VMI Order Books and Memoranda

The Order Books contain official orders and notices concerning the military regulations and operations, as well as the academic administration of the Institute. The definitions of Orders, Special Orders, and Memoranda overlap and vary over time.

General Orders: Announcements of interest to all or to a large group of cadets and the faculty, concerning military and academic schedules and regulations, special events, military and academic ranking.

Special Orders- Issues of concern to individual or to a small group of cadets. Cover a wide range of topics, but particualrly concern appointments, promotions, disciplinary actions, and permissions.

Memoranda- From Sept. 1926 through present, the memoranda are grouped separately, but are contained within the order book for the academic year. Memoranda cover administrative issues which do not require official military orders. Prior to 1922, this type of notice was infrequently included in the Order Books as a Circular. There is also a separate series of unbound memoranda.

Later volumes contain copies of the weekly Faculty and Staff Bulletin, which contains announcements about calendar events, reminders, and other information of broad interest.

Orders are issued by the Office of the Chief of Staff on behalf of the Superintendent.