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This collection (47 items) consists of two series. The first series contains records (1702-1814; 17 items) related to the Virginia Militia, including regimental returns for various militia units. This material pre-dates the establishment of the state arsenal in Lexington, Virginia, but the documents were found among Lexington Arsenal records. Two of the documents date from the British colonial period (1702). The second series (1819-1839; 30 items) contains items concerning the operation of the state arsenal in Lexington. Included are payrolls and other financial records, guard returns and muster rolls, and two enlistment documents.

This collection consists of one account book fragment (3 pages) owned by Cadet Charles B. Hundley, VMI Class of 1867. The account book contains entries for VMI expenses from 1864 to 1865.

The Samuel F. Atwill papers consist of two letters (dated 1862) written by Cadet Atwill to his parents that relate anecdotes about life at VMI. The papers also include one letter (dated July 1864) from Superintendent Francis H. Smith that notifies the Atwill family of Cadet Atwill's death, and a fragment of Atwill's cadet account book.

The bulk of the Andrew C. L. Gatewood papers consist of 28 letters (dated 1860-1864) written by Gatewood to his parents and other family members. Early letters describe life at VMI and in Lexington, Virginia, just prior to and during early months of the Civil War. Subsequent letters date from Gatewood's service with the 11th Virginia Cavalry Regiment, Company F (Bath Squadron), including a letter (dated September 1862) written after the Second Battle of Manassas (2nd Bull Run).

The William Couper papers document a portion of the life and career of Couper, a man notable for his research and publications about the history of VMI, Lexington, Rockbridge County, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia history and genealogy, Stonewall Jackson, and Claudius Crozet.

This collection consists of an account book owned by Camillus Christian, Jr. The book lists school expenses (1909-1913) incurred while he was a cadet at VMI.

This collection consists of one account book of an unidentified member of the Chew Family from the Shenandoah Valley region in Virginia. Entries (1834-1883) include itemized accounts of customers for a variety of goods and services, a list of expenses, notes about crops and cattle, clippings, and a recipe.

This collection consists of the one volume diary of Confederate soldier William J. Black. The diary entries date from October 1864 to January 1865, and were written while Black was serving in Captain John J. Shoemaker's Company, Virginia Horse Artillery. Included are brief accounts of various skirmishes, the Battle of Cedar Creek (Virginia), and campsites and positions that are recorded daily.

This collection consists of the Civil War papers of Nathaniel C. Wilson (VMI Class of 1861) and papers of other Wilson family members, including:

• Wilson's diary-account book fragment that includes entries from Pennsylvania and the battlefield at Gettysburg.
• Two letters (dated 1859-1860)written while Wilson was a student at the University of Virginia.
• One letter (dated March 14-25, 1863) from Wilson written during the Civil War from Camp near Greenville, Virginia.
• Wilson family correspondence, legal/financial papers, and ephemera.

This collection consists of the account book of Edward C. Laird and contains entries for cadet expenses (1872-1875).