Richard L. Irby collectionMS.0509Virginia Military Institute Archives

VMI ArchivesPreston LibraryLexington, VA 24450Business Number: 540-464-7516archives@vmi.eduURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-10-29 07:03:01 -0400.Description is written in: Undetermined, Code for undetermined script script. Virginia Military Institute Archives Richard L. Irby collection Irby, Richard L. (Richard Logan), 1918-2002 MS.0509 /repositories/3/resources/744 10 cubic feet 8 boxes, plus unboxed framed items and albums/scrapbooks 1939-1971 Manuscripts stacks English Scope and Contents

This collection consists of correspondence and memoranda, military orders, printed material, photographs, scrapbooks, speeches, and other material primarily documenting the United States Army career (1939-1971) of Major General Richard L. Irby. The collection also includes information about the activities of of the 1st Cavalry Division during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

 Biographical / Historical

Richard Logan Irby (1918-2002) had a distinguished career in the United States Army and subsequently served as the VMI's tenth Superintendent. A native of Blackstone, Virginia, Irby graduated from VMI in 1939 with a degree in civil engineering. He commissioned in the cavalry branch of the United States Army. He was a decorated veteran of three wars and twice the recipient of the Silver Star for gallantry in combat.

Following the completion of his military career, Irby served as Superintendent of VMI from 1971 to 1981. He retired from VMI in 1981, and continued to live in Lexington, Virginia until his death on March 6, 2002.

 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.

 Preferred Citation

Richard L. Irby collection, 1939-1971. MS 0509. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

 Related Materials

This collection is distinct from official VMI records that document Richard L. Irby's tenure as Superintendent.

 Processing Information

This collection is open to research, but has been minimally processed. There is no detailed item/folder inventory. Contact the VMI Archives for assistance with a specific request related to this collection.

 Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1939 Vietnam War (1961-1975) World War, 1939-1945—Campaigns—Burma World War, 1939-1945 Orders (military records) Photographs Memoranda Correspondence Korean War (1950-1953) United States. -- Army. -- Cavalry Division, 1st Louisiana -- Fort Polk Kentucky -- Fort Knox Scrapbooks Military career chronological file/repositories/3/archival_objects/39411 cubic feet1939-1971EnglishScope and Contents

This series consists of memoranda, correspondence, military orders, and other documents from Richard L. Irby's military career. The material begins with his commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant and ends with his retirement in 1971.

History of the Executive Headquarters, Peiping China/repositories/3/archival_objects/46821947 March 6EnglishBiographical / Historical

The Executive Headquarters was established in Peiping (Peking), China on January 11, 1946 by order of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, as a tripartite organization of the Chinese Nationalist Government, the Chinese Communist Party, and the United States Government.

China -- History -- Republic, 1912-1949.Executive Headquarters (Peiping, China) -- HistoryUnited States -- Foreign relations -- ChinaChina -- Military relationsMarshall, George C. (George Catlett), 1880-1959Photographs, slides, and albums, Korean War and Vietnam War/repositories/3/archival_objects/39426 cubic feet1942-1970EnglishScope and Contents

Photos, slides, and photograph albums from Richard L. Irby's military career. Topics include:

  • Korean War (1st Cavalry Division, 5th Cavalry Regiment)
  • Vietnam War (1st Cavalry Division)
  • Fort Riley, Kansas (1942-1945)
  • Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) camps (1949-1950)
  • Tokyo and Chejudo, Japan (1950-1951)
  • Hokkaido, Japan (1951-1952)
  • Fort Hood, Texas (1950-1953)
  • 3rd Armored Division (Frankfort, Germany, late 1950s)
  • Fort Rucker, Alabama (1967)
  • Fort Knox, Kentucky
  • Fort Lewis
Also included are official portraits and other images.

Notes, 1st Cavalry Division operations in Vietnam/repositories/3/archival_objects/39431967-1969EnglishScope and Contents

Various statistics, reports, and chronologies of operational events. Notes are both hand written and typed.