CHAPTER 641

An Act to approve and accept a deed of gift dated January 21, 1964, of
the property of the James Monroe Law Office-Museum and Memorial
Library, located in the city of Fredericksburg, and the library books
and other personal possessions of James Monroe, fifth President of
the United States and author of the “Monroe Doctrine,” to the Com-
monwealth of Virginia, to authorize the appointment of a Board of
Regents, and to establish the said Museum and Library as a part
of the property of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Rector and
Visitors of the University of Virginia. S18

180]

Approved April 1, 1964

_ Whereas, the James Monroe Memorial Foundation of Fredericksburg,
Virginia, a non-profit organization incorporated for historical and educa-
tional purposes under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, has
executed and acknowledged a Deed of Gift dated this twenty-first day of
January, nineteen hundred and sixty-four, conveying to the Commonwealth
of Virginia, the Rector and visitors of the University of Virginia, 1m-
proved real estate in Fredericksburg, Virginia, known as the James
Monroe Law Office-Museum and Memorial Library, and the contents
thereof, donated for the most part to the James Monroe Memorial
Foundation by Laurence Gouverneur Hoes, a direct descendant of James
Monroe, and Mr. Hoes’ wife, Ingrid Westesson Hoes, which property con-
sists of the original building in which James Monroe practiced law one
hundred seventy-five years ago, and now containing the largest collection
of personal possessions of President Monroe and his family, and the recently
constructed library wing housing among other things a large number of
books and an equal number of manuscripts pertaining to the Fifth Presi-
dent of the United States and his era up to the present; and

Whereas, the James Monroe Law Office-Museum and Memorial
Library is the fifth Presidential museum-library in the nation and the
first in the Commonwealth of Virginia and will add immeasurably to
knowledge regarding James Monroe and his era, and the Commonwealth
of Virginia through the University of Virginia can best preserve and
perpetuate said building and contents intact and make them better available
to students and scholars, and the visiting public; and

Whereas, said property is to be forever held and preserved intact by
the Commonwealth of Virginia, sacred to the memory of James Monroe
and is to be used and managed as set forth in said deed, which is in the
following words and figures:

“This deed made this twenty-first day of January, nineteen hundred
and sixty-four, by and between the James Monroe Memorial Foundation,
a corporation, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, party of the first part, and the
Commonwealth of Virginia, the Rector and visitors of the University of
Virginia, party of the second part, ,

“‘Witnesseth :

“Whereas, the party of the first part is the owner in fee simple free
and clear of any encumbrance, of the land and original building where
James Monroe practiced law in Fredericksburg, Virginia, which building
contains a large collection of personal property which belonged to President
Monroe and his family, with a library wing containing a large number
of books, manuscripts and other items pertaining to the Fifth President
of the United States and his era up to the present; and

“Whereas, it is the wish of the James Monroe Memorial Foundation
that said land and improvements thereon and contents therein, as herein-
after more particularly described, be donated as a perpetual memorial to
the memory of James Monroe and in honor of the principles of just govern-
ment and righteousness exemplified in his life and in his work, with the
hope and expectation that such a memorial will serve to strengthen the
adherence of all who may visit the memorial to the views expressed by
him in the ‘Monroe Doctrine’ and other documents; and

“Whereas, the party of the first part is also desirous that such me-
morial be perpetuated intact, and it believes it to be fitting that legal title
to said property and to such a memorial should be permanently vested in
the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Rector and visitors of the University of
Virginia, and forever held and preserved intact by it sacred to the memory
of Hf ames Monroe and used and managed as is set forth fully hereinafter:
an

“Whereas, the James Monroe Memorial Foundation has been soliciting
endowment for maintenance and preservation of each book in the Memorial
Library, with the endowment recorded on an appropriate bookplate fash-
ioned after the personal book label of James Monroe and permanently
affixed in each volume, and a number of books have been so endowed by
people over the world, including former President Hoover, former Presi-
dent and Mrs. Eisenhower, former President and Mrs. Kennedy, Governor
Albertis S. Harrison, Jr., of Virginia, and Queen Elizabeth and Prince
Philip of Great Britain, and it is fitting and desirable for the James
Monroe Memorial Foundation to continue this endowment program;

