Collections : [Virginia Military Institute Archives]

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Preston Library
Virginia Military Institute
345 Letcher Ave.
Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Primary Collecting Areas:
Military history, Civil War, Shenandoah Valley history, Stonewall Jackson Papers, genealogy
Description:
The VMI Archives include significant manuscript and Institute records holdings, with a focus on military history and the Civil War. Our extensive digital archives allow for easy online access to many of our collections.
POC: Jeffrey S. Kozak
Phone: (540) 464-7516
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7089
Start Over Repository Virginia Military Institute Archives Date range 1956 Subjects Clippings

Andrew C. L. Gatewood papers, 1860/1993 35 items

Gatewood, Andrew C. L. (Andrew Cameron Lewis), 1843-1919

The bulk of the Andrew C. L. Gatewood papers consist of 28 letters (dated 1860-1864) written by Gatewood to his parents and other family members. Early letters describe life at VMI and in Lexington, Virginia, just prior to and during early months of the Civil War. Subsequent letters date from Gatewood's service with the 11th Virginia Cavalry Regiment, Company F (Bath Squadron), including a letter (dated September 1862) written after the Second Battle of Manassas (2nd Bull Run).

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives

Frank R. Pancake collection, 1934/1959 0.50 cubic feet

Pancake, Frank R. (Frank Robbins), 1916-2003

This collection consists of items related to Frank R. Pancake, including:

  • Photographs and English class essays dating from his VMI cadetship (1934-1938)
  • Personal letters (bulk to his parents), mementos, and photographs dating from his assignment to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in the late 1950s
  • Clippings from his time as VMI Commandant (1951-1954)

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives

Jesse H. Heath, Jr. collection, 1941/1993 7 Folder Series 1, Correspondence: Three folders by year Series 2, Death and military decorations: One folder of newspaper clippings and two folders of correspondence and other related items

Heath, Jesse H., Jr. (Jesse Heath), 1917-1945

This collection consists of items related to Jesse H. Heath, Jr. (VMI Class of 1938) who was killed in action in Belgium on January 3, 1945. Items include:

  • Correspondence (dated 1941-1993); some of this correspondence has been transcribed from original letters
  • Newspaper clippings (1944-1948)
  • One public relations article by Headquarters 2nd Armored Division (October 12, 1944)
  • One speech by Luke Bolin (May 30, 1945)
  • One sermon describing Heath (March 3, 1946)
  • One article about Heath by Norwich Free Academy, Connecticut
  • One Wall of Liberty certificate (1993)
  • Two Victory Liberty Loan coins

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives

J. Smith Ferebee collection, 1923/1990 6 Linear Feet

Ferebee, J. Smith (James Smith), 1906-1988

This collection consists of papers (approximately 6 linear feet) that document the career of sportsman and businessman J. Smith Ferebee, including:

  • Clippings
  • Photographs
  • Printed material
  • Correspondence that documents Ferebee's widely publicized golf marathon (1938), other sports interests, and his career with the Equitable insurance company
  • One photograph album from Ferefee's VMI cadetship

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives

Reid S. Aaron collection, 1931/2006 4 Folder

Aaron, Reid S. (Reid Stanley), 1918-1944

This collection consists of items created by and related to Reid S. Aaron (VMI Class of 1940), including:

  • Personal and military service information
  • Correspondence from Aaron to his family (1941-1945) and from the United States War Department
  • Newspaper clippings about Reid and clippings written by Hayne W. Dominick, Jr. (1920-1995) that detail is experiences as a prisoner of war during World War II
  • A field artillery manual (1936)
  • A blank Personal Report of Reserve Office Form (1931)
  • Two currency items
  • One book titled "March of Death!" (The Honoribus Press, 2006)

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives

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