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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
Manuscript 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.
Preferred Citation
William B. Cochran, Jr. papers, 1888-1931. MS 0512. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.
Biographical / Historical
William Burr Cochran was born on July 9, 1868 in Middleburg, Virginia to John Henry Cochran and Charlotte Carr. He graduated from VMI in 1888, enlisted in the United States Army in 1892, and subsequently received a commission. Cochran served in the Spanish American War. During World War I he remained stateside to train troops. He retired in 1922 and was appointed Brigadier General (retired list) effective June 21, 1930.
Cochran married Mathilde "Tillie" Kessler of Helena, Montana in 1904 and the couple had three children.
Cochran died in an automobile accident near Salisbury, Maryland on July 2, 1931. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of the personal papers of Brigadier General William Burr Cochran, VMI Class of 1888, including: Correspondence Photographs An unpublished biographical essay titled "Reminiscences of Camp Life During the World War" Other items, such as instructions for "final German Figures," a formal VMI dance
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Correspondence
- Generals—United States
- Photographs
- United States. Army—Officers—Biography
- Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1888
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Cochran, Mathilde Kessler
- Cochran, William B., Jr. (William Burr), 1868-1931
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Georgia -- Camp Gordon (DeKalb County)
- Kentucky -- Camp Zachary Taylor
- Ohio -- Camp Sherman
- Texas -- Camp Bowie (Brown County)
Container List
Typescript memoirs by William B. Cochran, Jr. that document his stateside service during World War I. He was stationed at numerous troop training camps, including Camp Taylor near Louisville, Kentucky.
This series includes correspondence (1903-1904) written by William B. Cochran, Jr. to his future wife, Mathilde Kessler. During this time Cochran was stationed at Fort Harrison near Helena, Montana.
Also included are letters written to Marion Lee Cochran, Cochran's daughter. The bulk are written from Cochran while Marion was visiting friends in North Carolina (1930). Also included are two letters from her mother (1926 and 1928) and one from her brotheriting friends in Charlotte (1929).
Photographs span from childhood through post-retirement years and include images as a VMI cadet, United States Army officer, and as a civilian. Two images of William B. Cochran, Jr. are avaliable online .
Handwritten instructions for "Final German Figures" at VMI. In this context, a "German" is a type of formal dance.
A certificate appointing William B. Cochran, Jr. as a Brigadier General, retired.