Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia stereoscope card, snapshot photos and post cards, 1850/1920

Containers:

Box 11, Folder 34

Scope and content:

The photos in this folder are as follows:

A hand made stereoscope card of two views of the VMI cadets lined up in front of the barracks, circa 1898.

A sepia panoramic post card of a VMI view from across North Main Street, circa 1900.

Two different post cards published by W. C. Stuart, Lexington, Virginia, printed in Germany. One is of a view of the VMI barracks, taken from North Main Street, circa 1906, addressed to Douglas Brady, Buffalo Forge, Rockbridge County, Virginia. The other is a view of the VMI officer's quarters, with House Mountain in the background, circa 1907, addressed to Isaac Wilhelm, Collierstown, Virginia, from Mary.

Two different post cards of the Cadet Battery with cannons in front of the officer's quarters, circa 1908. One was published by the Rotograph Company, New York City, printed in Germany, and addressed to Charles Brady at Buffalo Forge, Rockbridge County, Virginia. The other was published by the J. P. Bell Company of Lynchburg, Virginia.

Two hand colored post cards published by The Albertype Co., Brooklyn, New York, circa 1909. One is of the Sacred Guard Tree by the barracks, and the other is an aerial view showing the barracks and parade ground, published by the McCrum Drug Co., Lexington, Virginia.

A color post card of the camp life of the VMI cadets, circa 1910.

Color post card of the Cavalry Troop Exhibition riding in front of the barracks, courtesy of the Norfolk and Western Railway, circa 1914. Published by the Ashville Post Card Co., Ashville, North Carolina.

An eight view selected photos set of photos of VMI, published by McCrums Drug Store, Lexington, Virginia, circa 1920.

A snapshot stamped July 1968 of the VMI parade ground with no buidlings, looking towards House Mountain, circa 1850.

Biographical / historical:

The Virginia Military Institute (VMI), founded on November 11, 1839, in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest public senior military college in the United States. Established on the site of a former state arsenal in Lexington, Virginia, VMI was created to train "citizen-soldiers" who could provide leadership in both civilian careers and military conflicts.

The Gothic Revival style Library building was constructed in 1907 right next to the Barracks and used until 1939. Before its completion, VMI's modest library collections were kept inside other multi-use campus buildings. The structure was demolished to make room for the expansion of the VMI Barracks, specifically the construction of the "New Barracks" wings from 1946–1948. Library operations were moved to the newly constructed Preston Library, which was dedicated in 1939 during VMI's centennial.

Access and use