Letter from Robert F. Smart to James V. Larkin

Letter from Robert F. Smart to James V. Larkin

This letter was sent on September 8, 1971, from Robert F. Smart, the Provost of the University of Richmond, to James V. Larkin, the Director of Bands. Smart wrote to Larkin regarding the issue of majorettes (female dancers), participation in the band program; Deans Gehring, Dean Grigg, and Smart discussed this issue with Miss Kidd, who is only mentioned by name but not described in any way. They agreed that Larkin should ultimately decide and that he "should have the maximum of freedom to develop in good taste the presentation [he feels] most appropriate to the members of [his] band and to the University." However, if Larkin decided to have majorettes, the university’s money could not be used to recruit or uniform the majorettes, and he could not offer scholarships or academic credit to majorettes. In addition, Smart wrote that it would be in the university’s best interest for the color bearers to not include the Confederate flag and for Larkin to use discretion in the playing of "Dixie."

Letter from Robert F. Smart to James V. Larkin, 8 September 1971, RG 16.1.14, University Archives, Virginia Baptist Historical Society.

1971-09-08

English

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Richmond (Va.)