Collections : [Virginia Military Institute Archives]

This collection (47 items) consists of two series. The first series contains records (1702-1814; 17 items) related to the Virginia Militia, including regimental returns for various militia units. This material pre-dates the establishment of the state arsenal in Lexington, Virginia, but the documents were found among Lexington Arsenal records. Two of the documents date from the British colonial period (1702). The second series (1819-1839; 30 items) contains items concerning the operation of the state arsenal in Lexington. Included are payrolls and other financial records, guard returns and muster rolls, and two enlistment documents.

The Charles H. Carson papers consist of historic newspapers (individual issues), manuscripts, and ephemera, compiled and indexed by Charles H. Carson. The items cover numerous unrelated topics, although many of the newspapers date from the Civil War. The collection was presented to VMI as the "Carson Historical Papers" in 1941 as a memorial to Lieutenant Robert P. Carson, VMI Class of 1854.

The Charles P. Dorman papers (approximately 60 items) consist of letters to Dorman in his capacity as an attorney, documents regarding the settlement of his estate by executor William C. Lewis, and a contemporary copy of the legislative bill establishing VMI.

This collection consists of one account book of an unidentified member of the Chew Family from the Shenandoah Valley region in Virginia. Entries (1834-1883) include itemized accounts of customers for a variety of goods and services, a list of expenses, notes about crops and cattle, clippings, and a recipe.

This collection consists of correspondence (1831-1865, bulk 1831-1855) of James M. Mason, United States legislator and Confederate diplomat. The collection consists of letters concerning personal financial matters and other personal business. One letter to "Mr. Dallas" (dated August 11, 1855) relates to presidential politics. One letter to "My dear Col." written from London, England on May 16, 1865, comments on the situation in the South after defeat.

The Matthew Fontaine Maury papers consist primarily of letters written by Maury to various members of his family, including daughter Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury) (1837-1900), son-in-law Spotswood Wellford Corbin (1835-1897), and wife Ann Hull Maury (Herndon) (1811-1901). Other correspondents include Maximilian (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico, and Empress Carlotta.

This collection consists of the Civil War papers of Nathaniel C. Wilson (VMI Class of 1861) and papers of other Wilson family members, including:

• Wilson's diary-account book fragment that includes entries from Pennsylvania and the battlefield at Gettysburg.
• Two letters (dated 1859-1860)written while Wilson was a student at the University of Virginia.
• One letter (dated March 14-25, 1863) from Wilson written during the Civil War from Camp near Greenville, Virginia.
• Wilson family correspondence, legal/financial papers, and ephemera.

The Thomas H. Williamson papers include:

• Civil War memoirs, in which Williamson discusses the events that took place during his temporary assignment to the command of Major General Stonewall Jackson beginning in April 1862
• Lecture notes (1850s) used in teaching engineering and architecture courses at VMI
• Two copies of the textbook written by Williamson for use at VMI titled "An Elementary Course of Architecture and Civil Engineering"
• Williamson family genealogical material
• Correspondence

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

• 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

This collection of manuscripts (nine items) principally autograph letters of Civil War notables dating from 1858 to 1906, including a dispatch (dated April 28, 1862) from Stonewall Jackson to General Richard S. Ewell, requesting Ewell's presence. Other signed documents are in the hand of:

• Henry "Light horse Harry" Lee (1794)
• Robert E. Lee (1858)
• James Longstreet (1893)
• Jeb Stuart (1863)
• Mrs. Jeb Stuart (1886)
• Wade Hampton (1889)
• John Mosby (undated)