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Start Over Date range 1869 Creator Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890
Virginia Military Institute Archives

Barton family papers, 1855/1869

10 items

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.

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Barton family papers, 1855/1869 10 items

Barton, Charles M. (Charles Marshall), 1836-1862

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.

Virginia Military Institute Archives

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

30 Linear Feet

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.

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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.

Correspondence, outgoing, 1839/1889 51 Volumes

The outgoing letterbooks (bound volumes) of VMI's first Superintendent Francis H. Smith, who served from 1839-1889. There are no outgoing letters from 1864 August 9-1865 October 30.

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.

Virginia Military Institute Archives

James H. Waddell papers, 1855/1879

4 items

The James H. Waddell papers consist of four items, including:

  • A letter (dated 1855) from Waddell to his sister that contains a detailed description and pencil drawing of his room (#14) in barracks and of his roomates (Barksdale, Penn, Magruder, Shepherd, and Wilson)
  • A drawing of a barracks room and roommates
  • Pencil map, 8 inches x 10 inches, labeled "Plan of Battle of Bethel Church, June 10, 1861"
  • Letter of recommendation (dated 1879) written by VMI's Superintendent Francis H. Smith and endorsed by Board of Visitors President John Letcher

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James H. Waddell papers, 1855/1879 4 items

Waddell, James H. (James Henry), 1833-1884

The James H. Waddell papers consist of four items, including:

  • A letter (dated 1855) from Waddell to his sister that contains a detailed description and pencil drawing of his room (#14) in barracks and of his roomates (Barksdale, Penn, Magruder, Shepherd, and Wilson)
  • A drawing of a barracks room and roommates
  • Pencil map, 8 inches x 10 inches, labeled "Plan of Battle of Bethel Church, June 10, 1861"
  • Letter of recommendation (dated 1879) written by VMI's Superintendent Francis H. Smith and endorsed by Board of Visitors President John Letcher

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Marshall McDonald papers, 1861/1892

0.5 Linear Feet approximately 90 items

The Marshall McDonald papers (approximately 90 items) include primarily correspondence (1861-1892), notes, scientific reports, and documents. Among the correspondents are several VMI alumni and faculty members and Civil War officers, including:

  • Scott Shipp
  • Francis H. Smith
  • Edward Cunningham
  • Wilfred E. Cutshaw
  • John W. Lyell
  • James H. Morrison
  • Mark B. Hardin
  • Daniel W. Flowerree
  • General Dabney H. Maury
  • Hunter McGuire
Correspondence topics include McDonald's service in the Engineer and Ordnance Deptartments, glimpses of Civil War and post-War life at VMI (in the Smith and Shipp letters), and McDonald's professional concerns.

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Marshall McDonald papers, 1861/1892 0.5 Linear Feet approximately 90 items

McDonald, Marshall, 1835-1895

The Marshall McDonald papers (approximately 90 items) include primarily correspondence (1861-1892), notes, scientific reports, and documents. Among the correspondents are several VMI alumni and faculty members and Civil War officers, including:

  • Scott Shipp
  • Francis H. Smith
  • Edward Cunningham
  • Wilfred E. Cutshaw
  • John W. Lyell
  • James H. Morrison
  • Mark B. Hardin
  • Daniel W. Flowerree
  • General Dabney H. Maury
  • Hunter McGuire
Correspondence topics include McDonald's service in the Engineer and Ordnance Deptartments, glimpses of Civil War and post-War life at VMI (in the Smith and Shipp letters), and McDonald's professional concerns.

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Office of the Superintendent correspondence, 1840/1918

2 cubic feet

Correspondence, 1840-1918, originating in the Superintendent's office, unrelated to any other records series. Primarily about purchases and business transactions, and miscellaneous file.

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Miscellaneous correspondence, 1840/1915 1 cubic feet

This box contains incoming and outgoing letters that do not fit in the larger correspondence series for the period, including:

Office of the Superintendent correspondence, 1840/1918 2 cubic feet

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

Correspondence, 1840-1918, originating in the Superintendent's office, unrelated to any other records series. Primarily about purchases and business transactions, and miscellaneous file.

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