Conditions Governing Use

Manuscript Collections in the VMI Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions

Preferred Citation

C. Rodes Hood, Jr. correspondence, 1916-1917. MS 0530. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

Clifton Rodes Hood, Jr. (1900-1969) was a non-graduating member of the VMI Class of 1920. He entered VMI in 1916, but following the death of his father in 1917, returned home to manage his family's Magenta Plantation near Greenville, Washington County, Mississippi. He was later a businessman and civic leader in Bowling Green, Missouri.

Clifton Rodes Hood, Sr. (1861-1917) spent his life as a cotton planter at his family home, Magenta Plantation in Washington County, Mississippi.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of letters written to and from VMI Cadet C. Rodes Hood, Jr. (VMI Class of 1920) and his parents. The bulk of the correspondence is between father and son. Topics includes VMI cadet life (1916-1917), and details about the family's cotton business and life on Magenta Plantation, Washington County, Mississippi. These details describe economic matters, politics, race relations, and family news.

The letter dated April 6, 1917 describes reaction in Greenville, Mississippi to the announcement that the United States was entering World War I.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Correspondence
• Cotton farmers
• Mississippi -- Washington County
• Plantation owners
• Virginia Military Institute—Academics—History—20th century
• Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1910-1919
• Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1920