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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.

This collection consists of 19th and 20th century cadet drawings (approximately 200 items) completed primarily as assignments for Professor Thomas H. Williamson's architecture, engineering, and drawing courses at VMI. A few of the drawings were completed for a geometry course and other mathematics courses, or were not class assignments.

This collection consists of 33 textbooks (published between 1852-1873) used by VMI cadets during the 1860s and 1870s, and two cadet notebooks.

The Edward C. Shepherd papers consist of three notebooks, two documents, and an annotated analytical geometry text that belonged to VMI cadet Edward C. Shepherd during his years at VMI (1851-1855).

The Joseph H. Chenoweth papers consist of letters (dated 1855 to 1861) written by Chenoweth to his parents Lemuel Chenoweth and Nancy A. Hart. Letters dating from his cadetship cover topics such as exams, trips, and demerits, and provide a good portrait of pre-Civil War cadet life.

This collection consists of related to three members of the Fulkerson family: Samuel Vance Fulkerson (1822-1862), his brother Abram Fulkerson, Jr. (1834-1902), and Abram's son, Samuel Vance Fulkerson (1863-1926). Significant items include:

• Civil War correspondence (dated March-May 1862) written by Samuel V. Fulkerson (1822-1862)
• Samuel V. Fulkerson's (1822-1862) reports of the Battle of McDowell and the Battle of Winchester (dated May and June 1862)
• Wartime correspondence (dated 1863 and 1865) written by Abram Fulkerson, Jr. Two letters were written while he was a prisoner of war.
• A letter of appreciation (dated September 1862) written by General Stonewall Jackson following Samuel V. Fulkerson's (1822-1862) death in battle

• Battles of Port Republic and Kernstown
• Death of Turner Ashby
• Refugee and civilian life
• Camp life
• References to Stonewall Jackson, including Samuel V. Fulkerson's (1822-1862 assessment of his character and Abram Fulkerson, Jr.'s reflections following the Jackson's death

The Thomas F. Barksdale papers consist of two items. The first is a letter (dated January 25, 1855) from a Prussian official, denying Thomas F. Barksdale and his roommates permission to enter the Prussian Army. The second item is a notebook that contains:

• Class notes, including notes taken in Stonewall Jackson's class section in natural philosophy (a course that would today be most similar to physics) and notes taken in analytical geometry class taught by Francis H. Smith
• A resolution issued by cadets following murder of Cadet Thomas Blackburn, Class of 1854
• Poetry
• Autographs of the Class of 1855
• A list of roommates and room numbers

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

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

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.