<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><ead xmlns="urn:isbn:1-931666-22-9" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="urn:isbn:1-931666-22-9 http://www.loc.gov/ead/ead.xsd"><eadheader countryencoding="iso3166-1" dateencoding="iso8601" findaidstatus="completed" langencoding="iso639-2b" repositoryencoding="iso15511"><eadid countrycode="US" mainagencycode="US-viblbv">viblbv01192</eadid><filedesc><titlestmt><titleproper type="filing">Cottrell, Benjamin, Papers</titleproper><titleproper>Benjamin Cottrell Papers, <date>1910-1983</date> <num>Ms.1994.035</num></titleproper><author>Adrienne Glenney, Student Assistant, and Kira A. Dietz, Archivist</author></titlestmt><publicationstmt><publisher>Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech</publisher><p id="logostmt"><extref xlink:actuate="onLoad" xlink:href="https://static.lib.vt.edu/images/logo/lockup-color-347x75.png" xlink:show="embed" xlink:type="simple"/></p><p><date>2013 (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/">CC0 1.0</a>)</date></p><address><addressline>Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)</addressline><addressline>560 Drillfield Drive</addressline><addressline>Newman Library, Virginia Tech</addressline><addressline>Blacksburg, Virginia 24061</addressline><addressline>Business Number: 540-231-6308</addressline><addressline>specref@vt.edu</addressline><addressline>URL: <extptr xlink:href="http://spec.lib.vt.edu" xlink:show="new" xlink:title="http://spec.lib.vt.edu" xlink:type="simple"/></addressline></address></publicationstmt></filedesc><profiledesc><creation>This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on <date>2025-06-06 07:02:00 -0400</date>.</creation><langusage>Description is written in: <language langcode="eng" scriptcode="Latn">English, Latin script</language>.</langusage><descrules>Describing Archives: A Content Standard</descrules></profiledesc></eadheader><archdesc level="collection">
  <did>
    <repository>
      <corpname>Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech</corpname>
    </repository>
    <unittitle>Benjamin Cottrell Papers</unittitle>
    <origination label="Creator">
      <persname source="local">Cottrell, Benjamin, d.1972</persname>
    </origination>
    <unitid>Ms.1994.035</unitid>
    <physdesc altrender="whole">
      <extent altrender="materialtype spaceoccupied">1.7 Cubic Feet</extent>
      <extent altrender="carrier">7 boxes, 2 oversize folders</extent>
    </physdesc>
    <unitdate datechar="creation" normal="1910/1983" type="inclusive">1910-1983</unitdate>
    <abstract id="aspace_1c1e40e91faa745d8b2b48a6bbacd172" label="Abstract">This collection contains the papers, photographs, diplomas, certificates, correspondence, and scrapbooks of Benjamin Cottrell from 1910-1983. Cottrell, a 1916 VPI graduate with a degree in Civil Engineering, spent part of his career working on railroads and highways in Central and South America.</abstract>
    <langmaterial id="aspace_69b3eb8170c36a2a5ad80336730d342e">The materials in the collection are in English.</langmaterial>
  </did>
  <accessrestrict id="aspace_09eebccc8d5fd194a401aacd5a771c62">
    <head>Conditions Governing Access</head>
<p>The collection is open for research.</p>  </accessrestrict>
  <userestrict id="aspace_f935f2a32b14aaccc4ef5b567d4b807b">
    <head>Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use</head>
<p>The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. </p><p>Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: <a href="http://bit.ly/scuareproduction">http://bit.ly/scuareproduction</a>. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: <a href="http://bit.ly/scuapublication">http://bit.ly/scuapublication</a>. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.</p>  </userestrict>
  <prefercite id="aspace_e88bc125f5f74d425c8da6ce6c3aaf25">
    <head>Preferred Citation</head>
<p>Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Benjamin Cottrell Papers, Ms1994-035, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.</p>  </prefercite>
