Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

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Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Cadet Uniform Hardware and Insignia, c.1877-1948, Textile-2025-004, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

This collection was acquired by the Special Collections and University Archive in September 2023, July 2022, and prior to 2016.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Cadet Uniform Hardware and Insignia was completed in June 2025.

Biographical Note

Frank H. Terry (d. 1939) graduated from Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1879. His son Arthur Palfrey Terry married Laura Payne Terry.

William Scott Russell graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Insitiute in 1930 with a Bachelors of Science in mechanical engineering. He later went on to work at Eastern Division Rish Equipment Co. in Roanoke, VA.

Herman James Duke lived from 1929-1952 and served in U.S. Navy.

Source:

"Herman J. Duke II." Find a Grave. Accessed June 18, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63966534/herman_j-duke

Scope and Content

The Cadet Uniform Hardware and Insignia collection consists of various of hardware and insignias.

Five identicial gold V.A.M.C. buttons belonged to Frank H. Terry and are from 1877-1879. In the center of the buttons is the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College seal. Curving around the edges of the buttons is the text "VIRGINIA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE." The buttons are in good condition, minimal signs of age.

Thirteen V.P.I. buttons from a Corp Cadet overcoat are from c.1926-1930 and belonged to William Scott Russell (class of 1930.) These buttons are all identical and include the V.P.I. logo with "UT PROISM" below it and "V.P.I." above it. The back of the buttons reads "WM ROWLAND PHILA." The buttons are in good condition, some signs of age/discoloration and threads attached to the backs of some buttons.

Eighteen V.P.I. Cadet buttons from c.1948 belonged to Herman James Duke (1929-1952.) Ten of the buttons are small and gold with the V.P.I. logo in the center and "UT PROISM" below it and "V.P.I." above it. There are eight larger buttons that are also gold with the same design as the smaller buttons. The back of the buttons read "MS MEYERS INC NEW YORK." All buttons are in good condition, minimal signs of age, some discoloration.

The VVTC/Corps bars and ranks includes twenty-four patches that would go onto uniforms. Patches have been labeled with their rank meaning. There are also four VPI caps, each with a different colored sitich on the rim of the cap. The stitch colors as are followed: light blue, white, red, red and white. A small piece of paper titled "List of the Guard is also in this box and has multiple hand written names and signatures.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Students and alumni
• University Archives
• University History
• Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (1872-1896)
• Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (1896-1944)
• Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute. Corps of Cadets (1896-1944)
• Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College. Corps of Cadets (1872-1896)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Corps of Cadets

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Cadet Uniform Hardware and Insignia by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).