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Start Over Collection Records of Superintendent Francis H. Smith, 1839-1889, 1839/1889 Date range 1859

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. Virginia Military Institute Archives
  2. Records of Superintendent Francis H. Smith, 1839-1889, 1839/1889
  3. Subject files, 1839/1884

Correspondence, incoming, 1839/1870 20 Linear Feet

Incoming correspondence of VMI's first Superintendent, Francis H. Smith, for the period 1839-1870. The original 19th century filing order has been retained. Each incoming letter was assigned a number by Smith's secretary; these letters were then filed numerically by letter number within each year. Some years were further broken down into alphabetical sections (A-K; L-Z etc.) and thus have more multiple numerical sequences within an individual year. It is therefore the case that some years have more than one letter number 1, 2 etc. Some letters for the year 1870 are missing; occasional other missing letters are identifed on the index; however the series is largely complete. These letters are indexed by name of sender. Outgoing letters for the period are located in bound letter books, which are arranged chronologically.

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives
  2. Records of Superintendent Francis H. Smith, 1839-1889, 1839/1889

Faculty applications, 1839/1884 3 Linear Feet

Faculty applications, historical. Letters of application and supporting letters of recommendation submitted for several faculty and staff positions. Includes positions of Professor of Modern Languages, Physical Sciences, Steward, Quartermaster. This file only relates to a few specific positions. 1839-1860; 1884.

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives
  2. Records of Superintendent Francis H. Smith, 1839-1889, 1839/1889
  3. Subject files, 1839/1884

Francis H. Smith speeches and publications, 1841/1879 .5 Linear Feet

A chronological file containing originals and copies of Smith's published addresses, speeches, discourses. These were published in pamphlet form. VMI owns originals for many; for those not found in the VMI Archives, the staff obtained photocopies from the Library of Virginia.

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives
  2. Records of Superintendent Francis H. Smith, 1839-1889, 1839/1889

George Washington statue, 1856/1866 1 Files

Includes letter from Francis H. Smith to Dr. Galt inviting him to the statue dedication; original manuscript of remarks made at the Washington Statue dedication on July 3, 1856 by William B. Taliaferro, Revd. John H. Bowcock, Francis H. Smith. Information (photocopies, 1864-1866) concerning the confiscation of the statue by Gen. Hunter's troops and its return from West Virginia in 1866, including copies of letters from David H. Strother of Gen. Hunter's staff.

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives
  2. Records of Superintendent Francis H. Smith, 1839-1889, 1839/1889
  3. Subject files, 1839/1884

Personal papers, 1833/1890 3 Linear Feet

Miscellaneous Francis H. Smith and Smith family personal records. Includes 2 volumes of personal letters written while on his trip to Europe in 1858, along with a scrapbook containing engravings of places visited; misc. personal correspondence, including one letter from Scott Shipp thanking Smith for his condolences upon the death of Shipp's wife.

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives
  2. Records of Superintendent Francis H. Smith, 1839-1889, 1839/1889
  3. Personal and biographical material, 1858

Records of Superintendent Francis H. Smith, 1839-1889, 1839/1889 30 Linear Feet

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

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. Virginia Military Institute Archives

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