Collections

Start Over Names Preston, John T. L. (John Thomas Lewis), 1811-1890 Level Collection

James E. Tyler letter, 1846 1 items

Tyler, James E., 1826?-?

This collection consists of one letter (dated May 14, 1846) from James E. Tyler (VMI Class of 1845) to President James K. Polk. The letter requests a commission in the United States Army or Marine Corps. Tyler mentions recommendations from Francis H. Smith and John T.L. Preston, and states that he was an "inmate" of VMI for two years.

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives

John T. L. Preston and Francis H. Smith correspondence, 1839 6 items 6 items in one box

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

Correspondence between Francis H. Smith, who became VMI's first Superintendent, and John T. L. Preston relating to the organization and opening of VMI. Includes four letters from Preston to Smith and one letter from Smith to Preston, in which he accepts the job offered by the Board of Visitors to serve as Superintendent (originally called Principal Professor). One related letter is from Francis H. Smith to William Atkinson or Atkison, in which Smith asks for advice about VMI's job offer.

  1. 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

Preston, John T. L. (John Thomas Lewis), 1811-1890

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.

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives

Joseph H. Chenoweth papers, 1851/1861 0.25 Linear Feet approximately 32 items

Chenoweth, Joseph H. (Joseph Hart), 1837-1862

The Joseph H. Chenoweth papers consist of letters (dated 1855 to 1861) written by Chenoweth to his parents Lemuel Chenoweth and Nancy A. Hart. Letters dating from his cadetship cover topics such as exams, trips, and demerits, and provide a good portrait of pre-Civil War cadet life.

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives

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

Samuel H. Letcher manuscript, 1869 1 items

Letcher, Samuel H. (Samuel Houston), 1848-1914

This collection consists of one manuscript of the VMI valedictory address of Cadet Samuel H. Letcher. The speech was delivered at VMI finals in July 1869. The manuscript contains annotations by John T. L. Preston.

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives

Stonewall Jackson papers, 1844/1915 3 Linear Feet

Jackson, Stonewall, 1824-1863

The Stonewall Jackson papers consist primarily of the personal papers of Civil War General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (1824-1863). The bulk of the letters date from the pre-Civil War period and concern professional, personal, and domestic matters, including many in which Jackson writes about his religious faith, his concerns about health and diet, and his family.

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives

William D. Stuart papers, 1850/1863 60 items 60 items in one box

Stuart, William D. (William Dabney), 1830-1863

The bulk of the William D. Stuart papers consists of the Civil War papers (60 items; 1861-1863) of Stuart. The papers contain:

  • Correspondence to and from various Confederate Army officers
  • Morning and guard reports
  • Military orders
  • Invoices and receipts documenting Stuart's brief service with the 15th Virginia Infantry Regiment and his command of the 56th Virginia Infantry Regiment
Other items include letters of recommendation for a United States Army Commission (1850), a letter from Gabriel Jordan, Jr. (VMI Class of 1850) dated November 1854, and printed material.

  1. Virginia Military Institute Archives

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