Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890
Person
Major General Francis Henney Smith (b. 1812 d. 1890) was appointed VMI's first Superintendent in 1839. An 1833 graduate of West Point, he had previously served briefly in the U. S. Army and was a Professor of Mathematics at Hampden-Sydney College (VA) when he accepted the position as head of the newly established Virginia Military Institute. He served for fifty years, from the Institute's infancy, through the Civil War, and through the difficult post-war period. He is known as the "builder and rebuilder of VMI." Smith retired on January 1, 1890 and died only a few months later, on March 21, 1890.
Found in 53 Collections and/or Records:
Andrew Gatewood letter , 1864 April 16
Item
Scope and Contents
In camp; Gatewood's regiment presented the VMI Corps of Cadets with a captured flag; review of troops by General Smith.
Barton Family Papers
Collection
Identifier: MS-0020
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of the miscellaneous papers of three members of the Barton family who attended the Virginia Military Institute during the mid-19th century. Papers relating to Cadet Charles M. Barton (VMI Class of 1856) include a letter dated September 28, 1855 from Charles to his cousin Joseph M. Barton, in which he complains about VMI life and about his instructor Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (Jackson is described as a "hell of a fool"). Other Charles Barton material is found in a...
Charles P. Deyerle Papers
Collection
Identifier: MS-0191
Scope and Contents
The papers contain 12 items from the career of Charles P. Deyerle. Included are documents dating from his medical studies and his service in the United States Army. Also included are miscellaneous clippings.
Charles R. K. Varner collection
Collection
Identifier: MS-0445
Scope and Contents
The collection contains miscellaneous items pertaining to Charles R. K. Varner, VMI Class of 1884. Included are three quarterly grade reports (1881, 1884) and one letter of recommendation (1889) written by VMI Superintendent Francis H. Smith; a VMI postcard; miscellaneous dance programs from the early 20th century.
Edward C. Shepherd collection
Collection
Identifier: MS-0019
Scope and Contents
The collection contains three notebooks, two miscellaneous documents, and an annotated analytical geometry text that belonged to Virginia Military Institute Cadet Edward C. Shepherd during his years as a VMI student, 1851-1855. The first notebook contains approximately 50 pen and ink, hand-tinted drawings by Shepherd; these were completed as assignments for VMI courses and some bear the signature of Superintendent Francis H. Smith (" Examined correct, F.H. Smith"). This book also includes a...
Francis H. Smith - George W. Cullum Correspondence, 1865. Full Text Transcriptions [Digital]
Digital Collection
Identifier: http://digitalcollections.vmi.edu/digital/collection/p15821coll14/id/1019
Found in:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Francis H. Smith Armory Commission Letters, 1858-1860. Full Text Transcriptions. [Digital]
Digital Collection
Identifier: http://digitalcollections.vmi.edu/digital/collection/p15821coll14/id/640
Found in:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Francis H. Smith Circular Letter Soliciting Items to Establish a Museum at VMI
Item
Identifier: RG-02-Outgoing-18450227
Scope and Contents
Virginia Military Institute printed circular, signed in ink by Superintendent Francis H. Smith, petitioning alumni for donations of "Curiousities, both literary and natural" to help establish a Museum at VMI. This examples is dated February 27, 1845, and addressed to William S. Beale, a member of the Class of 1843.
Also mentions addition to Barracks, new Gun House, Society of Cadets Hall, and Library.
Also mentions addition to Barracks, new Gun House, Society of Cadets Hall, and Library.
Francis H. Smith European Travel Letter Book, Volume 1, Transcription. [Digital]
Digital Collection
Identifier: http://digitalcollections.vmi.edu/digital/collection/p15821coll14/id/278
Found in:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
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