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Virginia Military Institute Archives
VMI ArchivesPreston Library
Lexington, VA 24450
Business Number: 540-464-7516
archives@vmi.edu
URL: http://www.vmi.edu/archives
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
There are no restrictions; fragile and oversized items may have copying or scanning limitations.
Collections in the VMI Archives are made available for noncommercial 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
Some items from the Smith papers are available online.
Some annual reports from the Smith administration are available online
Preferred Citation
Records of the Superintendent. Francis H. Smith Administration. [specific series/item/date]
Biographical / Historical
Francis H. Smith served for fifty years (1839-1889) as VMI's first Superintendent. Smith was born in 1812, graduated from West Point in 1833, and came to Lexington, Virginia in 1839 to lead the newly established Virginia Military Institute. He died in March 1890, a few months after his retirement as Superintendent. He was known as the builder and --after the Civil War-- rebuilder of VMI. His official correspondence spans the period 1839-1889, with few gaps. The Civil War era and earlier letters survived Gen. David Hunter's destruction of many Institute buildings in June 1864. Smith corresponded with the notable military, educational, and political leaders of his time, making the correspondence a rich resource for scholars.
Scope and Contents
These files constitute the major record series generated by the office of Francis H. Smith, VMI's first Superintendent. He served from 1839-1889. The records, (ca. 30 linear feet) consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence, order books, speeches and publications, annual reports, personal file, and subject files.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Correspondence
- Military education -- Virginia -- History -- 19th century
- Military schools -- Southern States
- Virginia Military Institute—Civil War, 1861-1865
- Virginia Military Institute—History—19th century
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Armstrong, George D. (George Dodd), 1813-1899
- Bowcock, John, Rev.
- Dooley, Edwin L., 1942-
- Gilham, William, 1818-1872
- Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845
- Jackson, Stonewall, 1824-1863
- Preston, John T. L. (John Thomas Lewis), 1811-1890
- Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890
- Smith, Francis H., Jr. (Francis Henney), 1849-1917
- Taliaferro, John B.
- Volck, Frederick.
- Walker, James A. (James Alexander)
- Williamson, Thomas H. (Thomas Hoomes), 1813-1888
Container List
Incoming correspondence of VMI's first Superintendent, Francis H. Smith, for the period 1839-1870. The original 19th century filing order has been retained. Each incoming letter was assigned a number by Smith's secretary; these letters were then filed numerically by letter number within each year. Some years were further broken down into alphabetical sections (A-K; L-Z etc.) and thus have more multiple numerical sequences within an individual year. It is therefore the case that some years have more than one letter number 1, 2 etc. Some letters for the year 1870 are missing; occasional other missing letters are identifed on the index; however the series is largely complete. These letters are indexed by name of sender. Outgoing letters for the period are located in bound letter books, which are arranged chronologically.
Francis H. Smith incoming correspondence, 1885-1889. These letters are no longer filed in the numbered sequence that was used for the period 1839-1870; they are filed alphabetically within each year. Corresponding outgoing letters are located in separate letter books for the period. Incoming correspondence for the period 1871-1884, except for a few miscellaneous items, is not extant. This was noted by William Couper in the 1930's, and it is not know at what point or under what circumstances the incoming letters for this period were lost. Outgoing letters for 1871-1884 are extant.
The outgoing letterbooks (bound volumes) of VMI's first Superintendent Francis H. Smith, who served from 1839-1889. There are no outgoing letters from 1864 August 9-1865 October 30.
Subject Files maintained by the office of VMI's first Superintendent, Francis H. Smith
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Cadet Letters of Application and Recommendation3 Linear Feet1839-1864, with gapsEnglish.Scope and Contents
Applications and letters of recommendations for students applying to VMI, 1839-1864 (gaps). Includes successful and unsuccessful applicants and some who were accepted but never matriculated. 5 boxes
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Faculty applications, 19th century3 Linear Feet1839-1860; 1884English.Scope and Contents
Faculty applications, historical. Letters of application and supporting letters of recommendation submitted for several faculty and staff positions. Includes positions of Professor of Modern Languages, Physical Sciences, Steward, Quartermaster. This file only relates to a few specific positions. 1839-1860; 1884.
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Washington CollegeArmstrong, George D. (George Dodd), 1813-18991 Files1845; 1860English.Scope and Contents
Washington College (now Washington and Lee University). Several items, 1845, concerning a complaint lodged by Washington College against VMI, which ultimately led to a severance of academic ties between the two institutions. Prof. George Dodd Armstrong represented the College on this issue. For a full account, see the book 100 Years at VMI (William Couper), vol. 1, pps. 139-147. The file also includes one unrelated document from 1860.
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George Washington StatueBowcock, John, Rev.Taliaferro, John B.1 Files1856-1866; misc. later documentsEnglish.Scope and Contents
Includes letter from Francis H. Smith to Dr. Galt inviting him to the statue dedication; original manuscript of remarks made at the Washington Statue dedication on July 3, 1856 by William B. Taliaferro, Revd. John H. Bowcock, Francis H. Smith. Information (photocopies, 1864-1866) concerning the confiscation of the statue by Gen. Hunter's troops and its return from West Virginia in 1866, including copies of letters from David H. Strother of Gen. Hunter's staff.
