Scope and Contents The papers consist of approximately 25 letters from Virginia Military Institute Cadet John Orr to his parents. The correspondence contains details about cadet life during the early 1890's, including references to daily routines (guard duty, meals, studies); faculty; the town of Lexington; and an extensive account of the fight between two cadets that led to the death of Warner T. Taliaferro, VMI Class of 1894. The collection also contains 2 religious tracts, circa 1890.

Scope and Contents One letter, dated September 25, 1890, from Cadet William S. Weddell to his mother. He describes the day on which his classmate Cadet Warner T. Taliaferro died following a fight with a fellow cadet, Frank W. McConnico.