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This collection consists of the papers of the Philo H. Goodwyn family of New Orleans, Louisiana. The bulk of this collection includes letters (dated 1840-1858) written by Philo H. Goodwyn to his fiance and later wife, Martha S. McGavock. Other items of correspondence include two letters from Almira McGavock to her daughter Martha, and one letter from McGavock R. Goodwyn (VMI Class of 1863) to his father, Philo.

The James W. Breedlove papers consist of the personal papers (eight items) of Breedlove, including:

• Two letters (dated October 13, 1859 and March 11, 1861) from Breedlove to his grandfather in which he discusses his studies and expenses
• Two letters from Superintendent Francis H. Smith to Cadet Breedlove's grandfather, acknowledging receipt of money
• Three VMI quarterly grade reports
• One account sheet detailing VMI expenses

The John E. Roller papers include:

• Civil War era letters from cadet friends concerning life at VMI
• Civil War dispatches and telegrams that date from Roller's service with the Confederate States of America engineers, including one document signed by General Robert E. Lee
• One scrapbook (circa 1910) that contains clippings about Civil War battles, veterans, unit reunions, monument dedications, and other related information
• Two photographs, one of Confederate soldier Lieutenant Colonel Samuel T. Walker (10th Virginia Infantry Regiment) and one of the Virginia Legislature Centennial Committee (1871)
• Holograph text of a cadet literary-debating society speech delivered by Cadet Norwood B. Randolph in 1870
• Other items

This collection consists of the Civil War papers of Nathaniel C. Wilson (VMI Class of 1861) and papers of other Wilson family members, including:

• Wilson's diary-account book fragment that includes entries from Pennsylvania and the battlefield at Gettysburg.
• Two letters (dated 1859-1860)written while Wilson was a student at the University of Virginia.
• One letter (dated March 14-25, 1863) from Wilson written during the Civil War from Camp near Greenville, Virginia.
• Wilson family correspondence, legal/financial papers, and ephemera.

This collection consists of a one volume notebook and diary (approximately 45 pages) written by Robert A. Boyd. It contains personal notes (December 1864 to April 1865) and brief diary entries (January 1; April 3 to 13, 1865). The diary portion covers activities of the 1st Engineers Regiment during the last few days of the Civil War. The diary also mentions the surrender at Appomattox, Virginia, and includes a pencil sketch of surrender site. Notes concern supplies, furloughs, desertions, guard rosters, and maxims and quotations from books.

The VMI diplomas collection consists of VMI diplomas from various eras. The oldest is that of Edmund Pendleton, Class of 1842. Contact the VMI Archives for a complete list.