Showing Collections: 1 - 10 of 21
Alexander S. Brown letters
Collection
Identifier: MS-0217
Scope and Contents
Two letters from Washington College student Alexander S. Brown to his sister, dated 1846 September 20 and 1848 September 7. The 1848 letter mentions the Cincinnati military class, in which Washington College students participated in military training conducted by VMI staff. he second letter expresses his dissatisfaction with the College and a desire to transfer to another school.
Found in:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Charles A. Derby Papers
Collection
Identifier: MS-0030
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the collection consists of Derby family correspondence. Approximately twenty-eight letters were written by Charles Derby. The Charles Derby letters, 1844-1862, cover the period from late boyhood up to his death in battle in 1862. Included are letters (1846-1847) written while he was a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute, as well as correspondence dating from his careers as teacher and Episcopal clergyman. Two items were written during his brief service in the Confederate...
Found in:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Daniel Lee Powell letters
Collection
Identifier: MS-0076
Scope and Contents
One letter (July 15, 1844) from Henry T. Lee (Class of 1845 & Powell's uncle) to Cadets Fitzhugh and Keeling, requesting that they treat Powell with kindness. One letter (August 22, 1846) from Cadet Powell to his mother, describing guard duty at "Camp Crozet"; purchase of clothing; family news.
Found in:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Founders Day Speech
Collection
Identifier: MS-0466
Scope and Contents
A four page holograph manuscript containing the text of a speech given by an unidentified speaker on the Institute's Founders Day anniversary, November 11, 1843. "With you in a great degree it rests to sustain the name of the Institution which herafter you will be proud to acknowledge as your Alma Mater, the brightest hopes and fondest dreams of our Common State."
Found in:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Giles Gunn Papers
Collection
Identifier: MS-0292
Scope and Contents
The papers consist of five letters (1848-1854) written by Giles Gunn, a native of Connecticut, while he was a schoolteacher in Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia. The letters, addressed primarily to his sister Mary (living at the Gunn home in Washington, Litchfield County, Connecticut), include discussions of interesting local events as well as references to family. Topics include commencement at the Virginia Military Institute; a detailed description of his school and his methods of...
Found in:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
James D. Saunders letter
Item
Identifier: MS-0247
Scope and Contents
One letter (November 24, 1842) from Cadet James Saunders to his cousin John Mitchell. Saunders describes hardships of cadet life, the dullness of Lexington, VMI's 3rd anniversary (Founders Day) celebration, a storm damaging the north wall of Barracks, and mentions Edward C. Carrington, Class of 1844. One of the earliest extant cadet personal letters.
Found in:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
James E. Tyler letter
Collection
Identifier: MS-0074
Scope and Contents
One letter (May 14, 1846) from VMI alumnus James E. Tyler to President James K. Polk, requesting a commission in the Army or Marine Corps. Tyler mentions recommendations from Francis H. Smith and John T.L. Preston, and states that he was an "inmate" of VMI for two years.
Found in:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
John B. Strange letter
Item
Identifier: MS-0153
Scope and Contents
Strange's letter to his sister Anne was written just a few months after the Institute's opening day, and is one of the oldest personal cadet letters still in existence. Strange mentions several aspects of cadet life that were common during the pre-Civil War era: Final examinations were given orally rather than as written tests, presided over by faculty and the VMI Board of Visitors and open to the public; summer furlough was not automatic, and many cadets stayed at the Institute throughout the...
Found in:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
John F. Early Papers
Collection
Identifier: MS-0012
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of the letters and diary of Cadet John F. Early (b. 1830 in Lynchburg, Va.; d. 1894), who attended VMI 1848-1850. The one volume diary-notebook contains short and sporadic entries; daily routines and special events are noted; one of the earliest references to Superintendent Francis H. Smith as "Spex" (April 30, 1850); lists of cadets; room occupants; poetry of Sara Henderson Smith ("The Old Gray Coat) and others. The five letters were written to...
Found in:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
John M. Cary papers
Collection
Identifier: MS-0156
Scope and Contents
Papers, 3 items, of John M. Cary, consisting of appointment to a state cadetship at VMI (July 1845); Cary's letter of acceptance (July 8, 1845); and one letter of recommendation by Board of Visitors member William H. Terrill, dated Sept. 19, 1849. Cary had served as a tutor for Terrill's children.
Found in:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Filtered By
- Subject: Virginia Military Institute -- Cadet life -- 1840-1849 X
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Additional filters:
- Names
- 1 Arnold, William E. (William Elisha), 1830-1902
- 1 Bowyer, John P. (John Preston), 1829?-1849
- 1 Brown, Alexander Stuart
- 1 Campbell, Nathaniel H. (Nathaniel Henry), 1824-1867
- 1 Carrington, Edward C., Jr. (Edward Codrington)
- 1 Cary, John M. (John Mathews), 1829-1853
- 1 Derby Family
- 1 Derby, Charles A., 1828-1862
- 1 Early, John F. (John Fletcher), 1830-1894
- 1 Fitzhugh, Philip A. (Philip Aylett), 1824-1908
- 1 Gatewood, Robert, 1829-1909
- 1 Gibbons, Simeon B. (Simeon Beauford), 1833-1862
- 1 Gibbs, Philip C. (Philip Cromwell), 1831-1859
- 1 Gordon, William M. (William Milburn), 1830-1907
- 1 Green, William J. (William James), 1825-1862
- 1 Gunn, Giles
- 1 Lee, Henry T. (Henry Tucker), 1825-1883
- 1 Moncure family
- 1 Moncure, Thomas J. (Thomas Jefferson), 1832-1912
- 2 Powell, Daniel L. (Daniel Lee), 1826-1871
- 1 Saunders, James D., 1824-1851
- 3 Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890
- 1 Smith, Francis L. (Francis Lee), 1845-1916
- 2 Smith, Sara Henderson, 1812-1884
- 1 Stancell Family
- 1 Steenbergen, John W., 1831-1916
- 1 Strange family
- 1 Strange, John B. (John Bowie), 1823-1862
- 1 Terrill, William H. (William Henry), 1800-1877
- 1 Thompson, John A. (John Addy), 1832-1867
- 1 Tyler, James E., 1826-?
- 1 Yager, William O. (William Overall), 1833-1904 ∧ less
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