SKU: 68147662388

The Old U(VA) And I: 1961-1965

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Description

The Old U(VA) And I: 1961-1965The decade of the 1960s saw sweeping changes at UVA as old barriers fell and students of new backgrounds came. Litigation that lasted from the late 1940s through the end of the 1960s eliminated historic barriers to African American and women students. No detailed UVA specific narrative has existed until former graduates from two ends of the decade, Joel Gardner, BA 1970, Rebel Yell to Revolution, in 2018 and now Frank Briggs, BA 1965, recognized that

The decade of the 1960s saw sweeping changes at UVA as old barriers fell and students of new backgrounds came. Litigation that lasted from the late 1940s through the end of the 1960s eliminated historic barriers to African American and women students. No detailed UVA-specific narrative has existed until former graduates from two ends of the decade, Joel Gardner, BA 1970, Rebel Yell to Revolution, in 2018 and now Frank Briggs, BA 1965, recognized that the University had changed in the most profound ways and used their own experiences to document what happened. This book will attract anyone who lived through that heady period. It will appeal also to others, to women and men who grew up later, and who may have wondered why and how the good old days ended and America stepped beyond them. Some might say grew up.

—John T. Casteen III, President Emeritus, University of Virginia, 1990–2010

Frank Briggs’s memoir is a highly entertaining trip in time to an era in UVA history that predated the social upheavals of the late 1960s. We accompany the author through his four years in a cloistered culture of tradition that had not changed over many decades. In a series of revealing and amusing anecdotes, we relive the road trips, party weekends, and collegiate shenanigans that dominated the student experience during that period. This is a must read for every Wahoo who lived through that era or anyone who has an interest in the social history of college life prior to the cultural revolution that swept across the country after Briggs’s graduation.

—Joel B. Gardner, Author, From Rebel Yell to Revolution: My Four Years at UVA, 1966–1970

As an old Beta and in many other respects as one of the older observers of the University still more or less vertical, I salute Frank Briggs for his most successful undertaking. I have encouraged alumni to write memoirs of their student days, and Frank has done this splendidly.

—Alexander G. “Sandy” Gilliam, Professor and University Historian Emeritus, University of Virginia

About the Author

The author lays the foundation in his account of his own life as a student during the last years of the “Old U”—a period that came to a natural end. His telling is rich in details – in the names, dates, and places that will be familiar to anyone who was a student in those days, and he is strikingly candid. His stories of party weekends and road trips and life in the Beta house ring true because they are so convincingly his stories, even as they are also our own stories. His tales of coming of age, of the courses almost (and not quite) failed, friendships that endured, successes and failures that tied him to the place, and of the love affair that defines his entry into adult life come in powerfully honest forms. Frank tells what every reader who was there will remember about the Old U but tells without arguing the past was better than what came after. That’s a rare quality in a tale of growing up, and a good reason to read and follow Frank through the process.

Frank Briggs was born in New Jersey and raised in Rhode Island, Montreal, Virginia, Houston, and Pittsburgh. He graduated from Blair Academy in 1961 and the University of Virginia in 1965 with a BA in English. After graduation, he moved to Atlanta, became a financial planner, and never left. Frank’s wife and three children are all Virginia graduates. He has been involved in numerous professional, civic, and Christian organizations. As a couple, the Briggs were instrumental in the establishment of the Atlanta Youth Academy to provide an academically superior education to underserved children in a Christian environment. A former commodore of the Atlanta Yacht Club, the Briggs have been avid supporters of sailing since their marriage in 1966. They enjoy their lake cabin whenever possible, often with some of their ten grandchildren.

“Exceptionally well written, impressively organized, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation, "The Old U(VA) and I: 1961-1965" is both a timely and timeless account of a life lived out in an interesting place during an interesting era. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college and university library Contemporary American Biography collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Old U(VA) and I: 1961-1965" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).” (The Midwest Book Review)

Reviews

Henry

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2021

Verified Purchase
In the fall of 1959 I entered the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in Blacksburg, VA, as a freshman and member of the Corps of Cadets. My goal was to become a commissioned officer in the U. S. Army. I quickly learned that our most disliked rival was the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, around 150 miles away. Charlottesville however had movie theaters, restaurants, liquor stores and fun things to do while Blacksburg offered only a single movie theater and a snack bar at the Trailways bus station. So it did occur to me that the reason VPI didn't like UVA was jealousy But, as I reached page 224 in the book I learned that the real reason for the VPI/UVA mutual dislike was the competition between these two institutions to increase the size of their student populations to tens of thousands. Today VPI is better known as Virginia Tech and both universities did grow their student populations to tens of thousands. With regard to the book, I wanted to read it out of curiosity. Although I might not have liked the UVA Wahoos back then I am a life long resident of Virginia and when out of town relatives came to visit, a trip to Charlottesville to visit Thomas Jefferson's house was always on the agenda. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Frank Briggs has a wicked sense of humor and the ability to bring characters and events to life with his vivid descriptions. An excellent and fast moving read.
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SKU: 68147662388

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Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Good Product
Size: 3 Panel-102'', Color: Beige
I got these dividers for outdoor use for some privacy from neighbors. They arrived quickly and were easy to set up. They look good, and though the legs don’t offer stability against any amount of wind—which I expected as it wasn’t advertised for outdoor use—all it took was placing a cinder block on the feet to hold it up right. Coverage is good, it’s easy to fold and move as needed, and it’s light weight. All in all a decent product. I will caution the purchase of “used like-new,” as both of the dividers I ordered were previously returned items, and one came missing a cap, instructions were not included, and the poles were all mixed up and not properly labeled. If I had not ordered a second divider (which did include the instructions) I would have had a much harder time figuring out which pieces were which and how to put them together.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2025
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julie h.
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
So versatile! Perfect solution for dividing a room.
Size: 4 Panel-88'', Color: Grey, Size: 4 Panel-88'', Color: Grey
Perfect solution for my space. My office has to double as the hangout room for the kids and I wanted something that would block off my computer so it is left alone. This space allows me to close off my computer as much or as little as I want. It is lightweight yet has sturdy feet. This is important so that if it gets bumped it won’t topple over. The price was great and the build time wasn’t too bad! I would recommend two people for set up. I went with the grey panels and I think I’ll end up hanging some twinkle lights at some point. Great purchase!
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Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2025
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Abbi
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 4
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Size: 4 Panel-88'', Color: Black
Very tall and easy to set up, the only thing I will say is that they do have large gaps in between, so you won't have 100% privacy unless you add a curtain in the back. Other than that, they are easy to fold, sturdy, and esy to assemble. The gaps are an easy fix so I would say they are worth it.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2026
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Tyi Campbell
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Great product and worth the money.
Size: 4 Panel-88'', Color: Black
Portable and stable. Perfect size and gives me the privacy I need when working from home. Stability is great as long as you place the stands correctly it won't wobble. I love it.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2026
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Mona T.
Birmingham, US
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Attractive
Size: 4 Panel-88'', Color: Grey
The assembled product is just as described. The screens look great! I am using them to hide the cluttered shelving in my garage. The area now looks quite neat Something I must say, though, is that the assembly was extremely difficult. I had to use a silicone spray and some pounding to get the A and B poles to fit together. Also, it required a great deal of strength to stretch and hold the fabric panels so that the bars inserted in each hem lines up with the screws inserted in A/B poles. I strongly recommend having a partner to help with the assembly. while sc and screw into poles them once inserted intetchedtne end of each pole ( and B poles barely fit together. I used silicone spray on the end and then pounded them
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Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2025

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