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

Philip C. Gibbs notebook, 1849-1851. MS 0106. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

Philip Cromwell Gibbs was born in 1831 in Martinsburg, West Virginia. He graduated VMI in 1851 and went on to become a teacher and merchant. He died in 1859 in Booneville, Missouri.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of one notebook (approximately 145 pages) created by Philip C. Gibbs that reflects cadet life from 1848 to 1851. The notebook includes: Accounts of Corps of Cadets trips to Richmond, Petersburg, Norfolk and Rockbridge Alum Springs, Virginia Cadet poetry and essays Poetry by Sara Henderson Smith Addresses delivered before the Cadet Dialectic Society (a literary and debating society) Discussion of exams (1851) in English and natural philosophy Account of "An Oyster Supper---A Frolic After Taps" Account of "our last bible recitation" in which Gibbs describes the last session of his cadetship with Superintendent Francis H. Smith

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• College students—Religious life
• Notebooks
• Rockbridge Alum Springs (Va.)
• Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890
• Universities and colleges—Religion
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet compositions—Poetry
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet compositions—Prose
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet debating societies
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1840-1849
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1850-1859
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet literary societies
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet organizations
• Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1851
• Virginia Military Institute—Curricula
• Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Anecdotes