General G. C. Wharton, 1874 - 1877
Scope and Contents
The collection contains twenty-seven letters, 1874-1878, either addressed to him or forwarded to him. Correspondents include: Charles Martin, C.L.C. Minor, Dr. Harvey Black, John W.C. Davis, C.H. Mellen, V.E. Shepherd, and W.R. Boggs.
Dates
- Creation: 1874 - 1877
Creator
- From the Record Group: Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute. Board of Visitors (Organization)
- From the Record Group: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Board of Visitors (Organization)
- From the Record Group: Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Board of Visitors (Organization)
- From the Record Group: Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College. Board of Visitors (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Biographical Note
General G. C. Wharton was a member of Board of Visitors, 1874-1877, and served as the Board's Rector, 1875-1877.
Gabriel Colvin Wharton was born in Culpeper County, Virginia on July 23, 1824. After graduating from Virginia Military Institute in 1847, Wharton became a civil engineer, working in Arizona and elsewhere. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Wharton was appointed a major within the 45th Virginia Infantry. Soon after, he was promoted to colonel, commanding the 51st Virginia Infantry. In July 1863, Wharton was promoted to brigadier general, commanding a brigade guarding southwestern Virginia railroads and participating in the battles of New Market and Cold Harbor, among others. Wharton married Nannie Radford in 1863; following the war, the couple made their home in Radford, Virginia. Wharton resumed his civil engineering career and was instrumental in building a railroad in the New River Valley. Gabriel Wharton died in Radford in 1906.
Full Extent
From the Record Group: 8 Cubic Feet (11 boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Record Group: English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu