John M. Cary papersMS.0156Virginia Military Institute Archives

VMI ArchivesPreston LibraryLexington, VA 24450Business Number: 540-464-7516archives@vmi.eduURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-04-09 17:47:08 -0400.Description is written in: Undetermined, Code for undetermined script script. Virginia Military Institute Archives John M. Cary papers Cary, John M. (John Mathews), 1829-1853 Terrill, William H. (William Henry), 1800-1877 MS.0156 /repositories/3/resources/236 3 items 1845-1849 Manuscripts stacks English . Scope and Contents

The John M. Cary papers consist of the papers (three items) of Cary, including:

  • Appointment to a state cadetship at VMI (July 1845)
  • Letter from Cary to VMI Superintendent Francis H. Smith (July 8, 1845)
  • Letter of recommendation by VMI Board of Visitors member William H. Terrill, September 29, 1849). Cary had served as a tutor for Terrill's children.

 Biographical / Historical

John Mathews Cary was born in 1829 in Lewisburg, West Virginia. He graduated VMI in 1848 and went on to become a teacher and engineer. He died in 1853 in Lewisburg.

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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.

 Preferred Citation

John M. Cary papers, 1845-1849. MS 0156. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

 Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1840-1849 Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1848 Letters of recommendation Correspondence Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890 Letter from John M. Cary to Francis H. Smith/repositories/3/archival_objects/5829Cary, John M. (John Mathews), 1829-18531845 July 8Scope and Contents

Written from Lewisburg, West Virginia. In the letter, John M. Cary accepts his appointment to VMI.

Transcription

Lewisburg July 8. 1845
To Col, F. H. Smith

Dear Sir.
The Communication of Col, P. C. Johnston Prest. [President] of the Board of Visitors to the Virginia Military Institute in-forming me of my appointment on the 5th. of this Instant as State Cadet, in this moment to hand.

I hereby signify my acceptance of the appointment and shall report myself in person to the Commandant by the 15. of this month (as required) or as early there after as practicable, which I think will not be later than the 21. of this Inst.

Please present my greatfull[sic] acknowledgments to the Board of Visitors (should they still be in session) for the favor conferred.

CorrespondenceVirginia Military Institute—Class of 1848Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890Letter from William H. Terrill/repositories/3/archival_objects/5830Terrill, William H. (William Henry), 1800-18771849 September 29Transcription

Mr. John M Carey of Greenbrier County Virginia having been a tutor in my family from September 1848 to July 1849 a period of ten months, I take very great pleasure in bearing testimony to his eminent qualifications as a Teacher. He is an accomplished Gentleman & a ripe scholar. He possesses a well balanced mind and has a happy talent of imparting instruction to his pupils. His habits are temperate in the extreme and he is indefatigable in the dis-charge of his duties. I can therefore and do hereby recommend him with the greatest confidence as fully qualified to take charge of a school either public or private and are fully persuaded that he will give entire satisfaction to those who may patronize him. He is a good Latin & French scholar and an excellent Mathematician; but his Diploma as a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, furnishes the most ample testimony, of his Literacy & scientific attainments.
William H Terrill
29 Sept 1849

CorrespondenceLetters of recommendationVirginia Military Institute—Class of 1848Cary, John M. (John Mathews), 1829-1853