Hutcheson, John R., Family Collection John R. Hutcheson Family Collection, 1890-1969 Ms.2015.001

John R. Hutcheson Family Collection, 1890-1969 Ms.2015.001


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Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech

Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Business Number: 540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu

LM Rozema, Archivist

Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Identification
Ms.2015.001
Title
John R. Hutcheson Family Collection 1890-1969 (bulk 1930-1950)
Quantity
1.7 Cubic Feet, 2 boxes
Creator
John R. Hutcheson family
Language
The materials in the collection are in English.
Abstract
Correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, and other items document the career and family of John R. Hutcheson. After earning his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI), John Redd Hutcheson (1886-1962) began working at the Virginia Agricultural Extension Service in 1914, becoming its director in 1919. Hutcheson was elected as president of VPI in 1945, serving until his nomination as VPI's first chancellor in 1947. The next year he became the first president of the VPI Educational Foundation, Inc. Hutcheson married Eleanor Parrott, with whom he had three children: Eleanor Catlett, John Hutcheson, Jr., and Robert Hutcheson.

Administrative Information

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 R. Hutcheson Family Collection, Ms2015-001, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The John R. Hutcheson Family Collection was donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 2014.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the John R. Hutcheson Family Collection was completed in February 2015.


Biographical Note

One of seven children, John Redd Hutcheson (1886-1962) was born to Robert Francis and Mary Claiborne (née Barksdale) Hutcheson near Charlotte Courthouse, Virginia, on January 13, 1886. Dr. Jack, as he was affectionately known, married Eleanor Parrott in 1917, and the couple had three children: Eleanor Barksdale (Mrs. Charles, III) Catlett, John Redd Hutcheson, Jr., and Robert Parrott Hutcheson, who died serving during World War II. Hutcheson served briefly during World War I, and he operated the Edgemont Farm with his brother T.B. Hutcheson.

John Hutcheson earned a B.S. degree in 1907 and M.S. in 1909 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI, now Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University or Virginia Tech) as well as honorary doctorates from Clemson College in 1937 and North Carolina State College in 1947. Following graduation from VPI, he taught and served as principal for schools in Virginia and Mississippi as well as lectured at the University of Virginia. In 1914, Hutcheson joined the Virginia Agricultural Extension Service (now the Virginia Cooperative Extension), becoming its director in 1919.

In 1945, Hutcheson succeeded Julian A. Burruss as VPI's ninth president, serving until the Board of Visitors elected Hutcheson to become VPI's first chancellor in 1947. The following year, the Board established the VPI Educational Foundation, Inc. (known today as the Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc.) and named Dr. Jack its first president. He left the chancellorship in 1956, while remaining the foundation's president until his death on January 23, 1962.

Sources:

John R. Hutcheson Family Collection, Ms2015-001, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Kinnear, Duncan Lyle. 1972. The First 100 Years: A History of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Blacksburg: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Robertson, Jenkins Mikell. 1972. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Historical Data Book, Centennial Edition. Blacksburg: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Scope and Content

The John R. Hutcheson Family Collection, 1890-1969, documents Hutcheson's family and his career at the Virginia Agriculture Extension Service (VAES, now Virginia Cooperative Extension) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI, now Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University or Virginia Tech). Comprising correspondence, newspaper clippings, printed materials, photographs, and a scrapbook, the collection is divided into two series, Series I: Personal Papers and Series II: Professional Papers. The first series contains biographical sketches of John R. Hutcheson, legal documents, and printed material regarding his death and VPI. Correspondence discusses his and his son's war service, the Hutcheson and Barksdale genealogy, and his extended family. A scrapbook compiled by Eleanor P. Hutcheson covers family and local events, such as weddings, deaths, and faculty and staff appointments at the VAES and VPI. Photographs and a photograph album depict Hutcheson and his wife, friends and events at the university and in the local area, and Hutcheson's 1907 VPI football team.

The second series of Professional Papers is divided into three subseries: Subseries A: Appointments and Nominations, Subseries B: Virginia Agriculture Extension Service (VAES), and Subseries C: Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI). Appointments and Nominations contains correspondence and newspaper clippings regarding possible appointments for Hutcheson in the federal government and banking firms, his rejections of these offers in order to stay on at VAES and VPI, and his service as chairman on the Radford Area Defense Council. The VAES subseries documents his work as director, including the celebrations surrounding his 25th anniversary and the successes of the county agents and home demonstration workers in the program during the Great Depression. The VPI series concerns Hutcheson's appointment as president of the university and includes a report card from 1890, among other items.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by type of material and chronologically.

