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 E. Townes collection, 1905-1960. MS 0487. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

John Edward Townes was born in 1886 and graduated from VMI in 1907. During World War I he served in France with the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). From 1921 to 1956 he was a Professor of History at VMI. Townes died in 1970.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of photograph albums, diplomas, and papers that document the life of John E. Townes. The photos depict both his VMI cadetship and his subsequent career in the United States Army Coast Artillery Corps (1908-1920) and at VMI as a faculty member (1921-1956).

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Artillery, Coast
• Diplomas
• Photograph albums
• Virginia Military Institute. Department of History
• Virginia Military Institute—Athletics
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1900-1909
• Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1907
• Virginia Military Institute—Faculty
• Virginia Military Institute—Faculty—Papers
• Virginia Military Institute—Photographs