It’s March and your SCRC processing team is back and dedicating this month’s full new finding aids blog post to highlighting another photograph collection documenting the early years of Mason history! We’re excited to announce that this collection is now fully processed and available for use in the Special Collections Research Center and the finding aid is available on our website (or use the link included below).
Richard M. Sparks George Mason College photograph collection, C0521
Collection processed by Meghan Glasbrenner
A collection of both digitized and printed photographs taken by Richard M. Sparks of George Mason College student life at Bailey’s Crossroads in the early 1960s. Originally established as a Northern Virginia branch of the University of Virginia, the University College of the University of Virginia formally opened as a 2-year associates degree granting school on September 24, 1957 in the former Bailey’s Elementary School on Columbia Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia.
“George Mason College, Columbia Pike side”, December 1961, Folder 8, C0521
The eight-room red-brick schoolhouse, originally built in 1922, had 8 classrooms, with no designated gathering place for students aside from the main hallway, front porch, and parking lot. To help provide a place for students to gather, the nearby Bailey’s Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department offered the use of its upstairs bingo hall as a student lounge during the day. Additionally, the building’s small rooms required college events, such as assemblies, meetings, and celebrations, to also be held at nearby locations, such as the Alexandria Episcopal Seminary. On January 1, 1960 the name was changed to George Mason College (GMC) following a tiebreaking vote by the University’s Board of Visitors.
“Richard Sparks shooting a picture of Jim Wilson”, 1964, Folder 44, C0521
Richard M. Sparks entered GMC as a student at the Bailey’s Crossroads campus in September 1961. After completing his two-year program, Sparks remained at GMC part-time the following year working as a lab assistant while also attending American University in Washington, D.C. It was during this year that Sparks met his future wife Ann Walker.
“Biology Lab, South Building”, 1965, Folder 82, C0521
When GMC moved to its new, permanent Fairfax campus in August 1964 Sparks continued his work with the school in the Biology Department as an instructor until 1968. He received his undergraduate degree from George Washington University in 1967 and returned to GMC in 1970 to complete his Master of Science degree in Biology, which he received in 1973, one year after the school separated from the University of Virginia and was renamed George Mason University.
Four students sitting on front steps of building, 1964, Folder 52, C0521
The Bailey’s Crossroads campus (also known as BXU) remained in service until August 1964 when GMC moved to its permanent location south of the City of Fairfax. The new Fairfax campus officially opened on September 14, 1964 with 356 registered students, a 58% increase from the final school year at Bailey’s Crossroads, and four buildings, each named for the direction it faced (North, South, East, and West). More information about the history of these early GMC locations can be found at this link: The Mason Experience: Past and Present .
“Groundbreaking for Fenwick Library”, July 1966, Folder 95, C0521
The photographs in this collection are primarily described individually, although some have been grouped if multiple photographs cover the same event. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs are attributed to Richard M. Sparks. The collection documents classes, faculty, students, and college events and celebrations primarily at Bailey’s Crossroads, but also during the first few years at the permanent campus in Fairfax:
Five students pose with Bailey’s Crossroads campus sign, 1964, Folder 63, C0521
“Saturday make-up lab”, 1964, Folder 35, C0521
Four students exiting math classroom, circa 1964, Folder 42, C0521
Student-Faculty Picnic at home of Jim Heath in McLean, 1964, Folder 66, C0521
In the Biology Lab in South Building, “local cat was just visiting”, 1964, Folder 72, C0521
“Bobby Hoyt and Dennis Ladd entertain a small crowd”, May 1965, Folder 75, C0521
Boys-Girls football game, 1965, Folder 87, C0521
Follow SCRC on Social Media and look out for future posts on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. To search the collections held at Special Collections Research Center, go to our website and browse the finding aids by subject or title. You may also e-mail us at speccoll@gmu.edu or call 703-993-2220 if you would like to schedule an appointment, request materials, or if you have questions.
