A Guide to the John L. Cochran Papers, 1879-1885 Cochran, John L., Papers mss 00025

A Guide to the John L. Cochran Papers, 1879-1885

A Collection in
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Collection Number mss 00025


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Virginia Military Institute Archives

Virginia Military Institute Archives
Preston Library
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, Virginia 24450-0304
USA
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7279
Email: archives@vmi.edu
URL: http://www.vmi.edu/archives

© 2002 Virginia Military Institute

Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Virginia Military Institute Archives Staff

Repository
Archives, Preston Library, Virginia Military Institute
Collection number
mss 00025
Title
John L. Cochran Papers 1879-1885
Physical Characteristics
The collection consists of 7 items.
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

John L. Cochran Papers, mss 00025, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical/Historical Information

John Lynn Cochran was born at "Folly Farm" in Augusta County, Virginia on November 9, 1863. His parents were James C. Cochran and Elizabeth Brooke. He attended the Virginia Military Institute during the period 1879-1881, and subsequently attended Swarthmore College (Pennsylvania), from which he graduated in 1883. In the fall of 1883 he enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he became ill with typhoid fever. Cochran never regained his health and he died at "Folly Farm" on January 22, 1887.

Scope and Content Information

The John L. Cochran Papers consist of a report card (1879) from the secondary school Cochran attended before entering the Virginia Military Institute; one letter (September 4, 1880) from VMI Cadet Cochran to his mother; a diary, with sketches (1881), containing short and sporadic entries made while he was a student at the Virginia Military Institute and concerning various aspects of cadet life; and four volumes of class notes (1882-1885) taken while Cochran was a student at Swarthmore College and the University of Virginia, with some examples of poetry and sketches interspersed.

Contents List

Secondary school grade report, May 1, 1879

From the private school held as his home, "Folly Farm." Lists marks in various subjects; "highest average in school"

Letter to "Dear Ma," 1880 September 4

Written from the Virginia Military Institute. "I am very well satisfied....There are a good many rats [first year cadets] here and as you asked me not to I have not been treating them badly."

Diary, 1881

Includes sporadic and brief entries, dating primarily from early 1881 when he was enrolled at the Virginia Military Institute. Mentions various school events; also includes small pen & ink sketches and doodles.

Class notes and exercises, 1882-1885
4 bound volumes and misc. unbound sheets.

Dating from Cochran's years at Swarthmore and the University of Virginia. Subjects include philosophy, mineralogy, engineering. Some watercolor sketches and poetry interspersed.