Edgar Finley Shannon Jr. (June 4, 1918 – August 24, 1997) was a professor of English and president of the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson and contains his The Lawn, Academical Village, a World H ...

from 1959 to 1974.Obituary, New York Times. The University’s main library was renamed in Shannon’s honor in 2024.

Biography

Shannon attended

Washington and Lee University Washington and Lee University (Washington and Lee or W&L) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States. Established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, it is among ...

as an undergraduate, where he was an initiate of

Omicron Delta Kappa Omicron Delta Kappa (), also known as The Circle and ODK, is an American collegiate honor society that recognizes leadership and scholarship. It was founded in 1914, at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia and has chartered more t ...

. He also studied at

Merton College, Oxford Merton College (in full: The House or College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford) is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 126 ...

, on a

Rhodes Scholarship The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford in Oxford, United Kingdom. The scholarship is open to people from all backgrounds around the world. Established in 1902, it is ...

from 1947 to 1950. While at Oxford, Shannon played for the Oxford University Men's Basketball Team. He was a veteran of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

, having served on the U.S.S. ''Quincy'' during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He joined the faculty of the University of Virginia in 1956.Dabney, p. 422 ff. Accomplishments during his administration include the establishment of the

University of Virginia Press The University of Virginia Press (or UVaP) is a university press A university press is an academic publishing house specializing in monographs and scholarly journals. They are often an integral component of a large research university. They pu ...

,Dabney, p. 390. the establishment of the Center for Advanced Studies, and the creation of the Echols Scholar program. Shannon also oversaw significant increases in the value of the endowment; in 1962, a survey by the American Association of University Professors ranked the university first in the value of its endowment in proportion to its enrollment.Dabney, p. 425 ff. One of Shannon's most significant legacies to the university was a building program that included the construction of Gilmer Hall, the Chemistry Building, Wilson Hall, the architecture building (Edmund S. Campbell Hall); the Fiske Kimball Library; the university's nuclear reactor; University Hall; the "new dormitories" (Alderman Road and Observatory houses), as well as additions to many university buildings and the purchase of the Old Ivy Inn and Birdwood.Dabney, p. 570 ff. The restoration of the

Rotunda A rotunda () is any roofed building with a circular ground plan, and sometimes covered by a dome. It may also refer to a round room within a building (an example being the one below the dome of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.). ...

to its original state was funded and work was begun during Shannon's administration. Shannon's presidency encompassed the 1960s, and he helped to lead the university's response to social trends of the time. As President, Shannon resigned his membership in the Farmington Country Club over its refusal to admit black members,Dabney, p. 480. and worked to increase recruiting of black students and faculty.Dabney, p. 480-482. He also initiated undergraduate coeducation over the protests of alumni.Dabney, p. 490-493. He is perhaps most remembered for his response to growing student unrest over the Vietnam War, during which he sent a letter to President Nixon opposing the invasion of Cambodia.Obituary, Virginian Pilot. In 1980 he was given the Laurel Crowned Circle Award, Omicron Delta Kappa's highest honor.
He is buried at the

University of Virginia Cemetery The University of Virginia Cemetery and Columbarium is a cemetery on the grounds of the University of Virginia, located at the intersection of McCormick Road and Alderman Road. In operation since 1828, during the earliest days of the university, ...

Legacy

A movement to rename the University of Virginia’s main library building, originally named after first UVA president Edwin Alderman, began in September 2019. A proposal to rename the library was tabled by the Building and Grounds Committee of the University's Board of Visitors in December 2023, prior to the library’s reopening after extensive revisions; the proposal would have renamed the library in honor of Shannon. Following the library’s opening in the spring semester, a
open letter
supporting the proposed change was signed by over 1000 students, faculty, staff, and student organizations, including the Student Council. The Buildings and Grounds Committee voted 10-1 in favor of the change on February 29, 2024, and the following day the full Board of Visitors voted to rename the library in honor of Shannon.

Notes

References

* Dabney, Virginius. ''Mr. Jefferson's University: A History''.

Charlottesville Charlottesville, colloquially known as C'ville, is an independent city in Virginia, United States. It is the seat of government of Albemarle County, which surrounds the city, though the two are separate legal entities. It is named after Quee ...

, 1981. . *
Edgar Shannon, Ex-President of UVA, Dies
. ''Virginia Pilot'', August 25, 1997, p. B4. *

, ''New York Times'', August 26, 1997. {{DEFAULTSORT:Shannon, Edgar University of Virginia faculty Washington and Lee University alumni American Rhodes Scholars Presidents of the University of Virginia 1918 births 1997 deaths Burials at the University of Virginia Cemetery Alumni of Merton College, Oxford