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Virginia Military Institute Archives

Military oral history collection

12 cubic feet

This oral history collection spans the World War II era through recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. One interview (Frank Buckles) covers World War I service. The majority of the interviews were conducted by VMI cadets taking courses in military history. The interview files and recordings are housed in the VMI Archives.

Top 3 results view all 40

Charles A. Riley interview 2 items

This interview covers Charles A. Riley's post-World War Two United States Air Force career.

  1. World War II
Virginia Military Institute Archives

VMI at War Project collection

5.5 cubic feet 5 boxes

This collection contains autobiographical and biographical information about the military service of alumni veterans of World War II through the first Gulf War. The alumni responses range in length from short summaries to longer narrative descriptions detailing their service. Some files contain related photographs and documents.

3 results

Gilbert E. Butler military service information

This file contains a summary (two pages) of Gilbert E. Butler's service as a transport, escort and combat pilot during World War II. He flew 52 combat missions in Sardinia, Sicily, and Italy, and became Commanding Officer of the 27th Squadron, 1st Fighter Group.

  1. Project files, VMI Class of 1938
Virginia Military Institute Archives

Office of Communications and Marketing audio and video collections

ongoing items
1 result
Virginia Military Institute Archives

Video Collections

40 c.f. cubic feet

A collection of videos (some amateur, some professional) documenting special events such as matriculation, Ring Figure, graduation, speeches, and other topics relating to VMI activities and cadet life. The bulk of this collection dates from the 1980's forward, although a few date from an earlier period.

1 result
Virginia Military Institute Archives

Henry Fairfax Ayres diaries

6 items

This collection consists of six leather bound diaries that contain a record of Henry Fairfax Ayres' life from 1928 to 1944. Three volumes (1928-1938) contain detailed information about his activities as a pilot, including a record of flights completed, record of hunting trips, and comments about life in New York City, New York.

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Henry Fairfax Ayres diaries 6 items

Ayres, Henry Fairfax, 1886-1979

This collection consists of six leather bound diaries that contain a record of Henry Fairfax Ayres' life from 1928 to 1944. Three volumes (1928-1938) contain detailed information about his activities as a pilot, including a record of flights completed, record of hunting trips, and comments about life in New York City, New York.

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Alumni and VMI certificates and citations collection

0.5 cubic feet

This colllection consists of certificates, citations, commissions, and similar documentation associated with VMI alumni, faculty, staff, or VMI as a whole. The collection does not include VMI diplomas or literary society certificates, which are filed separately.

1 result
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Paul Ayres Rockwell papers

12 Linear Feet

The Paul Ayres Rockwell Papers consists primarily of Rockwell's personal archive and research collection on the history of the French and American volunteer air combat corps, the "Lafayette Escadrille," and the American volunteers of the French Foreign Legion during the First World War. Highlights of this collection include the war period letters to Paul Rockwell from various pilots and related officials of the Lafayette Escadrille, members of the French Foreign Legion and the letters of his brother, the famous American combat aviator Kiffin Yates Rockwell and his mother Loula Rockwell. Another important feature of this collection is the large assortment of related original photographs taken by Paul Rockwell during the war while documenting his and his brother's experiences in the field. The photographic holdings also include a substantial cache of collected imagery relative to the key subjects. After the First World War, as Lafayette Escadrille historian, Paul Rockwell continued to expand upon the archive to include content related to the lives of the veterans, unit reunions, memorials, reminiscences through about 1980. Lastly, the collection is rich with primary and secondary resources pertaining to Rockwell family genealogy, Paul Rockwell's biographical history, and general history of both world wars.

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Paul Ayres Rockwell papers 12 Linear Feet

Rockwell, Kiffin Yates, 1892-1916

The Paul Ayres Rockwell Papers consists primarily of Rockwell's personal archive and research collection on the history of the French and American volunteer air combat corps, the "Lafayette Escadrille," and the American volunteers of the French Foreign Legion during the First World War. Highlights of this collection include the war period letters to Paul Rockwell from various pilots and related officials of the Lafayette Escadrille, members of the French Foreign Legion and the letters of his brother, the famous American combat aviator Kiffin Yates Rockwell and his mother Loula Rockwell. Another important feature of this collection is the large assortment of related original photographs taken by Paul Rockwell during the war while documenting his and his brother's experiences in the field. The photographic holdings also include a substantial cache of collected imagery relative to the key subjects. After the First World War, as Lafayette Escadrille historian, Paul Rockwell continued to expand upon the archive to include content related to the lives of the veterans, unit reunions, memorials, reminiscences through about 1980. Lastly, the collection is rich with primary and secondary resources pertaining to Rockwell family genealogy, Paul Rockwell's biographical history, and general history of both world wars.

Virginia Military Institute Archives

William B. Cochran, Jr. papers

1 boxes 1 letter sized manuscript box, plus ovesized items

This collection consists of the personal papers of Brigadier General William Burr Cochran, VMI Class of 1888, including:

  • Correspondence
  • Photographs
  • An unpublished biographical essay titled "Reminiscences of Camp Life During the World War"
  • Other items, such as instructions for "final German Figures," a formal VMI dance

1 result

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