Historical Documents

Virginia Agricultural And Mechanical College -- Its History And Organization

This document was published in 1872, per action of the first Board of Visitors:

On motion of Mr. De Jarnette, it was unanimously resolved that the report of the Committee on Organization be adopted, and that two thousand copies thereof be published in pamphlet form, together with an abstract of the proceedings of this Board from its first meeting to the close of the session to be held on the 14th of August; and the same committee was instructed to attend to the publication.

(See also the PDF document of the original scan.)

1891-'92 CATALOGUE of The Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College

In the spring of 1891, the Board of Visitors of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute decided on a reorganization of the college. J. M. McBryde, President of the University of South Carolina, was unanimously elected President of the College and Director of the Station. Dr. McBryde eventually presented to the Board a plan for a thorough reorganization of the courses of study. In the session of 1891-'92, seven courses of instruction were offered, each leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in four years. These were courses in Agriculture, Horticulture, Applied Chemistry, General Science, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Besides these, certificates were given in Practical Mechanics and Practical Agriculture, courses of two years each. Also post-graduate courses were offered leading to the degrees of M. S., C. E., M. E., and E. E. This catalog reflects the information about those courses and general information about the college. Note that spelling is as it appeared in the "catalogue" of the college.

(See also the PDF document of the original scan.)

Regulations Of The Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Session 1900-’01

This publication covered every aspect of a student’s life at the college, from academics to fees to food to military activities.

A copy of these Regulations will be furnished each Student, who will turn them in to the Commandant on leaving the College. In case the Regulations are lost, destroyed, or mutilated the Student will be charged the cost price for the same against his contingent fund.

In no case shall ignorance of these Regulations be accepted as an excuse for their violation. Each Student is therefore warned to make a careful study of them as soon as possible after he is admitted to the College.

(See also the PDF document of the original scan.)

Virginia Tech in World War I

The Virginia Tech on Thursday, May 23, 1918, reported that "Virginia Tech men from all over the world have responded nobly to the call" to military service to support the nation's participation in the Great War (now known as World War I). The article lists students, staff, former staff, and alumni who were serving in various branches and various capacities.

World War I Memorial

On Wednesday, July 2, 1919, Joseph D. Eggleston addressed the Virginia Tech graduating class for the last time to end his term as president. One other activity that took place on that day was the unveiling of a memorial erected by the class of 1919 to "Our Dead Heroes Over There." The Honorable George Bryan, of Richmond, Virginia, delivered a speech on "The Meaning of the Monument."

The Book of the Haircutites

"The Acts of the Haircutites" documents the activities at various times before and after the turn of the last century when members of the sophomore class determined that it was time to put the freshmen, the "rats," in their place.

A History of the Class of 1902

At the fiftieth anniversary reunion of the Class of 1902 at V.P.I. in October, 1952, the proposal to publish a history of the class members was revived and enough interest was manifested to make plans. Information on class members was collected and assembled and the booklet was published in September, 1955.

The Virginia Polytechnic Institute 1891-1905

This recounting of the history of the V.P.I. from its opening until the close of the 1904-05 term was written by G. C. Stone (Class of 1908) and was published in the Bulletin of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, October, 1908. It covers campus activities, staff additions and changes, and building construction and campus expansion.

The Present Condition and Outlook at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute

In 1906, the Board of Visitors looked to the Virginia General Assembly for additional funds it saw as necessary to operate the school, to cover building expenses, salaries, and increased insurance. This "memorial" was submitted by the Board to defend its case. (See also the PDF document of the original scan.)

1922 History

Read the semi-centennial history of the college written by Ellison Adger Smyth Jr., professor and founding head of the Department of Biology (1891-1925) and the first dean of the faculty (1902-06). It was published as a Bulletin in May, 1922.