Mark B. Hardin collection

Access and use

Location of collection:
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 noncommercial 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:

Mark B. Hardin papers, 1849-1947. MS 0440. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Collection context

Summary

Extent:
20 items
Creator:
Hardin, Mark B. (Mark Bernard), 1838-1916
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Mark B. Hardin papers, 1849-1947. MS 0440. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection (20 items) consists of correspondence, the bulk (1864-1899) of which was written by Mark B. Hardin to his siblings, Susan Lane Hardin (1850-1899) and John Haywood Hardin (1853-1932). In addition to family and personal news, the letters touch on various aspects of Hardin's career.

Biographical / historical:

Mark Bernard "Bunny" Hardin was born on August 14, 1838 in Alexandria, Virginia to Lauriston Bonaparte Hardin (1804-1858) and Anna Maria Hanson Hooe (1817-1845). He entered VMI on September 7, 1854 and graduated on July 4, 1858, standing first in his class. Following graduation he joined the faculty at VMI, teaching chemistry and other subjects until the beginning of the Civil War.

Hardin served with the 33rd and 9th Virginia Infantry Regiments and with the 18th Battalion Virginia Heavy Artillery. He was captured at Sayler's Creek, Virginia on April 6, 1865 and held at Old Capitol and Johnson's Island prisons. He was released on oath on July 3, 1865 (some records say June 27).

Following the War, Hardin established an analytical chemistry business in New York City, New York where he resided until July 1867. From summer 1867 to September 1890 he was a Professor of Chemistry at VMI. From September 1890 to 1910 he taught at Clemson University, South Carolina.

Hardin married Mary Massie Payne of Warrenton, Virginia, on August 4, 1869, and the couple had eight children. He died on April 26, 1916 in Clemson, South Carolina and is buried at the Old Stone Church Cemetery, Clemson.

Physical location:
Manuscripts stacks