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Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute. Corps of Cadets (1896-1944)

 Organization

Administrative History

Two cadet companies were organized in 1872-73, but the Corps of Cadets was not officially established until 1891-92. The first Commandant of Cadets was General J.H. Lane, appointed in 1872. Commandants have been appointed by the Board of Visitors since that time, except for 1880-81 when the Board failed to appoint either a Commandant or a president, so the acting president appointed a senior cadet as acting Commandant. In 1966, this post was put under the Dean of Students (now Vice- President of Student Affairs). From 1908 to 1964, a president of the Corps was elected each year. This individual's primary responsibility was to serve as chairman of the Cadet Senate. The first constitution of the Corps was adopted in 1908. Both civilian and cadet units served under this single constitution until 1916 when a Unified Student Body was formed (now the Student Government Association).

For a chronological list of Corps units, under their original names, as well as lists of Commanders, Commandants, and Presidents of the Corps, see Historical Data Book 1872-1972.

Found in 21 Collections and/or Records:

Adolph Samuel Bair Photographs

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2023-137
Abstract

The Adolph Samuel Bair Photographs were taken on the campus of the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (VPI) during the 1920s. The photographs depict Bair, the campus, and the VPI Corps of Cadets. Bair (1902-1988) graduated from VPI in 1924.

Dates: ca. 1920s

Patrick H. Butler Collection

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2019-015
Abstract

The Patrick H. Butler Collection includes materials from 1911-1990. The collection contains personal papers and photographs relating to Butler’s tenure as a Virginia Tech student and his alumni relationship with the university.

Dates: 1911 - 1990

Harold C. Cox Memorabilia Collection,

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2014-014
Abstract

The collection contains items, which belonged to or were collected by Harold C. Cox during his time as a student at Virginia Agriculture and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute from 1922-1926, and his continued experiences with the university as alumnus, primarily from the 1970s and 1980s.

Dates: 1923 - 1984

William F. Drumeller, Jr., Collection

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2013-007
Abstract

The William F. Drumeller, Jr., Collection, 1909-1991, includes Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) publications, school papers (including notes and notebooks), ephemera, engineering publications and reports, correspondences, and photographs of Drumeller, a student and cadet at VPI from 1942-1943 and 1946-1949. Materials describe the railway and coal industries in West Virginia in the mid- to late twentieth century.

Dates: 1909 - 1991

Percy Clayton Hamilton Photograph Album

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2011-007
Abstract

The collection consists of a small photograph album belonging to Percy Clayton Hamilton, class of 1912, with photographs from his tenure as a student at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI).

Dates: c. 1909-1912

Historical Photograph Collection (List of Subjects)

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Photographs-001
Abstract

The photograph collection at Special Collections and University Archives consists primarily of historical photographs of Virginia Tech, dating back to the 1890s. The collection is also home to historic images of Blacksburg, Montgomery County, the New River Valley, and Southwest Virginia in general. A photograph collection of faculty and staff from the university is maintained separately.

Dates: c. 1890s-present

Bertram A. Holtzworth Scrapbook

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2023-095
Abstract

This scrapbook contains photographs and memorabilia dating 1918-1926 from United States Military Academy (West Point) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) by Bertram A. Holtzworth, who attended VPI before graduating from West Point in 1927. He served in the U.S. Army from his time as a cadet at West Point until his retirement as Major General in 1963.

Dates: 1918 - 1926

Earl H. Hornbarger Collection,

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2013-003
Abstract

This collection contains photographs, publications, journals, writings and artifacts pertaining to Earl H. Hornbarger's time as a student at VPI, his later career as an engineer with Westinghouse Electric Company, and his involvement as a VPI alumnus.

Dates: 1912 - 1963

John E. McDonald VPI Cadet Blouse

 Collection
Identifier: Textile-1993-009
Abstract This cadet blouse is navy blue with black lining, and sleeves lined with off white. It is possibly made of wool and cotton. The blouse has a black stripe trim with plastic black buttons on the right, and hooks on the left. There are two gold pins on the collar of the blouse. One pin has "VPI" with guns crossing above. The other pin has "ROTC" with flames between "RO" and "TC." There is a five pointed star on the lower right sleeve and three thin black stripes above, a wide black stripe on...
Dates: c.1920s

John S. White VPI Coat and Cape

 Collection
Identifier: Textile-1993-013
Abstract The coat is navy blue with black lining, with red lining under the cape. There are gold diagonal stripes on the lower sleeves and six gold "VPI" buttons on the coat. There are eight smaller but identical buttons on the cape. Along the inside of the back of the collar is a small silver chain, and on the front of the inside of the collar are two silver hooks. There is a rectangular pocket on the left side of the coat lining. A label inside the jacket reads "John Stephen White 52-38-31-39-19...
Dates: 1938?