Collections : [Virginia Military Institute Archives]

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Preston Library
Virginia Military Institute
345 Letcher Ave.
Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Primary Collecting Areas:
Military history, Civil War, Shenandoah Valley history, Stonewall Jackson Papers, genealogy
Description:
The VMI Archives include significant manuscript and Institute records holdings, with a focus on military history and the Civil War. Our extensive digital archives allow for easy online access to many of our collections.
POC: Jeffrey S. Kozak
Phone: (540) 464-7516
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7089
Start Over Repository Virginia Military Institute Archives Subjects Washington and Lee University—Students
Virginia Military Institute Archives

Richard C. Taylor letter, 1854

1 items

This collection consists of one letter (dated January 15, 1854) from Richard C. Taylor to his father, Walter H. Taylor. Taylor describes in detail the circumstances surrounding the murder of his classmate Cadet Thomas Blackburn by Charles B. Christian, a Washington College law student.

2 results

Letter to Walter H. Taylor, 1854

The letter describes in detail the circumstances surrounding the murder of Richard C. Taylor's classmate Thomas Blackburn by Charles B. Christian, a Washington College law student.

Richard C. Taylor letter, 1854 1 items

Taylor, Richard C. (Richard Cornelius), 1835-1917

This collection consists of one letter (dated January 15, 1854) from Richard C. Taylor to his father, Walter H. Taylor. Taylor describes in detail the circumstances surrounding the murder of his classmate Cadet Thomas Blackburn by Charles B. Christian, a Washington College law student.

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Thomas J. Nottingham papers, 1883/1885

8 items 1 diary and 7 documents, including letters

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
Some special events are also mentioned, including the election of President Grover Cleveland and the local Democratic Party celebration in November 1884. The diary also includes a list of letters sent and received by Nottingham, along with lists of staff and class members.

1 result

Thomas J. Nottingham papers, 1883/1885 8 items 1 diary and 7 documents, including letters

Nottingham, Thomas J. (Thomas Jacob), 1864-1953

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
Some special events are also mentioned, including the election of President Grover Cleveland and the local Democratic Party celebration in November 1884. The diary also includes a list of letters sent and received by Nottingham, along with lists of staff and class members.

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