Conditions Governing Use

Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions

Preferred Citation

John G. James papers, 1927-1929. MS 0319. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

John Garland James was born in 1844 in Fluvanna County, Virginia. He graduated from VMI in 1866 and was a New Market Cadet. He went on to become an educator and died in 1930 in Dallas, Texas.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of 16 letters and one postcard written by John G. James to his friend Samuel Y. Ferguson of Witchita Falls, Texas. Of special interest is the letter dated April 17, 1927, in which James describes his memories of witnessing the VMI Corps of Cadets arrival in Richmond, Virginia under the command of Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson. This same letter contains a brief recollection of James' participation in Jackson's funeral. Other letters contain James family information, political comments, and personal news.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Correspondence
• Jackson, Stonewall, 1824-1863
• Postcards
• Virginia Military Institute—Alumni—Biography
• Virginia Military Institute—Civil War, 1861-1865
• Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1866