Heritage
1894-2003
Chatham Hall was chartered by the Virginia General Assembly as the Chatham Episcopal Female Institute on February 24, 1894. Having been the principal force in the school’s founding, the Reverend Clevius Orlando Pruden served as President of a Board of Trustees made up of parish rectors from the Danville Convocation of the Diocese of Southern Virginia from 1894 until 1918. As Rector of the local parish, Banister Parish, Pruden was also deemed the “Rector-in-Charge” of the venture. Heads of the school were known as “Principals” until 1939.
1894 – 1898 Miss Jennie Nelson, Principal
1898 – 1900 Dr. Richard H. Willis, Principal
1900 The Rev. Dr. Clevius Orlando Pruden, Acting Principal and Rector-in-Charge*
1900 – 1902 Mr. William C. Marshall, Principal
1902 – 1920 Mrs. Elizabeth May Willis, Principal**
1920 – 1925 Miss Annie Marion Powell, Principal
1925 – 1928 Miss Mabel Eleanor Stone, Principal
Chatham Episcopal Institute became Chatham Hall in 1927. Heads of the school retained the title “Principal” until the opening of St. Mary’s Chapel in 1939, when Dr. Lee, the former Rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Chatham, became instead Rector of St. Mary’s. Heads of Chatham Hall have thereafter retained the title “Rector.”
1928 – 1949 The Rev. Dr. Edmund Jennings Lee, Principal and Rector
1949 – 1971 The Rev. Dr. William W. Yardley, Rector
1971 – 1976 The Rev. William Reeves, Rector
1976 – 1979 The Rev. Russell Ingersoll, Rector
1979 – 1981 Mr. Donald C. Hagerman, Interim Headmaster and Rector
1981 – 1998 Mr. Jerry A. Van Voorhis, Rector
1998 – 2003 Mrs. Marlene Rutledge Shaw, Rector
2003 - Dr. Gary J. Fountain, Rector
* Richard H. Willis died of pneumonia January 1, 1900. Following his untimely death, Dr. Pruden acted as Principal and Rector-in-Charge until the Board of Trustees appointed William C. Marshall.
** Elizabeth May Willis, widow of Richard H. Willis, had taught art from 1898 before succeeding Mr. Marshall.