“Now, Therefore, the party of the first part in order to fulfill its
wishes and in consideration of its admiration for James Monroe and in
order to accomplish the purpose hereinabove set forth, hereby gives, grants
and conveys unto the party of the second part, to be perpetually held and
preserved intact by the party of the second part as a memorial to the
memory of James Monroe, subject, however, to the terms and conditions
hereinafter expressed, the following described property known as the
James Monroe Law Office-Museum and Memorial Library in Fredericks-
burg, Virginia:

“All that certain lot or parcel of land, known as James Monroe Law
Office, together with all buildings and improvements thereon, and rights
and privileges thereto appurtenant, situate, lying, and being on the West
side of Charles Street between William (or Commerce) Street and George
Street, in the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, fronting 83.25 feet on
Charles Street, and running back Westerly between parallel lines, a depth
of 58.6 feet, and being more particularly described as follows:

“Beginning at a point on the West side of Charles Street 82.75 feet
South from a brass pin imbedded in the sidewalk at the Southwest corner
formed by the junction of William and Charles Streets; thence Westerly,
and parallel with William Street, 58.6 feet to a gas pipe driven in the
ground; thence Southerly, and parallel with Charles Street, 83.25 feet to
another gas pipe by the Masonic Cemetery fence; thence with the Masonic
Cemetery wall, Easterly, and parallel with William Street, 58.6 feet to
Charles Street; thence Northerly, with the line of Charles Street, 83.25
feet to the point of beginning; being particularly described by plat and
survey made by L. R. R. Curtis, Surveyor, August 15, 1927, and duly
recorded in Deed Book 60, at Page 486 in the Clerk’s Office of the Circuit
Court of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, it being the same real estate
that was conveyed unto James Monroe Memorial Foundation by deed from
Laurence Gouverneur Hoes and Ingrid Westesson Hoes, husband and wife,
dated July 22, 1948, and duly recorded in Deed Book 85 at Page 272 in the
Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Court of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia,
to which said deed and to the deeds, plats and other writings therein
referred to reference is hereby made for title, and for further description
»f the real estate hereby conveyed, as though fully and at large set forth
1erein, and together with the contents of the buildings on said property
und all personal property there situated, except only the following which
are on loan to the party of the first part: portrait of President James
VUiadison painted by John Vanderlyn on the former’s order for President
James Monroe; one pair of silver Corinthinian column square-based can-
llesticks with crest of Gouverneur family; one book with autograph of
frames Monroe; one book with autograph of Samuel Lawrence Gouverneur;
ne book belonging to member of the Campbell family; one book belonging
o member of Hoes family; one full length silhouette of President James
Aonroe cut by Master Hankes; one miniature on ivory of President James
Aonroe painted by Madame Buset in gold oval frame; and one brass bound
nahogany dispatch box with sunken brass handle on top.

‘“‘The terms and conditions to which this gift, grant and conveyance
hall be subject are:

‘‘First. This deed shall be of no effect whatsoever unless and until
- shall have been approved and accepted on behalf of the Commonwealth
of Virginia by an act of its General Assembly.

“Second. The memorial shall be perpetuated intact, and, subject to
the approval of the Rector and visitors of the University of Virginia,
shall be managed and supervised by a board of regents to be known as
the ‘Board of Regents of the James Monroe Law Office-Museum and
Memorial Library.’ Said board shall consist of not less than eighteen
members, two of whom shall be the Rector and President of the University
of Virginia, two of whom shall be the President and the Secretary of the
James Monroe Memorial Foundation, and the Secretary of the James
Monroe Memorial Foundation shall serve also as Secretary to the board
of regents of the James Monroe Law Office-Museum and Memorial
Library and shall receive reasonable compensation for those services,
and the others shall be appointed by the Governor of Virginia upon
nomination of the Rector and visitors of the University of Virginia and
the James Monroe Memorial Foundation, for such term, not exceeding ten
years, aS may be prescribed in the by-laws of the Board of Regents of
the James Monroe Law Office-Museum and Memorial Library. An equal
number of Regents shall be appointed by the Governor of Virginia from
the respective lists of nominations submitted by the Rector and visitors
of the University of Virginia and the James Monroe Memorial Foundation.
Vacancies shall be filled in like manner.

“Third. The said board of regents may, if they deem it advisable,
incorporate themselves under the name of the ‘Board of Regents of the
James Monroe Law Office-Museum and Memorial Library, Inc.’

“Fourth. The said board of regents shall elect from among its mem-
bership such other officers for such terms, and with such duties, as it may
deem advisable. It shall adopt such by-laws for its government as may
appear to be proper. It shall meet at least annually on such date as it may
determine at the James Monroe Law Office-Museum and Memorial Library
in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and at such other times and places as it may
determine, for the purpose of transacting its business, and seven of its
members shall constitute a quorum. It may provide and elect from among
its members an executive committee, which, in the interim between meet-
ings of the board, shall, to the extent of the powers conferred by the
resolution creating it, or amendment thereto, manage and supervise the
Memorial.

“Fifth. An itemized inventory of the properties and contents of the
James Monroe Law Office-Museum and Memorial Library shall be prepared
and kept up to date and also recorded therein all additional items acquired,
and each year an accounting for each of those items shall be made to the
Board of Regents of the James Monroe Law Office-Museum and Memorial
Library and to the Rector and visitors of the University of Virginia. No
item belonging to or entrusted to the James Monroe Law Office-Museum and
Memorial Library shall be sold, loaned, disposed of, or removed from the
premises without approval of the board of regents of the James Monroe
Law Office-Museum and Memorial Library or its executive committee.

“Sixth. Subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as said board
of regents may adopt, the memorial shall be kept open to the public. The
board of regents may, in its discretion, charge an entrance fee, the amount
of which it shall from time to time determine, and sell memorial mementos
and souvenirs, provided, however, that the income so received shall never
be used for any purpose other than to meet the expenses of maintaining
and preserving the memorial, paying such salaries, wages and other items
as may be necessary properly to operate it, and of purchasing such articles,
books and papers for preservation at the memorial as may be associated
with James Monroe and his era. Any articles, books or papers so pur-
chased, or which may be presented to and accepted by said board of
regents, shall become a part of the memorial and shall be held subject
to all the terms and conditions to which it is subject. Any surplus
funds may be used for disseminating knowledge of the life and service of
James Monroe and of his contribution to the principles of government.

“Seventh. The James Monroe Memorial Foundation may continue
the aforesaid endowment bookplate program for books in the Memorial
Library and the net proceeds therefrom shall be kept by the James Monroe
Memorial Foundation in a special endowment fund for use by it to main-
tain, protect and preserve the volumes so endowed in the Memorial Library.

“Kighth. The board of visitors of the University of Virginia shall be
charged with the care and preservation of the property.

In witness whereof the James Monroe Memorial Foundation has
caused its name to be signed hereto by Laurence Gouverneur Hoes its
President and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed by Ingrid
Westesson Hoes, its Secretary, the day and year first above written.

JAMES MONROE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
By (Signed) Laurence Gouverneur Hoes, President
Attest: (signed) Ingrid Westesson Hoes, Secretary
Commonwealth of Virginia, City of Richmond—To-wit:

I, Mabel G. Hurt, a notary public for and in the state and city aforesaid,
do certify that Laurence Gouverneur Hoes whose name as President of the
James Monroe Memorial Foundation is signed to the writing above, bear-
ing date of 21st day of January, 1964, has acknowledged the same before
me in my state and city aforesaid.

Given under my hand this 13th day of February, 1964.

(signed) Mabel G. Hurt, Notary Public

My commission expires: May 8, 1966. _

Whereas, according to the terms and provisions of said deed, it is of no
effect unless and until it shall have been approved and accepted on behalf
of the Commonwealth of Virginia by an act of its general assembly; and,

Whereas, it is fitting that the Commonwealth through its general

assembly, shall make public expression of her appreciation of this most
generous gift and of her high approval of the purpose for which it is made;
now, therefore,
1. Beit enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That the Common-
wealth of Virginia doth hereby approve and accept said deed of gift, and
doth hereby express her appreciation of the generosity which has prompted
it and her whole-hearted approval of the purpose for which this memorial
is established ; provided, however, that such acceptance shall not be deemed
to obligate the Commonwealth at any time to financial support of such
library to a greater extent than fifteen thousand dollars per annum.