  <acqinfo id="aspace_8e980b7afbbafc789e69842836fe7118">
    <head>Source of Acquisition</head>
<p>This collection was dontated to Special Collections in October 1993.</p>  </acqinfo>
  <processinfo id="aspace_1cc674e9611e1841ae6f0d2c81a02dea">
    <head>Processing Information</head>
<p>The processing, arrangement, and description of the Benjamin Cottrell Papers was completed in September 2013.</p>  </processinfo>
  <bioghist id="aspace_d23938ab0267d94a4fcbdf346e517ebd">
    <head>Biographical Note</head>
<p>Benjamin Cottrell graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1916 with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. He spent most of his life working in railroad and highway development in South America. He was a member of the VPI Alumni Century Club. Cottrell died in 1972.</p>  </bioghist>
  <scopecontent id="aspace_be38f80afae291b02dad4708ee070fc2">
    <head>Scope and Content</head>
<p>This collection contains the papers, photographs, diplomas, certificates, correspondence, and scrapbooks of Benjamin Cottrell. Cottrell graduated from VPI in 1916 and spent his career working as a highway and railroad engineer in Costa Rica and Bolivia. Much of the newspapers, scrapbooks, photographs, and other papers in the collection relate to his work abroad. Other materials relate to his activities as a VPI alumnus.</p>  </scopecontent>
  <arrangement id="aspace_f9f321d46e6263388542e6897e1fc4f3">
    <head>Arrangement</head>
<p>The collection is organized by material type.</p>  </arrangement>
  <odd id="aspace_bdf65a67a62abf9d0b60b038a9a0d6b5">
    <head>Rights Statement for Archival Description</head>
<p>The guide to the  Benjamin Cottrell Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/">https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/</a>).</p>  </odd>
  <controlaccess>
    <subject source="local">Students and alumni</subject>
    <subject source="local">University History</subject>
    <corpname authfilenumber="n92063670" source="naf">Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (1896-1944)</corpname>
    <corpname authfilenumber="n80125910" source="naf">Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1944-1970)</corpname>
  </controlaccess>
  <dsc><c id="aspace_ref9_blf" level="series"><did><unittitle>Papers</unittitle><unitdate datechar="creation" normal="1910/1972" type="inclusive">1910-1972</unitdate></did><c id="aspace_ref19_wik" level="file"><did><unittitle>Address Books</unittitle><container id="aspace_6e167494480674f990dcd67fc7a87659" label="box-folder" type="box">1</container><container id="aspace_1a582637c570b56fefb1836a07133e69" parent="aspace_6e167494480674f990dcd67fc7a87659" type="folder">1</container></did></c><c id="aspace_ref20_3yf" level="file"><did><unittitle>Blank Postcards</unittitle><container id="aspace_b3e8355ef544eb338560918d7bb1809e" label="box-folder" type="box">1</container><container id="aspace_5572d87d66430e7a22de609e67f7a128" parent="aspace_b3e8355ef544eb338560918d7bb1809e" type="folder">2</container></did></c><c id="aspace_ref21_9r3" level="file"><did><unittitle>Certificates and Awards</unittitle><container id="aspace_868b779e223a6743810ec02f0b5b5e51" label="box-folder" type="box">1</container><container id="aspace_7ca0cad4c90625e30665dd2d55d93bed" parent="aspace_868b779e223a6743810ec02f0b5b5e51" type="folder">3</container></did></c><c id="aspace_ref22_ox0" level="file"><did><unittitle>Correspondence </unittitle><container id="aspace_badc432236fc7555837344e913b4e426" label="box-folder" type="box">1</container><container id="aspace_98131427d20bee9e5b2507a1e2213401" parent="aspace_badc432236fc7555837344e913b4e426" type="folder">4</container></did></c><c id="aspace_ref23_l5d" level="file"><did><unittitle>Watercolor Print of South American Church</unittitle><container id="aspace_9fdd968d8a1043469ecc6c66edde2837" label="box-folder" type="box">1</container><container id="aspace_4b844b38e2defda5a8fe2db19ca89a36" parent="aspace_9fdd968d8a1043469ecc6c66edde2837" type="folder">5</container></did></c></c><c id="aspace_ref10_rcl" level="series"><did><unittitle>Awards and Plaques</unittitle><unitdate datechar="creation" type="inclusive">1951-1983, n.d.