Jennings C. Wise papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Preston Library
Virginia Military Institute
345 Letcher Ave.
Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jeffrey S. Kozak
Phone: (540) 464-7516
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7089
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions

Terms of access:

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:

Jennings C. Wise papers, 1910-1960. MS 0004. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
3.5 cubic feet 7 manuscript boxes and oversized material
Creator:
Wise, Jennings C. (Jennings Cropper), 1881-1968, Kilbourne, Charles E. (Charles Evans), 1872-1963, and Hoover, J. Edgar (John Edgar), 1895-1972
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Jennings C. Wise papers, 1910-1960. MS 0004. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

The Jennings C. Wise papers consist primarily of Jennings C. Wise's incoming and outgoing correspondence from the period 1910 to 1960. Included are letters dating from his years as Professor and Commandant of Cadets at VMI, from his practice of law, and from his retirement period in which he devoted himself primarily to writing. Wise was passionately interested in the history and future development of VMI and much of the correspondence reflects his ongoing involvement with the school. He often held controversial views and frequently expressed his dismay at what he perceived to be a lessening of military discipline at VMI. Other items in the papers include:

  • Memoranda
  • Editorials and articles written by Wise
  • Circulars
  • Notebooks
  • Printed material
  • A photograph album (1913-1914) documenting the retirement of the VMI Cadet Battery and the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of New Market, Virginia

These letters pertain to both Jennings C. Wise's professional life and personal interests.

This folder contains memoranda titled "The Future Policy of The Virginia Military Institute" (November 7, 1932) and "In re Virginia Military Institute, I. The Institute as a School of Arms."

Articles and editorials written by Jennings C. Wise.

This folder contains biographical matterial written by Jennings C. Wise.

This folder includes one bound address titled "Battle of New Market, Va." given by John S. Wise to VMI on May 18, 1882.

This folder contains one page of notes related to deficiencies with the VMI Class of 1961.

These notebooks relate to subscriptions and payments for the book "Sunrise of the Virginia Military Institute" (1958).

The album containing images of the VMI Cadet Battery and of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of New Market, Virginia.

Biographical / historical:

Jennings C. Wise (1881-1968), lawyer and United States Army officer, was born on September 10, 1881 in Richmond, Virginia. He graduated from the Phillip Exeter Academy (New Hampshire) in 1882 and from VMI in 1902. He subsequently received a law degree from the University of Virginia.

Wise spent the majority of his career practicing law, primarily in private practice. He was associated with the firms of Pollard , Wise, and Chichester (Richmond, Virginia), and Munn, Anderson and Munn (Washington, D.C.). In addition, he taught at VMI from 1912 to 1915, and he served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) during World War I.

Following his retirement in 1954, Wise concentrated on researching and writing a book ultimately published under the title "Sunrise of the Virginia Military Institute as a School of Arms."

Arrangement:

Chronological

Accruals:

Addition, 2013: Bound letterbook (1912-1926)

Physical location:
Manuscripts stacks and Oversized Case 1, Drawer 5