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The Carl M. Best papers consist of one letter (dated 1884) that appoints Best a cadet at VMI. The papers also include one letter of recommendation (dated 1886) written for Best by VMI Superintendent Francis H. Smith.

This collection consists of miscellaneous personal papers found in the Kilbourne family home in 2016, including:

• A file of correspondence and memoranda (1898-1937) dating from Charles E. Kilbourne's career in the United States Army, primarily letters of recommendation
• Photographs
• Scrapbooks
• Newspaper clippings
• Subject files related to Kilbourne's visit to the Philippines (1954-1955) and the Great Yamen Imperial Order of Dragon (1954-1963)

This collection (8 items) contains items pertaining to Charles R. K. Varner (VMI Class of 1884), including:

• Three VMI quarterly grade reports (1881 and 1884)
• One letter of recommendation (1889) written by VMI Superintendent Francis H. Smith
• One VMI postcard
• Dance programs

Francis J. Mallory to Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of the Navy, where he recommends the son of a friend for a naval warrant. October 7, 1841.

This collection consists of one letter (March 20, 1865) from Thomas B. Robinson (VMI Class of 1856 and faculty member) that recommends Francis S. Johnson for service in the Confederate Army.

The George A. Goodman papers consist of 11 items related to George A. Goodman, including:

• VMI Diploma and Cadet Dialectic Society certificates
• Letters of recommendation (1859) from Francis H. Smith and Thomas H. Williamson
• Civil War documents, including commissions, oaths of allegiance, and a prison parole

The James H. Waddell papers consist of four items, including:

• A letter (dated 1855) from Waddell to his sister that contains a detailed description and pencil drawing of his room (#14) in barracks and of his roomates (Barksdale, Penn, Magruder, Shepherd, and Wilson)
• A drawing of a barracks room and roommates
• Pencil map, 8 inches x 10 inches, labeled "Plan of Battle of Bethel Church, June 10, 1861"
• Letter of recommendation (dated 1879) written by VMI's Superintendent Francis H. Smith and endorsed by Board of Visitors President John Letcher

The John M. Cary papers consist of the papers (three items) of Cary, including:

• Appointment to a state cadetship at VMI (July 1845)
• Letter from Cary to VMI Superintendent Francis H. Smith (July 8, 1845)
• Letter of recommendation by VMI Board of Visitors member William H. Terrill, September 29, 1849). Cary had served as a tutor for Terrill's children.