John L. Couper collection

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Preston Library
Virginia Military Institute
345 Letcher Ave.
Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jeffrey S. Kozak
Phone: (540) 464-7516
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7089
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions

Terms of access:

Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.

Preferred citation:

John L. Couper collection, 1936-1992. MS 0486. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
4 Linear Feet
Creator:
Couper, John L. (John Lee), 1916-2000
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

John L. Couper collection, 1936-1992. MS 0486. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of items related to John L. Couper, including correspondence (to parents and other family) and two photograph albums documenting service during World War II. The bulk of this collection is dated 1942 to 1946. The letters cover a wide range of topics, including training in Great Britain, field hospital operations in Europe, and comments about daily aspects of war. The photographs document the unit's movements, staff, and activities in England, France and Belgium. In addition, this collection includes a photograph album (1936-1937) dating from Couper's VMI cadetship, and extensive material documenting various VMI Class of 1937 reunions.

Biographical / historical:

John Lee Couper, M.D. graduated from VMI in 1937 and received his medical degree from the University of Virginia. A veteran of World War II, he served in the United States Army Medical Corps from 1941 to 1946, spending four years overseas with the St. Luke's Unit (Second Evacuation Hospital). He served in Great Britain and did five campaings in northern Europe with Fifth Corps, First Army. He separated from the service holding the rank of Captain. Couper spent his post-War career in the practice of anesthesiology. He died in 2001 in Lexington, Virginia.

Physical location:
Manuscripts stacks