Serving The Old Dominion

Placing the university's development into the larger context of American higher education, Phillip Hamilton narrates CNU's growth and evolution across five decades. In 1958, Hampton Roads leaders initiated discussions with state officials to create a commuter college on the Peninsula to serve both working adults and the "baby-boom" generation. Initially a two-year branch of the College of William and Mary, CNU quickly established a tradition of excellent teaching led by a dedicated faculty.

The story of Old Dominion University began during one of the most uncertain times in American history. In 1930, as the country sank deeper into the Great Depression, the College of William and Mary opened a two-year extension school in nearby Norfolk, Virginia, to provide affordable, quality education to the community. Embracing its founding spirit of innovation, the school rapidly evolved into an independent, four-year college and adopted Virginia’s nickname “Old Dominion.” As the country transformed during the 1960s, so did the college, and by 1969, it had progressed into a dynamic public university. Now with over 250 academic programs, nine colleges, and approximately 25,000 students representing over 100 countries, Old Dominion University continues to pride itself on forward-thinking research, inclusiveness, and strategic partnerships.

Defending the Old Dominion describes historical events in Virginia during the War of 1812, examining how Virginia’s militia was organized, supplied, and financed by the Commonwealth. The book discusses the militia’s unpreparedness in training, its lack of adequate ordnance and arms, and how that affected its ability to defend the state against British incursions during the war. Political activities of the Virginia legislature and the U.S. Congress are examined with special reference to how the state financed the war and its relationship with the U.S. government. The book includes the fascinating story of nearly two thousand former slaves who fled to British ships to fight in Virginia with British forces.

Colonist George Thorpe first crafted "corn beere," an ancestor to bourbon, in 1620 at Berkeley Plantation, and George Washington once operated one of the nation's largest distilleries. Icy mint juleps were first served in Virginia until the state was one of the first to enact Prohibition. That dark period gave rise to bootlegging, moonshining and even NASCAR. Through well-documented research, interviews with key stakeholders and plenty of cocktail recipes for the reader to shake and stir at home, author Patrick Evans-Hylton showcases the rich history of four hundred years of drinking in the Commonwealth. Raise a glass to Virginia, birthplace of American spirits, and its long history of distilling and imbibing.

Places the antebellum debate over slavery and states' rights in the context of early discussions of the two-party system and economic development by founding fathers Jefferson and Madison, arguing that the similarities between North and South were more numerous than the differences, and analyzes the state's regional cultures, demonstrating that party politics as a system expanded democracy Virginia. Includes bandw maps and photos. For scholars of history. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Through classic images, Old Dominion University Mens Basketball traces the rise of the basketball program from a school born during the Depression to todays vibrant university with more than 26,000 students and a multimillion-dollar sports venue. Encounter great Monarch teams that thrived under coaches Tommy Scott, Bud Metheny, Sonny Allen, Paul Webb, Tom Young, Oliver Purnell, Jeff Capel, and Blaine Taylor. Meet the Monarchs All-Americans, including Leo Anthony, Dave Twardzik, Joel Copeland, Wilson Washington, Mark West, and Kenny Gattison. Experience the thrill as ODU captures 13 conference championships, an NCAA National Division II Championship, bids to 8 NCAA Division I Tournaments, and 19 games in the National Invitation Tournament.

"On the morning of 26 April 1607, three small ships carrying 143 Englishmen arrived off the Virginia coast of North America, having spent four months at sea.... All hoped for financial success and perhaps a little adventure; as it turned out, their tiny settlement eventually would evolve from colony into a prominent state in an entirely new nation." So begins Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: A History of Virginia, 1607-2007 and the remarkable story behind the founding not only of the state of Virginia but of our nation. With this book, the historians Ronald L. Heinemann, John G. Kolp, Anthony S. Parent Jr., and William G. Shade collaborate to provide a comprehensive, accessible, one-volume history of Virginia, the first of its kind since the 1970s. In seventeen narrative chapters, the authors tackle the four centuries of Virginia’s history from Jamestown through the present, emphasizing the major themes that play throughout Virginia history—change and continuity, a conservative political order, race and slavery, economic development, and social divisions—and how they relate to national events. Including helpful bibliographical listings at the end of each chapter as well as a general listing of useful sources and Websites, the book is truly a treasure trove for any student, scholar, or general-interest reader looking to find out more about the history of Virginia and our nation. Timed to coincide with the 2007 quadricentennial, Old Dominion, New Commonwealth will stand as a classic for years to come.