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Beverly Coleman Videotape

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-1987-051

Scope and Content

48 minute video tape of Adm. Beverly Coleman, grandson of Confederate partisan commander John S. Mosby, giving a lecture to Fairfax County Public Schools students on his grandfathers Civil War service and partisan activities. First 30 minutes is lecture by Adm. Coleman before another individual finishes the lecture segment. Adm. Coleman returns to answer audience questions for the remaining 10 minutes.

Dates

  • 1970s(?)

Language of Materials

The materials in the collection are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

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.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. 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.

Biographical Note

Born in 1899, Rear Admiral Beverly Coleman is the grandson of Col. John S. Mosby, a famous Confederate partisan commander. Coleman is a 1922 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and served in the United States Naval Reserves. He served in the Second World War, and was the Chief Defense Counsel for the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, which tried Japanese political and military leaders for their role in the war. Additionally, he served as the secretary for the United Nations brokered armistice conference between North and South Korea in 1953. He married and had two children. Coleman died in 1993.

John Singleton Mosby (1833-1916) was born in Powhatan County, Virginia. Having already established a thriving legal practice and with a wife and children, Mosby joined Confederate forces with the outbreak of the Civil War in Virginia. Eventually coming under the command of famous cavalry commander J.E.B. Stuart. Noted for his ability as a cavalry raider and scout, Mosby was given permission to form a cavalry partisan unit in late 1862. His "43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry," proved a significant hindrance to Federal operations in the northern Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia, raiding and ambushing supply lines. He surrendered his command on June 17, 1865, months after Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Following the war however, Mosby engaged in reconciliatory politics. He resumed his law practice, but also served in several local and federal positions, including Consul to Hong Kong. His contributions to Civil War history include Mosby's War Reminiscences and Stuart's Cavalry Campaigns (1887).

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

The collection contains a 48 minute videotape of Admiral Beverly Coleman giving a lecture and answering questions on his grandfather Col. John Singleton Mosby (1833-1916), a Confederate partisan commander, born in Powhatan County, Virginia. Another educator provides some information and answers. Mosby was an irregular cavalry officer, and he participated in several prominent battkes and famously led a significant partisan campaign in Northern Virginia throughout the Civil War. After the war, he held local and federal government postions.

Source of Acqisition

The collection was acquired by Special Collections and University Archives prior to 2002.

Related Materials

Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives and Neman Library both have copies of Mosby's War Reminiscences and Stuart's Cavalry Campaigns.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Beverly Coleman Videotape by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Beverly Coleman Videotape commenced in January 2024 and completed in January 2024.

Title
Beverly Coleman Videotape, 1970s(?)
Status
Completed
Author
Special Collections and University Archives Staff
Date
2014 (CC0 1.0)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2020-08-19: Finding aid notes updated to new department standards. juliags
  • 2021-03-08: LM Rozema added missing notes for an unprocessed collection, added FA title and filing titles, added FA date from EAD, and added component with instances previously attached to collection level.
  • 2024-01-24: Corrected collection name and added likely dates. Added Creator Agent. Updated Abstract, Bio/Hist Note, and Scope/Cont Note, Finalized processing procedures. Miles Abernethy

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308