Mary. Though under its own administration, Richard Bland College is governed by William & Mary's Board of Visitors. It was named after Virginia statesman Richard Bland who lived in Prince George County where the East campus is located. The West campus is located in Dinwiddie County.
Richard Bland College of William and Mary was established as a higher education institution in 1960 by the General Assembly of Virginia under the short-lived The Colleges of William & Mary system. The college serves as the junior college of the Commonwealth and a branch campus of the College of William and Mary. Its primary mission throughout its history has been to provide higher education opportunities to individuals residing in communities located away from the main campus in Williamsburg, Virginia.
The affairs of Richard Bland College have historically been overseen by the Board of Visitors of the College of William and Mary, which is appointed by the Governor of Virginia. The day-to-day administration and academic programs of the college are led by a president appointed by the board. The college derives its name from Richard Bland, a prominent Virginia statesman and advocate for public rights. He was educated at The College of William and Mary, represented the area where the college now stands during his time in the House of Burgesses and the House of Delegates.
Known for his defense of Virginia's rights, Richard Bland played a significant role in the colonies' struggle against taxation imposed by external powers. He authored An Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies, which became the earliest published defense of the colonial stance on taxation. Additionally, Bland served in the Continental Congress and was highly regarded as a political leader and historian of Virginia.
The present campus of Richard Bland College holds historical significance as well. Prior to the American Civil War, the property was a plantation owned by the Gurley family. During the war, the campus became a part of the Union-occupied territory and witnessed two battles—the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road and the Battle of Globe Tavern. These battles aimed to extend the Union siege lines and capture the Weldon Railroad, crucial for supplying Petersburg. Additionally, around the time of these battles, the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, stayed at a tavern, the remains of which are located in the forested foliage of the modern-day campus.
In the early 1900s, the Hatcher-Seward family established a dairy farm on the former Gurley property, and a grove of pecan trees was planted, which would be an iconic part of the scenery for the future Richard Bland College. The land later served as a work camp for conscientious objectors during World War I. In 1932, the Commonwealth of Virginia authorized Central State Hospital to purchase the land, leading to the establishment of the Petersburg Training School and Hospital for African-American Youth. Over the years, the institution underwent several name changes (including: Petersburg State Colony for the Negro Insane, Evergreen Training School, Petersburg Training School, and Petersburg Training School and Hospital) ultimately becoming the Southside Virginia Training Center for the Mentally Retarded before closing in 1959.
Under the guidance of retired Colonel James M. Carson, the former hospital and training facility were transformed into Richard Bland College, with classes commencing in 1961. The campus expanded with the addition of Ernst Hall, a Student Center/Library building, and a gymnasium in the late 1960s. Colonel Carson served as the founding president until 1973 when Cornelis Laban took on the role of Acting President until 1975. Clarence Maze succeeded Carson as president, overseeing the expansion of academic programs and the promotion of international awareness and travel opportunities.
In 1996, James B. McNeer became the third president and played a pivotal role in restructuring the college to fulfill its responsibilities to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Today, Richard Bland College occupies a rural campus spanning 750 acres, which was once a dairy farm owned by the Gurley family. The campus boasts a grove of century-old pecan trees, two restored turn-of-the-20th-century farmhouses (one serving as the president's residence and the other as a guesthouse which is occupied by one of the junior college's administrators), a converted dairy barn used as a theater, and a unique koi pond.
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Richard Bland College
Richard Bland College (RBC) is a public junior college associated with the College of William & Mary and located in Prince George, Virginia. It was established in 1960 by the Virginia General Assembly as a branch of the College of William & Mary under the umbrella of "the Colleges of William and Mary". The "Colleges" system lasted two years. Although the other three institutions such as Christopher Newport founded as colleges of William & Mary became independent colleges and later universities, Richard Bland has continued as a junior college of the College of William & Mary. Though under its own administration, Richard Bland College is governed by William & Mary's Board of Visitors. It was named after Virginia statesman Richard Bland who lived in Prince George County where the East campus is located. The West campus is located in Dinwiddie County.
Richard Bland College of William and Mary was established as a higher education institution in 1960 by the General Assembly of Virginia under the short-lived The Colleges of William & Mary system. The college serves as the junior college of the Commonwealth and a branch campus of the College of William and Mary. Its primary mission throughout its history has been to provide higher education opportunities to individuals residing in communities located away from the main campus in Williamsburg, Virginia.
The affairs of Richard Bland College have historically been overseen by the Board of Visitors of the College of William and Mary, which is appointed by the Governor of Virginia. The day-to-day administration and academic programs of the college are led by a president appointed by the board. The college derives its name from Richard Bland, a prominent Virginia statesman and advocate for public rights. He was educated at The College of William and Mary, represented the area where the college now stands during his time in the House of Burgesses and the House of Delegates.
Known for his defense of Virginia's rights, Richard Bland played a significant role in the colonies' struggle against taxation imposed by external powers. He authored An Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies, which became the earliest published defense of the colonial stance on taxation. Additionally, Bland served in the Continental Congress and was highly regarded as a political leader and historian of Virginia.
The present campus of Richard Bland College holds historical significance as well. Prior to the American Civil War, the property was a plantation owned by the Gurley family. During the war, the campus became a part of the Union-occupied territory and witnessed two battles—the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road and the Battle of Globe Tavern. These battles aimed to extend the Union siege lines and capture the Weldon Railroad, crucial for supplying Petersburg. Additionally, around the time of these battles, the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, stayed at a tavern, the remains of which are located in the forested foliage of the modern-day campus.
In the early 1900s, the Hatcher-Seward family established a dairy farm on the former Gurley property, and a grove of pecan trees was planted, which would be an iconic part of the scenery for the future Richard Bland College. The land later served as a work camp for conscientious objectors during World War I. In 1932, the Commonwealth of Virginia authorized Central State Hospital to purchase the land, leading to the establishment of the Petersburg Training School and Hospital for African-American Youth. Over the years, the institution underwent several name changes (including: Petersburg State Colony for the Negro Insane, Evergreen Training School, Petersburg Training School, and Petersburg Training School and Hospital) ultimately becoming the Southside Virginia Training Center for the Mentally Retarded before closing in 1959.
Under the guidance of retired Colonel James M. Carson, the former hospital and training facility were transformed into Richard Bland College, with classes commencing in 1961. The campus expanded with the addition of Ernst Hall, a Student Center/Library building, and a gymnasium in the late 1960s. Colonel Carson served as the founding president until 1973 when Cornelis Laban took on the role of Acting President until 1975. Clarence Maze succeeded Carson as president, overseeing the expansion of academic programs and the promotion of international awareness and travel opportunities.
In 1996, James B. McNeer became the third president and played a pivotal role in restructuring the college to fulfill its responsibilities to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Today, Richard Bland College occupies a rural campus spanning 750 acres, which was once a dairy farm owned by the Gurley family. The campus boasts a grove of century-old pecan trees, two restored turn-of-the-20th-century farmhouses (one serving as the president's residence and the other as a guesthouse which is occupied by one of the junior college's administrators), a converted dairy barn used as a theater, and a unique koi pond.
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