Charles E. Johnson Letter

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
Newman Library
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
560 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish material from Charles E. Johnson Letter must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Charles E. Johnson Letter, Ms2017-041, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
0.1 Cubic Feet 1 folder
Abstract:
The collection contains a single letter from Charles Johnson, a cadet at VPI to Miss Martha Clark, written around March 26, 1933.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Charles E. Johnson Letter, Ms2017-041, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains a single letter from Charles Johnson, a cadet at VPI to Miss Martha Clark, written around March 26, 1933. Johnson's letter details an incident in which a cadet started up a steamroller on the Drillfield and drove it to the upper quadrangle (site of the current cadet dorms and Lane Hall). The steamroller became trapped in the entrace to the guard rooms and the whistle drew the attention of the Blacksburg and campus communities. The steamroller remained stuck in the doorway, keeping the cadets from being able to march anywhere, since the only through was to climb over the machinery, and resulting in them using the fire escapes to enter and exit the barracks. Johnson writes that this held up work on the planned road (at the time of his letter, the steamroller was still stuck and there was no plan for removal yet) and that, rather than seek out the culprit, the Corps of Cadets agreed to pay for any damage. He finishes his letter suggesting it may have been a planned prank, as is took place over a holiday when the guard room was empty and someone had a chance to measure the spaces, as he notes "[a] fit as close as that one isn't guess work." The letter includes an illustration and the original envelope.

Biographical / historical:

The letterhead indicates that Charles Johnson was a member of Company B in the VPI Corps of Cadets in 1933.

Acquisition information:
The Charles E. Johnson Letter was donated to Special Collections in 2004.
Processing information:

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Charles E. Johnson Letter was completed in October 2017.