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], John M. McBryde and Cora Bolton McBryde Family Papers, 1862-2018, Ms2023-069, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The John M. McBryde and Cora Bolton McBryde Family Papers was donated to Special Collections and University Archives in March 2020.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the John M. McBryde and Cora Bolton McBryde Family Papers was completed in Julye 2023.

Biographical Note

John McLaren McBryde (January 1, 1841-March 20, 1923) was born in Abbeville, South Carolina, to Susan McLaren and John McBryde, a Scottish cotton merchant. In December of 1858, John McLaren McBryde enrolled in South Carolina College (later the University of South Carolina) in Columbia, South Carolina. He later transferred to the University of Virginia in 1859, leaving in 1861 to fight in the American Civil War for the Confederacy. Having joined the military, McBryde was stationed on both Sullivan and Morris Islands, reportedly seeing the first shot fired on Fort Sumter. In 1862, McBryde contracted typhus fever and was forced to leave the army, but went on to work for the Treasury Department of the Confederate States of America in Richmond, Virginia. In September of 1963, McBryde married Cora Bolton, with whom he later had six children.

Following the end of the Civil War, McBryde ran a large farm named Branchland in Charlottesville, Virginia. During this time, he published numerous articles on the subject of agriculture, gaining him the attention that eventually lead to his appointment as a Professor of Agriculture and Botany at the University of Tennessee in 1879. In 1882, McBryde was offered a chair at the South Carolina College, where he remained until 1891, expanding it into a university after becoming president. In 1891, South Carolina University was again reduced to a college and its agricultural department moved to Clemson, leading to McBryde's acceptance of the Presidency at the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (VAMC).

During his time at Virginia Tech, McBryde divided the college into separate departments, expanded the curriculum, oversaw the installation of an infirmary and a new water system, added dormitories and faculty housing, and increased enrollment from 135 students in 1891 to 727 by 1903. After his retirement in 1907, McBryde was the first person elected president emeritus for the college, eventually becoming known as "the father of VPI." In 1923, McBryde died at his son's home in New Orleans but was returned to Blacksburg, Virginia for burial.

External source:

"John McLaren McBryde", findagrave.com https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74335281/john-mclaren-mcbryde , accessed on July 13, 2023.

Scope and Content

This collection contains photographs  , genealogy materials, lectures, and newspaper clippings referring to President John McLaren McBryde and Cora Bolton McBryde. The collection also contains material related to the McBryde relatives, descendants, and spouses.

Arrangement

The material in this collection is arranged by material type.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

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