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

James W. Massie papers, 1855-1879. MS 0142. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

James Woods Massie was born in 1826 in Augusta County, Virginia. He graduated VMI in 1849. He was a lawyer and VMI Faculty (mathematics) from 1849 to 1872 with time away for military service during the Civil War. During the War he was a Lieutenant Colonel with the 51st Virginia Infantry Regiment. Massie died in 1872 in Lexington, Virginia.

Scope and Contents

The James W. Massie papers consist of the personal papers (40 items) of Massie, including: Incoming correspondence (1855-1857) Civil War papers, primarily incoming letters, orders, and commissions (1861-1863) Post-War papers, including letters written by Massie's wife, Sophonisba Breckinridge McDowell (Massie), and documents related to their son, James McDowell Massie Confederate bonds Envelopes

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Bonds—Confederate States of America
• Confederate States of America. Army—Virginia Infantry, Regiment, 51st
• Correspondence
• Orders (military records)
• Soldiers—Virginia—Correspondence
• United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Personal narratives—Confederate
• Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1849
• Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Biography