Military Department Records
These twenty bound volumes document the activities of the University of Tennessee's Military Department between 1871 and 1903.
Dates
- 1871 December 4-1903 November 25
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite, and a minimum of 2 business days are needed to retrieve these items for use. Researchers interested in consulting any of the collections are advised to contact Special Collections.
Conditions Governing Use
The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.
Extent
3 Linear Feet
Abstract
These twenty bound volumes document the activities of the University of Tennessee's Military Department between 1871 and 1903.
Biographical/Historical Note
The University of Tennessee's Military Department was established in 1870 under the provisions of the Morrill Act (1862). Students (properly called cadets) were taught by Army officers and required to wear uniforms, abide by military regulations, and endure military forms of punishment when they broke the rules. Charles W. Dabney began reorganizing the University when he assumed the Presidency in 1887 and the military regime was significantly relaxed. The military department remained strong, however, and students engaged in competitive drills, staged battles (including the Campaign of '92, in which one group of cadets attacked the Hill while another defended it), and artillery instruction. The Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) was organized in 1916, and UT's cadet corps became a senior unit in the new organization. The program was compulsory until 1967, when voluntary 2- and 4-year programs replaced the freshman-sophomore requirement.
Arrangement
This collection consists of three boxes.
Acquisition Note
These records are property of the University of Tennessee's Archives.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository