This collection of photographs documents the Presidency of Ronald E. Carrier, 4th President of James Madison University. The images display both his personal and professional life, especially between the years 1960-1985.
[Identification of Item], Ronald E. Carrier Photograph Collection, 1950-1990, P 0003, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.
Donated by the Office of the President of James Madison University in 2009.
Created and accrued during the presidency of Ronald E Carrier from 1971-1998.
Photographs were removed mechanically from their paper mounts.
Ronald E. Carrier served as the fourth President of James Madison University from 1971 until 1998. He came to Harrisonburg from Memphis State University, where he served as the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Carrier family, which includes Ronald, his wife Edith, and their children Angela, Michael and Linda, resided in Hillcrest House on campus prior to the donation to JMU of “Oakview Mansion” by Mrs. Lois Poster, which became the President’s house.
Dr. Carrier brought many new ideas to Madison College. Under his tenure, Madison College grew from a prominently female institution holding 4,000 students to a co-ed university with 14,000 students. Dr. Carrier expanded the grounds of JMU more than 100 acres, and he is largely credited with the vision of East Campus, and the resulting expansion of the university to the eastern side of I-81. A total of 40 new buildings were also constructed at a cost of 210 million dollars.
The name of Madison College changed in 1977 to James Madison University. Changing the name of the college was controversial. However, the students, faculty, and alumni all voted for what name they preferred, and decided on the name James Madison University. In October, the Board of Visitors went to the Virginia General Assembly with the name change proposal. Dr. Carrier and Dr. Ray Sonner, then the Vice President of Public Affairs, lobbied for the name change and in October the bill passed through the Virginia House and Senate, and was signed by Governor Mills Godwin Jr. The name change was well received, and a new athletic facility was built, dubbed “Godwin Hall”.
This collection consists of photographs documenting the career and Presidency of Ronald E Carrier. It contains an array of both black and white and color photographs of varying sizes from snapshots to 8x10s. These photographs largely document Dr. Carrier’s presence on campus, from his inauguration to graduations to sporting events. The photographs also document other individuals that made influential contributions to the development of JMU such as Zane Showker and former Governor Mills E. Godwin.
The collection is arranged by topic, with attention to how the original order was kept. There is only one series, with fourteen subseries. The subseries are Portraits of Carrier, Portraits of Carrier Family and Friends, JMU Graduation, Name Change to James Madison University, Parties and Formal Events, Awards, Dr. Carrier with other officials, Board of Visitors, Dr. Carrier with Students and Alumni, Dr. Carrier at other Universities, Carriers’ Oakview Garden Show, Miscellaneous Black and White Photographs, and Miscellaneous JMU Photographs.
"Chancellor's Biography." James Madison University - Home. http://www.jmu.edu/chancellor/bio.htm (accessed March 3, 2011).
"JMU - JMU Presidents ." James Madison University - Home . http://www.jmu.edu/centennialcelebration/presidents.shtml (accessed March 3, 2011).
"JMU - Madison College to JMU ." James Madison University - Home . http://www.jmu.edu/centennialcelebration/Madison_JMU.shtml (accessed March 3, 2011).
"JMU Be the Change Profile: Ronald E. Carrier ." James Madison University - Home . http://www.jmu.edu/bethechange/people/carrier.shtml (accessed March 3, 2011).
Roberds, Richard M.. A History of the Founding of the College of Integrated Science and Technology: a Venture in Education Reform. Harrisonburg, Va.: James Madison University, 2005.
For textual information on the Presidency of Dr. Carrier, see PR 2000-0516B, which contains the papers of Dr. Carrier’s presidency.
Other material that is relevant to the development of James Madison University and this time period are the Roop Collection and the Emily Lee Collection.
These photographs were separated from PR 2000-0516B in the interest of preservation and organization.
-P0003.07.14 Carrier with Dean William Hanlon, Dr. Jennings, and D.P. Davis, Jr.
-P0003.07.16 Carrier with Francis and D. P. Davis Jr.
-P0003.07.22 Dr. William Hanlon, Dr. Carrier, Dr. Jennings, and D.P. Davis, Jr.