Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute. Corps of Cadets (1896-1944)
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 20 Collections and/or Records:
John A. Kircher Papers
This collection contains publications, photographs, postcards, programs, and other memorabilia from John A. Kircher's time at Virginia Tech under the Army Specialized Training Program in 1943-1944.
Maroon Corps of Cadet sashes,
Notes attached to box items were found in read: "Corps Maroon Sashes" and "Maroon sashes from the Tailor Shop."
Named/Individual Photograph Collections
The Named/Individual Photograph Collections include images from alumni and former faculty and staff, or individuals with ties to campus and the New River Valley. Collections (c.1890-present) depict campus life and events, railroad history, agricultural extension research, Blacksburg and surrounding areas, and some local families.
Herbert Reed Pollard Collection
This collection contains three items collected by Herbert Reed Pollard, a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and related to the Virginia Polytechnic Institute Corps of Cadets, including a 1933 ROTC dinner program, a photograph of the 1934 officers of the Corps' Company E, and a photocopied newspaper clipping of the Corps marching in Norfolk, Virginia.
Harry Downing Temple Jr., Papers
The Harry Downing Temple, Jr., Papers contains materials related to Temple's personal life, interest in heraldry and insignia, and his research and publications on the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. Materials date from about 1872 to 2004.
Uniform Cape,
Item: uniform cape Desc: original VAMC cape Date: Nov. 5, 1914 Color: navy with red lining Material: wool cape and lining Manufacturer: Blacksburg: Virginia Polytechnic Institute Donor: Condition: fair; moth holes in cape and lining; stains Special Markings: label: T.J. {Thomas Jefferson} Rowe ‘15 {Hampton, Elizabeth City}; measure: 53; J.H. Kelsey, Supt. Uniform Dept.
VPI Coat with Attached Cape,
VPI Corps of Cadets on the steps of the Festival Hall at the World's Fair at St. Louis, Missouri,
Joseph F. Ware Collection
The collection contains 102 letters from Joseph F. Ware to his wife, Susie, in Blacksburg, Virginia, while he was serving overseas during and after World War I. The other significant portion of this collection contains nearly 200 photographs.
Dewitt Clinton Wolfe, Jr., Scrapbooks
This collection contains two scrapbooks of photographs and ephemera compiled by DeWitt Clinton Wolfe, Jr., a 1921 graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and a member of the VPI Corps of Cadets. The materials document Wolfe's experiences as a student in the Cadet Corps from about 1919 to 1921, including sporting events, camping excursions, "rat parades" and as a trumpet player in the Cadet Corps band. The collection also contains a CD with selected scanned photographs from the albums.