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Start Over Subjects Virginia Military Institute—History—19th century
Virginia Military Institute Archives

Board of Visitors reports and records, 1898/2011

1 cubic feet
1 result
Virginia Military Institute Archives

Fulkerson Family papers, 1835/1925

0.50 cubic feet approximately 50 items

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
In addition to the battles mentioned above, topics include:
  • 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
Also included are biographical and genealogical material, business and financial papers of Samuel Vance Fulkerson (1863-1926), and family correspondence.

1 result
Virginia Military Institute Archives

Charles M. Figgat collection, 1870/1895

12 items

The collection consists of items related to Charles M. Figgat, who embezzled over $145,000 from the Bank of Lexington, Virginia in 1895. Included is a reward notice distributed after Figgat fled, 10 cancelled checks from local banks (1870-1871) that bear Figgat's signature, and one petition to the Lexington school trustees endorsing Jacob Fuller for a teaching position, signed by Figgat and other citizens.

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Charles M. Figgat collection, 1870/1895 12 items

Figgat, Charles M. (Charles Miles), ?-1899

The collection consists of items related to Charles M. Figgat, who embezzled over $145,000 from the Bank of Lexington, Virginia in 1895. Included is a reward notice distributed after Figgat fled, 10 cancelled checks from local banks (1870-1871) that bear Figgat's signature, and one petition to the Lexington school trustees endorsing Jacob Fuller for a teaching position, signed by Figgat and other citizens.

Charles M. Figgat reward poster, 1895

One reward poster for $500 that was circulated after Charles M. Figgat embezzled from the Bank of Lexington, Virginia and fled the area.

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Commandant of Cadets Historical Records, 1839/1950

18 cubic feet

Bound and unbound historical records documenting the operation of the Commandant's office and of the Corps of Cadets. The earliest examples date from 1839, the first year of the Institute. Items include: guard records, morning reports, demerit books, inspection books, permit books, muster rolls, record of events, penalty tour and confinement records, Commandant orders and memoranda, World War I Training Camp (1917-1918), ordnance stores (1858, 1861), George C. Marshall signed amnesty document, Scott Shipp correspondence

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Commandant of Cadets Historical Records, 1839/1950 18 cubic feet

Shipp, Scott, 1839-1917

Bound and unbound historical records documenting the operation of the Commandant's office and of the Corps of Cadets. The earliest examples date from 1839, the first year of the Institute. Items include: guard records, morning reports, demerit books, inspection books, permit books, muster rolls, record of events, penalty tour and confinement records, Commandant orders and memoranda, World War I Training Camp (1917-1918), ordnance stores (1858, 1861), George C. Marshall signed amnesty document, Scott Shipp correspondence

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Edward M. Watson letter, 1868

1 items

This collection consists of one letter (September 17, 1868) written by Edward M. Watson to his father. Watson describes in detail the typical daily new cadet routine at VMI during the post-Civil War years. Topics include reveille, roll call, inspections, meals, study, recitation, drill, and parade. The letter contains one of the earliest documented examples of term "rat" as a reference to a new cadet.

2 results

Edward M. Watson letter, 1868 1 items

Watson, Edward Minor, 1851-1887

This collection consists of one letter (September 17, 1868) written by Edward M. Watson to his father. Watson describes in detail the typical daily new cadet routine at VMI during the post-Civil War years. Topics include reveille, roll call, inspections, meals, study, recitation, drill, and parade. The letter contains one of the earliest documented examples of term "rat" as a reference to a new cadet.

Letter to John W. C. Watson, 1868

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Edward M. Watson describes in detail the typical daily new cadet routine at VMI during the post-Civil War years. Topics include reveille, roll call, inspections, meals, study and recitation, drill and parade. The letter contains one of the earliest documented examples of term "rat" as a reference to a new cadet.

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Financial and business records, historical, 1839/1964

50 cubic feet

Includes Ledgers, vouchers, accounts, correspondence, and other financial records dating from the opening days of the Institute through the early 20th century. These records are a good source of information for tracing early purchases of goods and services; local Lexington and Rockbridge County businesses/artisans/craftsmen appear in vouchers.

Also contains subject files maintained by COL William Couper, who served as VMI Business Executive from the 1920's-the 1950's. These files, although unrelated to finance, contain information about many historical topics and were maintained in Couper's office.
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Financial and business records, historical, 1839/1964 50 cubic feet

Couper, Wm. (William), 1884-1964

Includes Ledgers, vouchers, accounts, correspondence, and other financial records dating from the opening days of the Institute through the early 20th century. These records are a good source of information for tracing early purchases of goods and services; local Lexington and Rockbridge County businesses/artisans/craftsmen appear in vouchers.

