Mark B. Hardin Papers 1849-1947

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

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Mark B. Hardin papers contain twenty letters. The bulk of the correspondence was written by Hardin to his siblings, Susan Lane Hardin and John Haywood Hardin, during the period 1864-1899. In addition to family and personal news, the letters touch on various aspects of Hardin's career (Civil War service, VMI Faculty member).

Biographical / historical:

Mark Bernard "Bunny" Hardin, son of Lauriston Bonaparte Hardin and Anna M. H. Hooe, was born at Alexandria, Virginia on August 14, 1838. He entered the Virginia Military Institute 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 on April 6, 1865 and held at Old Capitol and Johnson's Island prisons. He was released on oath July 3 (some records say June 27) 1865.

Following the war, Hardin established an analytical chemistry business in New York City, where he resided until July 1867. He accepted a position as Professor of Chemistry at his alma mater, VMI, in the summer of 1867, and remained at the Institute until September 1890. From September 1890 until 1910 he taught at Clemson University.

Hardin married Mary Massie Payne of Wareenton, Virginia, on August 4, 1869. The couple had 8 children (4 sons and 4 daughters). He died at Clemson, South Carolina, on April 26, 1916. He is buried at the Old Stone Church Cemetery, Clemson.

Arrangement:

The papers are arranged in chronological order.

Physical description:
The collection consists of 20 items.