James H. Waddell papersMS.0130Virginia Military Institute Archives

VMI ArchivesPreston LibraryLexington, VA 24450Business Number: 540-464-7516archives@vmi.eduURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-05-08 20:01:43 -0400.Description is written in: Undetermined, Code for undetermined script script. Virginia Military Institute Archives James H. Waddell papers Waddell, James H. (James Henry), 1833-1884 Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890 Letcher, John, 1813-1884 MS.0130 /repositories/3/resources/210 4 items 1855-1879 Manuscripts stacks English Preferred Citation

James H. Waddell papers, 1855-1879. MS 0130. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

 Biographical / Historical

James Henry Waddell was born in 1833 in Waynesboro, Virginia. He graduated VMI in 1855. During the Civil War he served with the 26th Virginia Infantry.

While on the VMI faculty from 1869 to 1870, Waddell worked as Matthew F. Maury's assistant on the Physical Survey of Virginia project and drew the maps that were published as part of the survey. Waddell died in 1884 in Montgomery, Alabama.

 Scope and Contents

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

 Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions.

 Conditions Governing Use

Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.

 Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1855 Virginia Military Institute—Buildings, structures, etc. Virginia Military Institute—Faculty Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1850-1859 Virginia Military Institute—Cadet drawings Big Bethel, Battle of, Va., 1861—Maps Military maps United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Maps Correspondence Letters of recommendation