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The Barton family papers consist of the papers of three members of the Barton family who attended VMI during the mid-19th century. Papers related to Charles M. Barton (VMI Class of 1856) include a letter (dated September 28, 1855) from Charles to his cousin Joseph M. Barton in which he complains about VMI life and about his instructor Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (Jackson is described as a "hell of a fool"). Other Charles Barton material is found in a notebook (approximately 250 pages) that contains poetry copied by Charles, including "The Faculty of the VMI," which describes Francis H. Smith, John T.L. Preston, and other early faculty members; class notes from lectures given by Francis H. Smith; autographs of his VMI classmates, and a resolution on the death of Cadet Thomas Blackburn.

This collection consists of documents from various eras in VMI's history, reflecting the humourous side of cadet life. The collection includes:

• Three small (3.5 x 5 inches) watercolor sketches (circa 1920) that depict firecracker prank results
• A list titled "Graduated scale of beauty in Lexington" (1856)
• A notice about the Virginia Polytechnic Institute football game posted in a barracks room (1937)

The Clayton G. Coleman papers consist of three letters written to Coleman's sister Lucy during the Civil War, and an autograph album containing inscriptions written by his classmates at VMI, the University of Virginia, and the Medical College of Virginia (circa 1858-1861).

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

This collection (seven items) consists of:

• A manuscript notebook compiled by Joseph H. Carpenter during his cadetship (1852-1856). The notebook contains poetry, class notes, autographs of classmates, and a detailed account of a Corps trip to Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia in October 1855.
• Two letters written by Carpenter to his father in 1862, including a letter dated June 16, 1862 that describes fighting near Port Republic, Virginia
• Letter of recommendation written on Carpenter's behalf by Brigadier General John Echols and submitted to Confederate President Jefferson Davis
• Two commission documents (1861)
• One letter (dated July 17, 1864) where Carpenter's Battery member Sergeant Benjamin Karnes describes circumstances surrounding the wounding of a fellow soldier. This letter was found among Carpenter's own papers.

The Thomas T. Munford papers consist of the personal papers of Munford, including:

• One letter (dated April 18, 1861) to Charles Ellis that discusses the outbreak of war
• One letter (dated May 9, 1864) to George P. Tayloe, Munford's father-in-law, that discusses the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia
• One letter (dated May 21, 1865) to Sallie Munford, Munford's niece, that expresses sadness caused by the South's defeat
• One photostat of Munford's Special Orders No. 6 (dated April 25, 1865)
• One architecture textbook used by Munford during his cadetship at VMI, including his original sketches and annotations
• Eleven receipts (dated 1845-1847) that show payments of George W. Munford to Claudius Crozet for schooling of his sons