Collections

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 19th and 20th century cadet drawings (approximately 200 items) completed primarily as assignments for Professor Thomas H. Williamson's architecture, engineering, and drawing courses at VMI. A few of the drawings were completed for a geometry course and other mathematics courses, or were not class assignments.

This collection consists of four notebooks belonging to Cadet Charles J. Hansrote, Jr. (VMI Class of 1952), which include chemistry notes. The collection also includes two mechanical drawings.

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

This collection consists of 33 textbooks (published between 1852-1873) used by VMI cadets during the 1860s and 1870s, and two cadet notebooks.

Examples of manuals used by cadets in the department of Mechanical Engineering Energy Lab during the 1980's - 2002.

The Edward C. Shepherd papers consist of three notebooks, two documents, and an annotated analytical geometry text that belonged to VMI cadet Edward C. Shepherd during his years at VMI (1851-1855).

This collection consists of one three-ring binder containing organic chemistry class notes and other notes kept by Cadet George V. Atkison (VMI Class of 1940).

The James D. Hankins papers consist of six letters (dated 1920-1921) written by Hankins to his cousin Florence. The letters describe many features of cadet life during the early 1920s, including a New Year's Eve celebration, a feud between the first and third classes, throwing "bombs" in barracks courtyard, final exams, and a ghost haunting barracks.

The James H. Reid papers consist of the Civil War correspondence (18 items) of Reid. Included are 14 letters (dated August-November 1862) from Reid to his parents written while he was a fourth classman at VMI. This correspondence contains many references to wartime cadet life, including the use of the term "rat" as a name for new cadets, hazing, uniforms, food, guard duty, and other aspects of life at VMI.