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Online Access

This item is available online

Preferred Citation

Records of Francis H. Smith, Outgoing Correspondence, Circular, February 21, 1845.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased, November 2015.

Biographical / Historical

VMI was founded in 1839, so at the time this circular was produced the Institute was less than ten years old and had fewer than 200 alumni.

Scope and Contents

Virginia Military Institute printed circular, signed in ink by Superintendent Francis H. Smith, petitioning alumni for donations of "Curiousities, both literary and natural" to help establish a Museum at VMI. This examples is dated February 27, 1845, and addressed to William S. Beale, a member of the Class of 1843.

Also mentions addition to Barracks, new Gun House, Society of Cadets Hall, and Library.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Beale, William S. (William Steenbergen)
• Virginia Military Institute. Alumni Association
• Virginia Military Institute. Library
• Virginia Military Institute. Museum
• Virginia Military Institute—Buildings, structures, etc.
• Virginia Military Institute—History—19th century