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Includes manuscript material in French. The collection is currently being processed and new items will be added on an ongoing basis. This collection has multiple creators, which have not been indexed at this time.

This collection consists of papers of Lexington, Virginia lawyer James D. Davidson and his daughter Mary Davidson and includes some correspondence, manuscript and printed poems of James D.Davidson, clippings, and some miscellaneaous papers from the family. James Davidson's printed and handwritten writings in the collection were compiled for his book "A Curiosity in the Chancery and Rhyme and Prose," (N.D., but likely 1876-81). The collection contains detailed genealogy of the Davidson, Greenlee, and McDowell families of Virginia and Kentucky. Other highlights are a typescript paper presented in 1915 by Greenlee Davidson Letcher to the Fortnightly Club of Lexington (Va.) on the life of Capatian Greenlee Davidson, son of James D. Davidson, who died fighting for the Confederacy during the American Civil War, a fragment of a handwritten 19th century recipe book, a small pen and ink drawing on Washington College stationary of the Virginia patriotic doodles and quotations, and a carte de visite photograph of the steamship "City of New York".

This collection came from the estate of Ellinor Gadsden in 1985. Highlights of the collection include the letters of Alexander Swift(Sandie) Pendleton, a Washington College graduate who was a top aide to Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson during the American Civil War. These approximately 70 letters were a major source for the book. Sandie was the uncle of the Gadsden sisters. Included in the collection are also a few items of Gen. William Nelson Pendleton who was Robert E. Lee's friend and colleague. There are two ALS of Mildred Lee to Lella Pendleton and two copies of a poem written by and in the hand of Margaret Junkin Preston. There is also an ALS (25 Jan. 1873) from Gen. Joseph E. Johnston to W.N. Pendleton. Other major parts of the collection are photographs (ca. 60), the Misses Gadsden's account books and their memorabilia from their travels.

The John L. Cochran papers consist of:

• One report card (1879) from the secondary school Cochran attended before entering VMI
• One letter (dated September 4, 1880) from Cochran to his mother
• One diary with sketches (1881) that contains short and sporadic entries made while at VMI
• Four volumes of class notes (1882-1885) taken while Cochran was a student at Swarthmore College (Pennsylvania) and the University of Virginia, with some examples of poetry and sketches interspersed

The Oliver M. Rutledge papers consist primarily of the incoming and outgoing correspondence of VMI cadet Oliver M. Rutledge (dated 1879 to 1882). Included are letters received from his parents, siblings, and friends. A few letters written by Rutledge contain references to cadet life in the 1880s. The letter dated May 14, 1882 to his mother describes the mineral springs resort at Dagger's Springs, Virginia. Additional items include an 1882 VMI graduation invitation and a poem dedicated to the Class of 1882.

This collection contains the papers of the Shields family from 1832-1990 including business documents, family genealogy notes, correspondence, photographs, and William R. Shields poetry.

The William G. Williamson papers consist of the personal papers of Williamson. Included is an original manuscript Civil War notebook that contains:

• Reports (September 1862-May 1863) submitted to the Chief Engineer's Office, Army of Northern Virginia, in which Williamson discusses destroying bridges at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, and reconnaissance and mapping trips in the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont
• Poetry
• Notes about architecture, engineering, and Williamson family genealogy