Collections : [Virginia Military Institute Archives]

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.

Materials documenting the history of major (football, basketball) and other sports. Includes historical athletic Association minutes; printed material such as programs and media guides; emphemera; research material on athletic history used by Thomas W. Davis for his book; and other material documenting the history of intercollegiate athletics at VMI.

Includes film of ROTC cavalry drill and horsemanship practice on Parade Ground, including jumping; Barracks scenes; cadet orchestra; other scenes from cadet life ca. 1939

The material in this sub-series is related to the Biennial meeting and conference.

A small collection of vintage amateur film (1930's-1940's) showing cadet life of those eras. Also miscelleous VMI - related film titles.

16mm film of the 22 October 1949 football game between the Virginia Military Institute and the University of Virginia. The final score was VMI-13 and Virginia-32. The film is labled Reel #2. No film labeled Reel #1 for this game was included when the films were transferred to the archives.

The George S. Plants, Jr. papers consist of four items relating primarily to VMI cadetship of George S. Plants (1904-1906), including:

• A cadet account book that lists VMI expenses from 1904 to 1906
• A notebook containing popular VMI football yells (circa 1905)
• One letter (dated May 14, 1905) from Plants to his parents concerning the mess hall fire and the upcoming New Market Day ceremony
• One letter (dated July 1909) from Plants's classmate Jesse P. Jarvis (VMI Class of 1908)

Includes Ledgers, vouchers, accounts, correspondence, and other financial records dating from the opening days of the Institute through the early 20th century. These records are a good source of information for tracing early purchases of goods and services; local Lexington and Rockbridge County businesses/artisans/craftsmen appear in vouchers.

This collection consists of the papers of Robert L. Thomason (VMI Class of 1949B), including:

• One VMI scrapbook (circa 1928-1949) that contains photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, VMI memorabilia, publications, academic records, and assignments
• One football-related scrapbook (circa 1948) that contains, newspaper clippings, photographs, correspondence, and VMI memorabilia
• Two newspaper clippings (undated)
• Four items of correspondence (1945-1948)
• Seven VMI publications (1945-1949)
• One map of the Lexington, Virginia area (undated)
• One football roster for VMI and Davidson (undated)
• One list of plays for the VMI vs. VPI football game (1948)

The Spencer L. Carter papers contain two items dating from Spencer L. Carter's VMI cadetship. Included is a notebook (binding missing) compiled by Carter that concerns VMI football and baseball. It includes lists of teams, game scores, and plays.