Collections

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.

This collection consists of 16 letters and one postcard written by John G. James to his friend Samuel Y. Ferguson of Witchita Falls, Texas. Of special interest is the letter dated April 17, 1927, in which James describes his memories of witnessing the VMI Corps of Cadets arrival in Richmond, Virginia under the command of Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson. This same letter contains a brief recollection of James' participation in Jackson's funeral. Other letters contain James family information, political comments, and personal news.

The collection consists of items related to John H. Randolph, Jr., including:

• Military orders
• Documents relating to bombing missions
• Military records
• Five photographs

This collection consists of the papers (7 items) of John M. Luke, including:

• Four letters of recommendation from VMI Faculty members
• One letter from VMI Superintendent William H. Cocke to Luke
• One commissioning certificate (October 1918)
• One VMI dance card

This collection consists of the papers of Joseph D. Neikirk, including:

• A cadet scrapbook
• A cadet account book
• General correspondence and correspondence with VMI alumni
• Photographs
• Military records
• Resolutions and award certificates

This collection consists of J. Russell Major's World War II papers, including:

• Correspondence to his parents (dated 1942-1945). The early letters cover his training as a field artillery officer at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma (1942-1944) and other United States bases, including Laurinburg-Maxton Army Air Base (Glider School) and Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Letters from July 1944 to May 1945 date from his service as a forward artillery observer in France and Germany.
• Military orders (1942-1945)
• Papers relating to his awards (Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart).
• Service record
• Notes relating to his United States Army career.
• Four volumes of the United States Army official history (European Theater), with one volume annotated by Major.

This collection consists of papers (approximately 6 linear feet) that document the career of sportsman and businessman J. Smith Ferebee, including:

• Clippings
• Photographs
• Printed material
• Correspondence that documents Ferebee's widely publicized golf marathon (1938), other sports interests, and his career with the Equitable insurance company
• One photograph album from Ferefee's VMI cadetship

This collection consists of the papers of Julian Neville Major, VMI Class of 1907. The collection includes:

• VMI grade reports
• Family correspondence while he was a Professor of Mathematics and Engineering at St. John's University, a Protestant college in Shanghai, China
• Correspondence received by his mother during his VMI cadetship and years in China
• Correspondence from the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society received prior to his departure for China
• Correspondence from colleagues
• One photograph album documenting life at St. John's University from 1908 to 1911
• One book of handwritten notes concerning "religious instruction" used at St. John's University

The Lee S. Gerow papers (40 items) consist of papers from the military career of Gerow, including:

• Diplomas
• Citations
• Certificates of promotion
• Photographs
• An autobiography (14 page typescript, 1979)
• Correspondence

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.