Misc. Later documents (post-Smith era) re: Statue
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Financial Claims Against Cadets, 19th century1 Linear Feet1871-1873English.Scope and Contents
19th century legal documents. Records of VMI attorneys Letcher, Maury and Letcher relating to collection of cadet debts after Civil War, 1871-1873
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Academic Departments, Annual Reports, 19th centuryWilliamson, Thomas H. (Thomas Hoomes), 1813-1888Preston, John T. L. (John Thomas Lewis), 1811-1890.50 Linear Feet1843-1848; 1865-1899English.Scope and Contents
A chronological file, 1843-1848; 1865-1899, containing examples of academic department annual reports from the 19th century. These reports from the various academic departments were submitted to the Superintendent and help to document the early academic history of the Institute. This file includes early reports by John T. L. Preston (Languages), and Thomas H. Williamson (Engineering), as well as reports by other early faculty members. The series has many gaps; for example, none from the 1850's. The reports reflect some subjects that are no longer taught, e.g., Latin, drawing, mineralogy. 1 box
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Frederick Volck Document1 itemsJuly 13, 1870English.Scope and Contents
Three page memorandum of agreement (July 13, 1870) between sculptor Frederick Volck and VMI Superintendent Francis H. Smith. Volck was to complete a bronze equestrian statue of Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, but the project was never finished. (See the book "One Hundred Years at VMI" by William Couper, vol 3, p. 212, for an account of Volck's relationship with VMI).
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Court Martial and Board of Inquiry Records, 19th century1 Linear Feet1848-1854; 1881-1898English.
Biographical material and miscellaneous Smith and Smith family personal papers.
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Francis H. Smith Biographical File0.5 Linear Feetca. 1890-ongoingEnglish.Scope and Contents
Francis H. Smith individual biographical file, compiled over decades. Contains biographical and genealogical information, clippings, articles and other general information relating to Francis H. Smith and his family.
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Old Spex of the VMI. Francis H. Smith.1 itemsca. 1940English.Scope and Contents
Unpublished typescript by Francis H. Smith III. This is the only full length biography of Francis H. Smith and is a useful source for information not found elsewhere.
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Francis H. Smith Personal PapersSmith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-18903 Linear Feet1833-1890English.Scope and Contents
Miscellaneous Francis H. Smith and Smith family personal records. Includes 2 volumes of personal letters written while on his trip to Europe in 1858, along with a scrapbook containing engravings of places visited; misc. personal correspondence, including one letter from Scott Shipp thanking Smith for his condolences upon the death of Shipp's wife.
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Francis H. Smith West Point DiplomaJackson, Andrew, 1767-18451 items1833English.Scope and Contents
The United States Military Academy diploma awarded to Francis H. Smith in 1833. The ink is badly faded. Bears the signature of President Andrew Jackson.
Scope and ContentsOversized case 9
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Francis H. Smith United States Army commission documentPhysical Location: Oversized case 9 1834English.Scope and Contents
U. S. Army commission document signed in 1834; commission as Second Lieutenant to date from November 1833.
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Francis H. Smith European Travel Letter Books and RelatedSmith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-18902 Volumes letter books & related1858English.Biographical / Historical
In 1858, after nearly twenty years as Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute, Francis H. Smith needed some time off. Consequently, he was granted a leave of absence by the VMI Board of Visitors to travel to Europe to visit military, scientific, and agricultural institutions and to write a report on his findings upon his return.
Smith and several young alumni departed on the 9th of June and returned at the end of December 1858 having visited Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Italy. Each night, he wrote a letter home to his wife Sara describing what he had seen and experienced that day. These letters, possibly Smith's only personal correspondence that has survived, were transcribed into three small letter books on his return.
Over the years, the three volumes passed down through the Smith family, but sadly one was lost. Col. Edwin Dooley, a historian who has done extensive research on Smith, transcribed and annotated the two surviving letter books covering Smith's travels through the United Kingdom and France.
Online AccessGeneralThe original letter books were transcribed and annotated by Edwin L. Dooley, Jr.
Immediate Source of AcquisitionThe original letter books were donated to the VMI Archives in 2013 through the estate of Alexander Morrison, VMI Class of 1939, a descendant of Gen. Smith.
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Bible inscribed by Francis H. Smith to Francis H. Smith, Jr.1869English.
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Edwin Dooley Research Collection. Francis H. Smith-related research.Dooley, Edwin L., 1942-4 Linear Feet1980-2007English.Scope and Contents
Edwin L. Dooley, Jr., former Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and Secretary to the Board of Visitors, is also a historian who has studied Francis H. Smith in depth. This material comprises some of his research notes. It relates to Smith's biography and tenure as Superintendent/official records.
A chronological file containing originals and copies of Smith's published addresses, speeches, discourses. These were published in pamphlet form. VMI owns originals for many; for those not found in the VMI Archives, the staff obtained photocopies from the Library of Virginia.
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Lecture on the History of Mathematics1841English.
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Elimination between two unknown equations with two unknown quantities1842English.
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Regulations of Military Institutions applied to the Conduct of Common Schools1849English.
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College Reform1851English.
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Memoir of Dr. Thomas Henderson of the United States Army by his son-in-law1854English.
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Introductory Address to the Corps of Cadets …on the Resumption of Academic Duties1856English.
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Special Report of the Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute on Scientific Education in Europe1859English.Online Access
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Discourse on the Life and Character of Lt. Gen. Thomas J. JacksonSmith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-18901863
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Introductory Lecture Read Before the Corps of Cadets on the Resumption of Academic Duties…at the Alms House1864English.
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Introductory Address to the Corps of Cadets of the Virginia Military Institute on the Resumption of the Academic Exercises.Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-18901866-09-10English.
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Inner Life of the VMI Cadet, its responsibilities and privileges1866English.
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Synopsis of argument of Gen. Smith in behalf of the claims of the Virginia Military Institute1871English.
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Gymnastic and technical education in the Virginia Military Institute1871English.
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Schools and Schoolmasters of Virginia in the Olden Time1874English.
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Annual report of the Board of Managers of the Male Orphan Society of Richmond1876English.
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Synopsis of Argument of Gen. F. H. Smith before the joint committee of the Senate1876English.
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West Point Fifty Years Ago1879English.