Also contains subject files maintained by COL William Couper, who served as VMI Business Executive from the 1920's-the 1950's. These files, although unrelated to finance, contain information about many historical topics and were maintained in Couper's office.
Virginia Military Institute Archives

Francis H. Smith Circular Letter Soliciting Items to Establish a Museum at VMI, 1845

1 items

Virginia Military Institute printed circular, signed in ink by Superintendent Francis H. Smith, petitioning alumni for donations of "Curiousities, both literary and natural" to help establish a Museum at VMI. This examples is dated February 27, 1845, and addressed to William S. Beale, a member of the Class of 1843.

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Francis H. Smith Circular Letter Soliciting Items to Establish a Museum at VMI, 1845 1 items

Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890

Virginia Military Institute printed circular, signed in ink by Superintendent Francis H. Smith, petitioning alumni for donations of "Curiousities, both literary and natural" to help establish a Museum at VMI. This examples is dated February 27, 1845, and addressed to William S. Beale, a member of the Class of 1843.

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Frederick T. Amiss collection, 1884/1886

4 items

This collection (four items) contains one letter (dated December 14, 1884) from Cadet Frederick T. Amiss to his father. Amiss describes in detail the confrontation between cadets and Commandant Scott Shipp regarding an investigation into an explosion of the VMI magazine.This collection also includes three photographs of Amiss (circa 1886), which are all avaliable online.

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Frederick T. Amiss collection, 1884/1886 4 items

Amiss, Frederick T. (Frederick Taylor), 1866-1942

This collection (four items) contains one letter (dated December 14, 1884) from Cadet Frederick T. Amiss to his father. Amiss describes in detail the confrontation between cadets and Commandant Scott Shipp regarding an investigation into an explosion of the VMI magazine.This collection also includes three photographs of Amiss (circa 1886), which are all avaliable online.

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Giles Gunn papers, 1848/1854

5 items

This collection consists of five letters (dated 1848 to 1854) written by Giles Gunn while he was a schoolteacher in Lexington, Virginia. The letters, addressed primarily to his sister Mary (living at the Gunn home in Washington, Litchfield County, Connecticut), include discussions of interesting local events as well as references to family. Topics include:

  • VMI commencement
  • A detailed description of his school and his methods of instruction
  • A description of the communion service at a local church, including references to black communicants
  • References to the townspeople's reaction to a rumored slave insurrection
  • A discussion of the murder of VMI cadet Thomas Blackburn.

1 result

Giles Gunn papers, 1848/1854 5 items

Gunn, Giles, 1825-1892

This collection consists of five letters (dated 1848 to 1854) written by Giles Gunn while he was a schoolteacher in Lexington, Virginia. The letters, addressed primarily to his sister Mary (living at the Gunn home in Washington, Litchfield County, Connecticut), include discussions of interesting local events as well as references to family. Topics include:

  • VMI commencement
  • A detailed description of his school and his methods of instruction
  • A description of the communion service at a local church, including references to black communicants
  • References to the townspeople's reaction to a rumored slave insurrection
  • A discussion of the murder of VMI cadet Thomas Blackburn.

Virginia Military Institute Archives

John T. L. Preston papers, 1806/1889

0.69 cubic feet 1 2.5-inch legal document box and 1 5-inch legal document box

The John T. L. Preston papers consist of the personal papers of Preston, including:

  • A farm account book (1834-1887)
  • Bills
  • Deeds
  • Memoranda
  • Receipts
  • Correspondence
  • A photocopy and transcription of Preston's Civil War journal ("Jottings"), which dates from his military service at Craney Island, Virginia from late July to October 1861. The original journal is held by the Library of Congress.
  • Preston's United States passport (May 1851)
  • Franklin Society membership certificate (1851)
  • A typescript "brief historical sketch" of VMI written as a speech for the Institute's semi-centennial celebration in 1889 (the typescript contains handwritten corrections in ink; Preston's son delivered the address on behalf of his father).
The majority of the papers relate to Preston's personal, financial, and property (land) transactions and do not involve his work at VMI.

3 results

Letter from John T. L. Preston to Francis H. Smith, 1889

This letter was written on the occasion of VMI's semicentennial celebration, in which John T. L. Preston reminiscences about Francis H. Smith's role in the founding and growth of VMI.

Pamphlet of Cives letters to the Lexington Gazette, 1835/1889

Reprint in pamphlet form of letters written by John T. L. Preston to the Lexington (Virginia) Gazette in 1835, discussing the desirability of turning the local arsenal into a military college. Preston wrote these letters under the pen name "Cives" and these are often referred to as the "Cives letters." This pamphlet was issued in 1889 to mark VMI's semicentennial.

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