Search

Start Over Date range 1846 Subjects Virginia Military Institute—Curricula
Virginia Military Institute Archives

Records of Superintendent Francis H. Smith, 1839-1889, 1839/1889

30 Linear Feet

These files constitute the major record series generated by the office of Francis H. Smith, VMI's first Superintendent. He served from 1839-1889. The records, (ca. 30 linear feet) consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence, order books, speeches and publications, annual reports, personal file, and subject files.

1 result

Academic departments, annual reports, 1843/1899 .50 Linear Feet

A chronological file, 1843-1848; 1865-1899, containing examples of academic department annual reports from the 19th century. These reports from the various academic departments were submitted to the Superintendent and help to document the early academic history of the Institute. This file includes early reports by John T. L. Preston (Languages), and Thomas H. Williamson (Engineering), as well as reports by other early faculty members. The series has many gaps; for example, none from the 1850's. The reports reflect some subjects that are no longer taught, e.g., Latin, drawing, mineralogy. 1 box

  1. Subject files, 1839/1884
Virginia Military Institute Archives

Thomas H. Williamson papers, 1788/1888

0.50 cubic feet

The Thomas H. Williamson papers include:

  • Civil War memoirs, in which Williamson discusses the events that took place during his temporary assignment to the command of Major General Stonewall Jackson beginning in April 1862
  • Lecture notes (1850s) used in teaching engineering and architecture courses at VMI
  • Two copies of the textbook written by Williamson for use at VMI titled "An Elementary Course of Architecture and Civil Engineering"
  • Williamson family genealogical material
  • Correspondence

1 result

Thomas H. Williamson papers, 1788/1888 0.50 cubic feet

Williamson, Thomas H. (Thomas Hoomes), 1813-1888

The Thomas H. Williamson papers include:

  • Civil War memoirs, in which Williamson discusses the events that took place during his temporary assignment to the command of Major General Stonewall Jackson beginning in April 1862
  • Lecture notes (1850s) used in teaching engineering and architecture courses at VMI
  • Two copies of the textbook written by Williamson for use at VMI titled "An Elementary Course of Architecture and Civil Engineering"
  • Williamson family genealogical material
  • Correspondence

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Thomas T. Munford papers, 1845/1865

19 items

The Thomas T. Munford papers consist of the personal papers of Munford, including:

  • One letter (dated April 18, 1861) to Charles Ellis that discusses the outbreak of war
  • One letter (dated May 9, 1864) to George P. Tayloe, Munford's father-in-law, that discusses the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia
  • One letter (dated May 21, 1865) to Sallie Munford, Munford's niece, that expresses sadness caused by the South's defeat
  • One photostat of Munford's Special Orders No. 6 (dated April 25, 1865)
  • One architecture textbook used by Munford during his cadetship at VMI, including his original sketches and annotations
  • Eleven receipts (dated 1845-1847) that show payments of George W. Munford to Claudius Crozet for schooling of his sons

1 result

Thomas T. Munford papers, 1845/1865 19 items

Munford, Thomas T. (Thomas Taylor), 1831-1918

The Thomas T. Munford papers consist of the personal papers of Munford, including:

  • One letter (dated April 18, 1861) to Charles Ellis that discusses the outbreak of war
  • One letter (dated May 9, 1864) to George P. Tayloe, Munford's father-in-law, that discusses the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia
  • One letter (dated May 21, 1865) to Sallie Munford, Munford's niece, that expresses sadness caused by the South's defeat
  • One photostat of Munford's Special Orders No. 6 (dated April 25, 1865)
  • One architecture textbook used by Munford during his cadetship at VMI, including his original sketches and annotations
  • Eleven receipts (dated 1845-1847) that show payments of George W. Munford to Claudius Crozet for schooling of his sons

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Valentine C. Saunders papers, 1839/1866

2 items

The Valentine C. Saunders papers consist of one letter from Cadet Saunders to his parents. This letter is the oldest extant letter written by a VMI cadet. Dated November 30, 1839, shortly after the first cadets arrived in Lexington, Virginia, the letter provides a cadet's view of the newly established Institute. Saunders describes the following:

  • Arsenal
  • Relationship with Washington College
  • Method of instruction
  • Course of studies
  • An opinion (favorable) of Superintendent Francis H. Smith.
The papers also contain Saunders' copy of a published address by Francis H. Smith titled "The Inner Life of the VMI Cadet" (1866).

1 result

Valentine C. Saunders papers, 1839/1866 2 items

Saunders, Valentine C. (Valentine Cook), 1820-1894

The Valentine C. Saunders papers consist of one letter from Cadet Saunders to his parents. This letter is the oldest extant letter written by a VMI cadet. Dated November 30, 1839, shortly after the first cadets arrived in Lexington, Virginia, the letter provides a cadet's view of the newly established Institute. Saunders describes the following:

  • Arsenal
  • Relationship with Washington College
  • Method of instruction
  • Course of studies
  • An opinion (favorable) of Superintendent Francis H. Smith.
The papers also contain Saunders' copy of a published address by Francis H. Smith titled "The Inner Life of the VMI Cadet" (1866).

Virginia Military Institute Archives

William Gilham papers, 1846/1861

21 items

This collection consists of the papers (21 items) of 19th century VMI faculty member William Gilham, including:

  • Official Register of the Officers and Cadets of the U. S. Military Academy (June 1841)
  • A VMI weekly class report (circa 1860)
  • A dispatch signed by General Robert E. Lee
  • Correspondence, including a letter from Moses Ezekiel (VMI Class of 1866)
  • Photographs where the subjects are Robert E. Lee, Gilham and his wife, Libby Prison, and Richmond, Virginia during the Civil War
  • Invitations to social events in Lexington, Virginia from the McDowell Family

1 result

William Gilham papers, 1846/1861 21 items

Gilham, William, 1818-1872

This collection consists of the papers (21 items) of 19th century VMI faculty member William Gilham, including:

  • Official Register of the Officers and Cadets of the U. S. Military Academy (June 1841)
  • A VMI weekly class report (circa 1860)
  • A dispatch signed by General Robert E. Lee
  • Correspondence, including a letter from Moses Ezekiel (VMI Class of 1866)
  • Photographs where the subjects are Robert E. Lee, Gilham and his wife, Libby Prison, and Richmond, Virginia during the Civil War
  • Invitations to social events in Lexington, Virginia from the McDowell Family

Content Warning

ARVAS is an aggregator of archival resources. ARVAS does not have control of the descriptive language used in our members’ finding aids.

Finding aids may contain historical terms and phrases, reflecting the shared attitudes and values of the community from which they were collected, but are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical or mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.

Many institutions and organizations are in the process of reviewing and revising their descriptive language, with the intent to describe materials in more humanizing, inclusive, and harm-reductive ways. As members revise their descriptive language, their changes will eventually be reflected in their ARVAS finding aids.