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.

Online Access

The Benjamin Bowering papers are available online .

Preferred Citation

Benjamin Bowering papers, 1916-1935. MS 0122. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

Benjamin Bowering (1894-1952) was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia and graduated VMI in 1915. He was an Assistant Professor at VMI from 1916 to 1917, and the author of the official VMI song "The VMI Spirit." Bowering was a United States Army officer from 1917 to 1944.

Contents Note

The Benjamin Bowering papers consist of the original manuscript score of "The VMI Spirit" (the official song of VMI), written by Benjamin Bowering while he was as Assistant Professor at VMI in 1916. The manuscript is 10.5 inches x 12.5 inches, with composition in pencil and annotations by the composer. The collection also includes one typescript letter (dated March 16, 1935) from Bowering to VMI's Librarian Nellie T. Gibbs, in which he explains the history of the song.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Correspondence
• Gibbs, Nellie Tracy, 1868-1948
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1910-1919
• Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1915
• Virginia Military Institute—Songs and music