Collections : [Virginia Military Institute Archives]

Includes film of ROTC cavalry drill and horsemanship practice on Parade Ground, including jumping; Barracks scenes; cadet orchestra; other scenes from cadet life ca. 1939

The William Couper papers document a portion of the life and career of Couper, a man notable for his research and publications about the history of VMI, Lexington, Rockbridge County, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia history and genealogy, Stonewall Jackson, and Claudius Crozet.

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 collection consists of two series. The first series contains miscellaneous records (1702; 1793-1814; 17 items) relating to the Virginia Militia, including regimental returns for various militia units. This material pre-dates the establishment of the state arsenal at Lexington, Virginia, but the documents were found among the Lexington arsenal records also contained in this collection. Two of the documents date from the British colonial period (1702).

The New Market Collection consists primarily of reminiscences of the Battle of New Market Virginia (May 15, 1864) written by participants and other witnesses between 1894-1915. Written in response to specific inquiries and questionnaires, these memoirs were collected by various groups and individuals, including the VMI Alumni Association, author/historian Edward R. Turner, Henry A. Wise (VMI Class of 1862 and battle veteran) and Benjamin A. Colonna (VMI Class of 1864 and battle veteran). In addition to VMI cadet participants, information was received from veterans of other Confederate units, from Union soldiers, and from a small number number of eyewitnesses who were citizens of the town of New Market at the time of the battle. Some of the responses are very detailed, while others contain little information other than the fact of participation. The accounts collected by Benjamin Colonna reflect his particular interest in troop movements and positions, and in mapping the battlefield.

This collection consists primarily of documents and photographs dating from A. Franklin Kibler's World War II service with the 12th Army Group, European Theater, including:

• Memoranda to and from Kibler and other senior officers (1943-1945)
• Headquarters, 12th Army Group Commanding General's briefings (1944-1945)
• Reports, including "Reports of the General Board, United States Forces, European Theater" (G-3 Section)
• Photographs
• Organizational charts

The collection consists of the Civil War correspondence (18 items) of James Henry Reid. Included are 13 letters from Reid to his parents written while he was a fourth classman at the Virginia Military Institute, August - November 1862. This correspondence contains many references to wartime cadet life, including use of the term "rat" as a name for new cadets, hazing, uniforms, food, guard duty and other aspects of life at VMI during the Civil War. The papers also contain one letter (1864 March 7) written while Reid was serving with the 13th Virginia Light Artillery Regiment, Confederate Army; and 4 miscellaneous letters, 1865 and 1867.

The James H. Reid papers consist of the Civil War correspondence (18 items) of Reid. Included are 14 letters (dated August-November 1862) from Reid to his parents written while he was a fourth classman at VMI. This correspondence contains many references to wartime cadet life, including the use of the term "rat" as a name for new cadets, hazing, uniforms, food, guard duty, and other aspects of life at VMI.

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, personal file, and subject files.

The papers consist of 17 Civil War letters (Sept 1862-May 1863) from Jacob Kent Langhorne to various members of his family, written during his Virginia Military Institute cadetship and his service in the Confederate Army with the 2nd Virginia Cavalry Regiment. Topics include cadet life, family matters, camp life.