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This collection contains three manuscript notebooks that include verse letters, poetry, notes, and a few newspaper clippings (bulk 1861-1865). One of the volumes is titled "Order Book, 9th Regiment Va. Volunteers, Craney Island." On the endsheets of this book are glued original manuscript signatures of VMI faculty and others, likely clipped from letters. The pages of this volume contain Sara Henderson Smith's writings.

Papers and letters of Samuel Bassett French, a judge who lived in Manchester, Virginia during the mid to late 1800's.

This collection includes individual or small collections of letters to the Custis, Lee, Davidson, McDowell, Reid, and Hale families. Subjects include the Custis family involvement in the American Colonization Society, John Brown's Raid as recounted by V.M.I. cadet Charles A. Davidson of Lexington, Va., Henry "Lighthorse Harry" Lee's life, Lee family genealogy, Anne Lee Marshall's death, the Markoe family of Baltimore, Md.,Edgar Allan Poe, and Washington College (Va.) history including a letter from Cyrus Hall McCormick. The material was found in upstate New York in the mid 20th century and given to Washington and Lee University Archives in 2013.

Papers, 1793-1913, of the Scott family of Powhatan County, Va. Includes correspondence and papers, 1793-1832, concerning the estates of John Scott and Edward Scott of Manakin Ferry and papers of Edward Scott, Jr., Mrs. Margaret Scott, E. B. Scott, John D. Scott and Daniel Selden. Letters, 1873-1874, include those from R. J. Hackley aboard a freighter sailing in the waters near Japan.

Papers, 1821-1918, of the See family of Hardy County, W. Va. Includes correspondence, 1856-1877, of Silas R. See and of his wife Anna [or Annie] See. Many of the letters were written by women and some were written by Anna See's sisters living in Pendleton County, W. Va. Several letters, 1861, were written by Silas R. See while serving in the Confederate Army.

This collection contains the papers of the Shields family from 1832-1990 including business documents, family genealogy notes, correspondence, photographs, and William R. Shields poetry.

Correspondence, 1833-1856, between the Shipman family of Rockingham County, Va. and the Wills family of Fluvanna County, Va. There are letters, 1838-1840, between James C. Shipman while serving in the Virginia House of Delegates and his wife Mary Minor Wills Shipman. Many letters are written by women. The collection includes letters of Jane R. Riordan discussing her going to Richmond to learn the millinery trade and starting in business; letters concerning marriage and courtship; letters describing stagecoach rides as well as a pass, 1839, for a slave to go from Fluvanna County to Rockingham County; and a printed circular, 1870, advising southerners to take advantage of the United States Bankruptcy Act.

This collection consists of one letter (dated December 23, 1861) from VMI Board of Visitors member John Brannon to Jacob S. Shriver. The letter appoints Jacob's son Samuel to VMI.

This collection contains letters, diaries, speeches, and other material written by Silas totten, a professor at the College of William and Mary. Included in the collection is a letter from Silas Totten to Ebenezer Faxon requesting him to come to the college and draw architectural plans for a new college building after the 1859 fire. Other letters in the collection were written by and to members of the Totten family. A certificate of Silas Totten's admission to the Holy Order of Priests and minutes from a meeting of students at the College of William and Mary are also included.