</unitdate></did><c id="aspace_ref24_z3a" level="item"><did><unittitle> Century Club Member Brass Plaques</unittitle><unitdate datechar="creation" normal="1975/1983" type="inclusive">1975-1983</unitdate><container id="aspace_9f46abb199e5c06951882de85adedacb" label="box" type="box">2</container></did></c><c id="aspace_ref25_grf" level="item"><did><unittitle>VPI Alumni Century Club Framed Award of Appreciation</unittitle><unitdate datechar="creation">n.d.</unitdate><container id="aspace_55d5f9bdd840d7e64aa20404b744d6ca" label="box" type="box">3</container></did></c><c id="aspace_ref30_fdt" level="item"><did><unittitle>Carved Wooden Name Plaque</unittitle><container id="aspace_d1c115efc111d629ab2e319a36109b5d" label="box" type="box">7</container></did></c><c id="aspace_ref32_l40" level="item"><did><unittitle>Commemorative Medal </unittitle><container id="aspace_33f811ce1e5888ae15076de2d0cb4491" label="box" type="box">7</container></did></c><c id="aspace_ref38_cuv" level="file"><did><unittitle>Awards</unittitle><unitdate datechar="creation" normal="1951/1954" type="inclusive">1951-1954</unitdate><container id="aspace_025891ead0bf638a736ddc61065caee9" label="folder" type="folder">3</container></did></c></c><c id="aspace_ref11_41b" level="series"><did><unittitle>Artifacts</unittitle><unitdate datechar="creation" type="inclusive">1960, n.d.</unitdate></did><c id="aspace_ref31_fvm" level="item"><did><unittitle>American Legion Philippines Cap</unittitle><container id="aspace_66e1180007ed3469e7b51c6cbfc6fc54" label="box" type="box">7</container></did></c><c id="aspace_ref33_hva" level="item"><did><unittitle>Fez Freemason Cap</unittitle><container id="aspace_f3986d83b35538f355cebaeaae0f368d" label="box" type="box">7</container></did></c><c id="aspace_ref34_u5i" level="item"><did><unittitle>"Last Spike Ceremony" Commemorative Railroad Peg</unittitle><unitdate datechar="creation">December 1960</unitdate><container id="aspace_3ea86682886376c48ba3134bddd4e1d0" label="box" type="box">7</container></did></c></c><c id="aspace_ref12_wv2" level="series"><did><unittitle>Photographs</unittitle><unitdate datechar="creation" normal="1916/1968" type="inclusive">1916-1968</unitdate></did><c id="aspace_ref26_o8c" level="item"><did><unittitle>Photographs</unittitle><unitdate datechar="creation" normal="1916/1968" type="inclusive">1916-1968</unitdate><container id="aspace_5f61f9b6d32589e9c2cef4f76fb2d01a" label="box" type="box">4</container></did></c></c><c id="aspace_ref13_3ob" level="series"><did><unittitle>Scrapbooks</unittitle><unitdate datechar="creation">n.d.</unitdate></did><c id="aspace_ref27_l29" level="item"><did><unittitle>Scrapbook</unittitle><container id="aspace_c362c72154368bd24682e3a212c98c10" label="box" type="box">5</container></did></c><c id="aspace_ref28_0kj" level="item"><did><unittitle>Scrapbooks (2) of Brazil</unittitle><container id="aspace_ae70ca0c136e1b6b70fcc0926479f689" label="box" type="box">6</container></did></c></c><c id="aspace_ref17_bp0" level="series"><did><unittitle>Newspapers and Magazines</unittitle><unitdate datechar="creation" normal="1954/1954">1954</unitdate></did><c id="aspace_ref35_v0e" level="file"><did><unittitle>Life Magazine (Spanish edition)</unittitle><unitdate datechar="creation">November 1954</unitdate><container id="aspace_1e19209213baf0b82c51dadceff8de77" label="folder" type="folder">1</container></did></c><c id="aspace_ref36_h76" level="file"><did><unittitle>Life Magazine</unittitle><unitdate datechar="creation">November 1954</unitdate><container id="aspace_836fdaf65f90470e548b2512bb256f56" label="folder" type="folder">1</container></did></c><c id="aspace_ref39_mjm" level="file"><did><unittitle>El Dario Newspaper
</unittitle><unitdate datechar="creation" type="inclusive">September 26th, 28th, 29th, and 30th, 1954</unitdate><container id="aspace_9310045492c82599863a04a79f210fa8" label="folder" type="folder">2</container></did></c></c></dsc>
</archdesc>
</ead>