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The Barton family papers consist of the papers of three members of the Barton family who attended VMI during the mid-19th century. Papers related to Charles M. Barton (VMI Class of 1856) include a letter (dated September 28, 1855) from Charles to his cousin Joseph M. Barton in which he complains about VMI life and about his instructor Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (Jackson is described as a "hell of a fool"). Other Charles Barton material is found in a notebook (approximately 250 pages) that contains poetry copied by Charles, including "The Faculty of the VMI," which describes Francis H. Smith, John T.L. Preston, and other early faculty members; class notes from lectures given by Francis H. Smith; autographs of his VMI classmates, and a resolution on the death of Cadet Thomas Blackburn.

The Hardaway H. Dinwiddie papers consist of the personal papers (six items) of Dinwiddie, including:

• A calling card
• Poems about New Market Cadets
• A document titled "phrenological analysis" (1858)
• A manuscript of a VMI valedictory speech (1867)
• A VMI commencement program (1867)
• A certificate of withdrawal from Lexington's (Virginia) Masonic Lodge (1868)

This collection (seven items) consists of:

• A manuscript notebook compiled by Joseph H. Carpenter during his cadetship (1852-1856). The notebook contains poetry, class notes, autographs of classmates, and a detailed account of a Corps trip to Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia in October 1855.
• Two letters written by Carpenter to his father in 1862, including a letter dated June 16, 1862 that describes fighting near Port Republic, Virginia
• Letter of recommendation written on Carpenter's behalf by Brigadier General John Echols and submitted to Confederate President Jefferson Davis
• Two commission documents (1861)
• One letter (dated July 17, 1864) where Carpenter's Battery member Sergeant Benjamin Karnes describes circumstances surrounding the wounding of a fellow soldier. This letter was found among Carpenter's own papers.

This collection consists of a poetry notebook compiled by William E. Arnold during the period between 1849 and 1864. The bulk of the entries date from the years in which he was a VMI cadet (1849-1853). Such notebooks were popular among VMI cadets of the mid-19th century and typically contain both original and copied verse. This notebook contains approximately 50 poems by Arnold, other cadets, various 19th century poets, and anonymous authors. Cadet poetry includes "The Regulations" by Charles Denby (VMI Class of 1850) and "The Six Plebes on Leaving for Richmond" by Thomas O. Benton (VMI Class of 1850). A few poems were composed by Arnold during the Civil War. The notebook also includes clippings, puzzles, and riddles.