Virginia Military Institute Gilham and Williamson faculty houses copy print photo, 1913

Containers:

Box 11, Folder 38

Biographical / historical:

Appointed to the Virginia Military Institute faculty in 1846, Col. William Gilham spent five years building VMI's foundational departments of Chemistry and Agriculture. He taught physical sciences, mineralogy, and scientific agriculture. Also serving as the Commandant and instructor of infantry tactics, he oversaw the daily military training and discipline of the entire student body. In 1860, on the orders of the Governor of Virginia, Gilham wrote the Manual of Instruction for the Volunteers and Militia of the United States. It became a definitive, widely used training text for thousands of incoming soldiers on both sides of the Civil War.

Thomas Williamson accepted his faculty appointment at the Virginia Military Institute in 1841 and spent the rest of his career at VMI, outside of temporary engineering assignments during the Civil War. Williamson taught tactics, drawing, and engineering. He wrote an early textbook for his classes titled, "An Elementary Course of Architecture and Civil Engineering." Beyond teaching, he stepped into multiple administrative roles over the decades, serving as the Commandant of Cadets, Treasurer, and Librarian.

Other descriptive data:

This photo was taken by photographer Miley, Lexington, Virginia.

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