Collections

The Albert S. Britt, Jr. papers consist of papers dating from Britt's United States Army career (1930-1962), including:

• Correspondence
• Reports
• Notes and exercises from courses taken at the British Army Staff College, Camberley
• Speeches
• Articles
• Photographs
• One scrapbook from when Britt was a cadet at VMI

This collection consists of one manuscript (10 pages) of the commencement speech delivered by VMI Cadet George P. C. Rumbough on July 4, 1856.

The Jennings C. Wise papers consist primarily of Jennings C. Wise's incoming and outgoing correspondence from the period 1910 to 1960. Included are letters dating from his years as Professor and Commandant of Cadets at VMI, from his practice of law, and from his retirement period in which he devoted himself primarily to writing. Wise was passionately interested in the history and future development of VMI and much of the correspondence reflects his ongoing involvement with the school. He often held controversial views and frequently expressed his dismay at what he perceived to be a lessening of military discipline at VMI. Other items in the papers include:

• Memoranda
• Editorials and articles written by Wise
• Circulars
• Notebooks
• Printed material
• A photograph album (1913-1914) documenting the retirement of the VMI Cadet Battery and the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of New Market, Virginia

This collection consists of items related to Jesse H. Heath, Jr. (VMI Class of 1938) who was killed in action in Belgium on January 3, 1945. Items include:

• Correspondence (dated 1941-1993); some of this correspondence has been transcribed from original letters
• Newspaper clippings (1944-1948)
• One public relations article by Headquarters 2nd Armored Division (October 12, 1944)
• One speech by Luke Bolin (May 30, 1945)
• One sermon describing Heath (March 3, 1946)
• One article about Heath by Norwich Free Academy, Connecticut
• One Wall of Liberty certificate (1993)
• Two Victory Liberty Loan coins

The collection consists primarily of certificates, honorary degrees, and awards given to John D. deButts during his business career, most dating from the 1960s to 1985. The collection also includes 19 volumes of deButts' speeches (1972-1978). The VMI Museum houses related medals and plaques.

The John E. Roller papers include:

• Civil War era letters from cadet friends concerning life at VMI
• Civil War dispatches and telegrams that date from Roller's service with the Confederate States of America engineers, including one document signed by General Robert E. Lee
• One scrapbook (circa 1910) that contains clippings about Civil War battles, veterans, unit reunions, monument dedications, and other related information
• Two photographs, one of Confederate soldier Lieutenant Colonel Samuel T. Walker (10th Virginia Infantry Regiment) and one of the Virginia Legislature Centennial Committee (1871)
• Holograph text of a cadet literary-debating society speech delivered by Cadet Norwood B. Randolph in 1870
• Other items

The John T. L. Preston papers consist of the personal papers of Preston, including:

• A farm account book (1834-1887)
• Bills
• Deeds
• Memoranda
• Receipts
• Correspondence
• A photocopy and transcription of Preston's Civil War journal ("Jottings"), which dates from his military service at Craney Island, Virginia from late July to October 1861. The original journal is held by the Library of Congress.
• Preston's United States passport (May 1851)
• Franklin Society membership certificate (1851)
• A typescript "brief historical sketch" of VMI written as a speech for the Institute's semi-centennial celebration in 1889 (the typescript contains handwritten corrections in ink; Preston's son delivered the address on behalf of his father).

The Leonard T. Gerow papers consist of documents and photographs (approximately 120 items) from the military career of United States Army General Gerow. The collection includes correspondence with General Dwight D. Eisenhower, autobiographical material, speeches (1945 to 1948), and photographs. Material complementary to this collection is in Gerow's student/alumni file, which is located in the VMI Archives.

This collection consists of the papers of Lloyd J. Davidson, including:

• Correspondence
• Examination questions and assignment sheets for his English classes at VMI
• Copies of speeches presented to the Lexington (Virginia) Fortnightly Club
• Biographical information

The Paul Welles papers consist of the personal papers (1897-1950) of VMI faculty member Paul Welles. These papers include personal correspondence and diaries (1928-1950), records from his military career (1916-1919), photos, speeches, and certificates (oversized). Little of the collection relates to Welles' career at VMI.