Related Material

See also the John Redd Hutcheson Papers, RG 2/9 , and Edgemont Farm Papers, Ms2003-022 , at Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Blacksburg (Va.)
  • Faculty
  • Hutcheson, Eleanor Parrott
  • Hutcheson, John Redd, 1886-1962 -- Correspondence
  • John R. Hutcheson family
  • Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
  • Montgomery County (Va.)
  • Students and alumni
  • University Archives
  • University History
  • Virginia Cooperative Extension Service
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1944-1970)

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the John R. Hutcheson Family Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your- work/public-domain/cc0/ ).

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Blacksburg (Va.)
  • Montgomery County (Va.)

Container List

Series I: Personal Papers
1907-1969, undated
  • box-folder 1 folder: 1
    Biographical information
    1940, 1962, undated
  • box-folder 1 folder: 2
    John and Eleanor Hutcheson World War I letters
    1918
  • box-folder 1 folder: 3
    Hutcheson and Barksdale genealogy and correspondence
    1926-1955
  • box-folder 1 folder: 4
    Hon. R. F. Hutcheson obituary
    January 13, 1940
  • box-folder 1 folder: 5
    World War II documents and poem
    1944, undated
  • box-folder 1 folder: 6
    Virginia Tech Alumni Association card for John R. Hutcheson
    1951
  • box-folder 1 folder: 7
    Will and estate paper for John R. Hutcheson
    August 3, 1956
  • box-folder 1 folder: 8
    Newspaper articles and printed material regarding death of John R. Hutcheson
    1962
  • box-folder 1 folder: 9
    Printed material
    1928-1963
  • box-folder 1 folder: 10
    Photographs
    [ca. 1930s-1950s]
  • box-folder 1 folder: 11
    Photograph album
    [ca. 1900s-1920s]
  • box-folder 2 folder: 1
    Class of 1907 Senior Football Team photograph showing John R. Hutcheson in 2nd row, 3rd from right
    1907
  • box-folder 2 folder: 2
    Scrapbook, "Kith and Kin of Eleanor Parrott Hutcheson"
    January 1939
  • box-folder 2 folder: 3-5
    Loose publications and newspaper clippings removed from scrapbook
    1939-1969
  • box-folder 1 folder: 12
    Loose photographs removed from scrapbook
    1941, undated
  • box-folder 1 folder: 13
    Loose printed material removed from scrapbook
    1939-1948
  • box-folder 1 folder: 14-15
    Loose correspondence removed from scrapbook
    1940-1942
Series II: Professional Papers
1890, 1917, 1929-1963
  • Subseries A: Appointments and Nominations
    1917, 1929-1936, 1941
    • box-folder 1 folder: 16
      John R. Hutcheson's appointments, nominations, and personnel correspondence and newspaper clippings
      1917, 1929-1936
    • box-folder 1 folder: 17
      Radford Area Defense Council
      1941
  • Subseries B: Virginia Agricultural Extension Service
    1930-1949
    • box-folder 1 folder: 18
      Newspaper clippings and printed material regarding John R. Hutcheson
      1937-1944
    • box-folder 1 folder: 19
      25th Anniversary for John R. Hutcheson as director
      1944
    • box-folder 1 folder: 20-22
      Correspondence, newspaper clippings, printed material
      1930-1945
    • box-folder 1 folder: 23-24
      Correspondence, primarily regarding county agents and home demonstration workers
      1932-1949 (bulk 1932-1934)
  • Subseries C: Virginia Polytechnic Institute
    1890, 1945-1963
    • box-folder 1 folder: 25
      Newspaper clippings and printed material regarding presidency of John R. Hutcheson
      1945
    • box-folder 1 folder: 26
      Audit of furniture at President's House
      July 25, 1947
    • box-folder 1 folder: 27
      The Radford Review with letter from Mrs. Reagan Wyatt
      1952
    • box-folder 1 folder: 28
      Letter to Mrs. John R. Hutcheson with 1890 Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College report card
      1890, 1963