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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.

John F. Hanna's diary contains a colorful account of life at VMI and in Lexington, Virginia during the Spring of 1864. Entries begin April 17, 1864 and end May 9, 1864. On May 10, the cadets were called to active duty at the request of General John C. Breckinridge and on May 15 participated in the Battle of New Market, Virginia. The entries contain comments about VMI activities and people, Lexington social life, and discussion of personal concerns.

This collection consists of the one volume diary of VMI cadet Edward S. Hutter and covers the period between January to December 1858. The earliest entries were written while Hutter was on sick leave and contain mostly family references. Later entries mention VMI faculty members, friends, the Society of Cadets (a student debating club), room occupants, infractions noted while on Guard Duty, and other aspects of cadet life.

The James H. Reid papers consist of the Civil War correspondence (18 items) of Reid. Included are 14 letters (dated August-November 1862) from Reid to his parents written while he was a fourth classman at VMI. This correspondence contains many references to wartime cadet life, including the use of the term "rat" as a name for new cadets, hazing, uniforms, food, guard duty, and other aspects of life at VMI.

The John B. Mosby papers consist of six letters from Mosby to family members. Those letters dated 1870 to 1871 concern family matters. The letters written in 1873 from VMI contain references to faculty, academics, and cadet life. These papers also include a grade report for April 1872.

The John F. Early papers consist of the letters and diary of cadet John F. Early (1830-1894), who attended VMI from 1848 to 1850. The one volume diary-notebook contains short and sporadic entries regarding daily routines and special events. The diary contains one of the earliest references to Superintendent Francis H. Smith as "Spex" (April 30, 1850). The diary also contains lists of cadets, room occupants, and the poetry of Sara Henderson Smith ("The Old Gray Coat") and others. The five letters were written to family members and include details of cadet life and family and personal news.

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 one notebook (approximately 145 pages) created by Philip C. Gibbs that reflects cadet life from 1848 to 1851. The notebook includes:

• Accounts of Corps of Cadets trips to Richmond, Petersburg, Norfolk and Rockbridge Alum Springs, Virginia
• Cadet poetry and essays
• Poetry by Sara Henderson Smith
• Addresses delivered before the Cadet Dialectic Society (a literary and debating society)
• Discussion of exams (1851) in English and natural philosophy
• Account of "An Oyster Supper---A Frolic After Taps"
• Account of "our last bible recitation" in which Gibbs describes the last session of his cadetship with Superintendent Francis H. Smith

The Thomas J. Nottingham papers consist of the diary (dated 1883-1885) written by VMI cadet Thomas J. Nottingham. It contains a consistent record of the daily cadet routine as it existed during the mid-1880s and is an excellent source for information about student life during that era. Included are specific references to the following:

• Recitations
• Fights
• Dress parade
• The Dialectic Society (a student debating society)
• YMCA
• Girls
• Baseball and football games with Washington College students ("minks")
• Death and funeral of John D. Letcher
• Destruction of the VMI arsenal
• Death of Henry W. Williamson (VMI Class of 1845 and staff member)
• Death of Sara Henderson Smith

This collection consists of a one volume notebook compiled in 1862 by VMI cadet William J. Hubard. The bulk of the volume contains poetry and mementos. There are also two diary entries. The poetry includes "The Six Plebes" and "The Old Gray Coat" by Sara Henderson Smith, and several poems attributed to cadets Edward A. Rhodes, John F. Hanna, and Benjamin F. Bishop. Subjects of the verses are VMI life and regulations, including many references to faculty members (e.g., Francis H. Smith, Raleigh Colston, John T. L. Preston, William Gilham, Thomas H. Williamson, and Stonewall Jackson). Poetry composed by cadets, includes "Soliloquy of a Rat," "Examination," "The Faculty," "The Rat's Dream," and other poems about cadet life. Mementos consist of autographs and dried pressed leaves presented to Hubard by young ladies. One sprig of cedar is labelled as being from Stonewall Jackson's coffin.