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.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction .

Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

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], Gabriel C. Wharton Papers, 1877-1893, Ms2023-106, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

This collection was acquired by Special Collections and University Archives in December 2022.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Gabriel C. Wharton Papers was completed in September 2023.

Biographical Note

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 American 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. He was a member on the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College's Board of Visitors from 1874 through 1877, serving as the Rector from 1875-1877. Gabriel Wharton died in Radford in 1906.

Scope and Content

This collection contains materials from Civil War General Gabriel C. Wharton. The materials are largely concerned with financial records of the Richmond and Louisville and the Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio Railroad Companies. Materials also include correspondence, maps, and ephemera.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in folders according to topic.

Separated Material

The following item was transferred to the Rare Book Collection:

Abrantès, Laure Junot, duchesse d'. Memoirs of Napoleon, his court and family . New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1854-1855.
DC198 .A32 A5 1854 SCUA Large

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
• Railroad
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865

Rights Statement for Archival Description

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