Charles
William Carry Sanctuary Endowment
More than sixty years ago, with the active support
of President Meta Glass, provisions were made for establishing a wildlife and
nature sanctuary at Sweet Briar College. Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Carry, parents
of Peggy Carry Durland '35, established an endowment in memory of their son,
Charles William Carry, to support this sanctuary.
While several of the original provisions of the Carry
Sanctuary were quite specific ("study the effect of bird numbers on the
number of insect pests and plant diseases present on the farm"), the overall
aims and objectives set forth in 1936 are far-sighted with respect to the protection
of Sweet Briar's natural resources.
Here are the 1936 guidelines, excerpted and edited slightly for readability:
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Aim of the Sanctuary
The general aim shall be:
1) to make Sweet Briar (a) an outdoor laboratory for students of
Sweet Briar College; (b) a center of nature study; (c) an example of
enlightened conservation.
2) to promote research into biology, botany, and ornithology and
study of the problems of wildlife and nature conservation.
3) to become an integral part of the national conservation movement.
The particular objectives shall be:
1) conservation of Sweet Briar's natural resources,
through the pursuance of a college and farm policy that would always
take cognizance of the aims of the Sanctuary;
by the setting aside of an area of primeval forest
to be left untouched for the purpose of botanical study;
by care of the remaining forest areas.
2) further development of Sweet Briar's plant and wild life resources
by the establishment and maintenance of an arboretum to preserve native
species and to introduce new and rare ones;
the establishment of a wild flower garden to preserve native species
and to introduce new and rare ones;
the encouragement of desirable forms of bird life;
the encouragement of desirable forms of animal life.
The educational aims shall be:
1) the concentration of the above mentioned developments in areas suited
for both scientific study and casual observation;
2) the maintenance of several places as are suited for the study of
insects and water cultures;
3) the labelling of trees and flowers along convenient trails and roads;
...
8) that articles shall appear in the Sweet Briar News concerning some
particular bird, flower, tree, or general aspect of the work of the
Sanctuary ...
10) that research shall be encouraged, and for this purpose scholars
welcomed to work independently at the Sanctuary. ...
12) the encouragement of the formation of new sanctuaries [by other
property owners] by making information about Sweet Briar's sanctuaries
available to all those interested.
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Two locations for the Carry Sanctuary were proposed in 1938: the oak woods
along the entrance road, and Monument Hill below the cemetery. The Monument
Hill site was originally selected and surveyed, and informally protected. Formal
protection was given to the entrance road site by the Board in 1958, after a
decision was made to lumber the Monument Hill site.
One early project supported by the Carry Nature Sanctuary was the production
of a watercolor map of bird nest sites on campus. The watercolor hung in the
library and then in the Fletcher Science Library. Several years ago it was damaged
by water. It was professionally restored, and now hangs in the biology seminar
room in Guion A101.
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Support for the Sanctuaries and Related Programs
Support for the Sanctuaries, other natural areas, and for ecological research
and teaching at Sweet Briar College is provided by: the Carry Nature Sanctuary
Fund, the Fund for Natural Areas and Ecological Studies, the Caroline Sharp
Sanders Fund, the Phyllis Todd Ellis Arboretum Fund, and the Juliet Halliburton
Burnett Davis Environmental Studies Fund.
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Return
to the Natural History Home Page
URL: //nature.sbc.edu/Carryhistory.html email:
naturalist@sbc.edu
This site is maintained by Professor Linda S.
Fink (434) 381-6436
Department of Biology
Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar VA 24595
Last updated:3 February 1999
Sweet Briar College main site