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
Hannah Bochain, Student Assistant, and Kira A. Dietz, Archivist, and Kaitlynn Harless, Graduate Assistant
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: William F. Drumeller, Jr., Collection, Ms2013-007, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The William F. Drumeller, Jr. Collection was purchased by Special Collections in November 2012, August 2015, November 2019, August 2020, and April 2024.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the William F. Drumeller, Jr., Collection was completed in February 2013. Additional materials were integrated in 2020 and description updated in 2023. Additional materials were integrated in 2024 and description updated in 2024.
Biographical Note
William F. Drumeller, Jr., was born January 23, 1923, to William and Elizabeth Drumeller. Studying as a civil engineer, Drumeller attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute as a cadet from 1942-1943 and 1946-1949, taking a leave of absence in 1943 to fight in the U. S. Army during World War II, rising to the rank of Sergeant and earning a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He worked as a civil engineer with CSX Railway. Drumeller died March 25, 2006, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
External sources:
"Sgt William F. Drumeller Jr.", Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15782743/william-f-drumeller , accessed July 5, 2023.
Obituary for William F. Drumeller Jr., Richmond Times-Dispatch , March 28, 2006, https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/timesdispatch/name/william-drumeller-obituary?id=5404181 , accessed July 5, 2023.
Scope and Content
The collection includes Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) publications, school papers (including notes and notebooks), ephemera, painting, and photographs of William F. Drumeller, Jr., a civil engineering student and cadet at VPI from 1942-1943 and 1946-1949. The majority of the collection consists of student notebooks and paper relating to math and engineering courses. Publications and ephemera were collected by him during his tenure as a student and, presumably, as an alumni.
The collection also consists of materials from his time as an engineer in West Virginia. The reports, studies, correspondences, and notes provide insight into the railway and coal industries in southern West Virginia. One report describes surface coal mining, also known as mountaintop removal.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series:
Series I: Student Work and Notebooks includes academic records, drawings, notebooks, course work, and lectures notes, relating to Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) engineering, math, and physics courses taken by William F. Drumeller, Jr., in the 1940s.
Series II: Personal Papers includes alumni materials, photographs, VPI memorabilia, an engineering report for Norfolk & Western, an ROTC manual, correspondences, newspaper clippings, rental lease, and a resume.
Series III: Professional papers includes materials related to his professional engineering work, primarily with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. These include agreements, leases, contracts, bills, organization charts of C&O, correspondences, notes, design drawings, and reports and studies. The reports and studies includes a list of items, and many of the pieces focus on the Kanawha Valley and James River in southern West Virginia. Another report is a study on surface coal mining, also known as mountaintop removal mining. His papers provide insight on the coal mining and railway industries in the mid- to late twentieth century.
Related Material
See the ,VPI Poster by William F. Drumeller, Jr., also at Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives in the Art Collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Coal mines and mining
- Engineering Drawings
- Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
- Railroad
- Students and alumni
- University History
- Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (1896-1944)
- Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute. Corps of Cadets (1896-1944)
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1944-1970)
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Corps of Cadets (1944-1970)
- West Virginia
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the William F. Drumeller, Jr., Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Drumeller, William F., Jr., 1923-2006
Container List
- box-folder 1 folder: 24
Academic Records
- box-folder 1 folder: 1
Calculus
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
CE 421 Structures: Deck Plate Girder Design
- box-folder 1 folder: 3
Civil Engineering Problems 1
- box-folder 1 folder: 4
Civil Engineering Problems 2
- box-folder 1 folder: 5
Concrete
- oversize 4 folder: 1
Design Drawings1947-1948
- box-folder 1 folder: 6
Graphics III
- box-folder 1 folder: 7
Highway Materials and Soil Mechanics 1
- box-folder 1 folder: 8
Highway Materials and Soil Mechanics 2
- box-folder 1 folder: 9
Physics 1
- box-folder 1 folder: 10
Physics 2
- box-folder 1 folder: 11
Physics Notebook
- box-folder 1 folder: 12
Sanitary Engineering 1
- box-folder 1 folder: 13
Sanitary Engineering 2
- box-folder 1 folder: 14
Solid Geometry
- box-folder 1 folder: 15
Stress Analysis 1
- box-folder 1 folder: 16
Stress Analysis 2
- box-folder 1 folder: 17
Structures 1
- box-folder 1 folder: 18
Structures 2
- box-folder 1 folder: 19
Alumni Materials
- box-folder 1 folder: 25
Certificates1909-1969
- box-folder 1 folder: 26
Correspondences1940-1991
- box-folder 1 folder: 27
CorrespondencesUndated
- box-folder 1 folder: 28
Correspondences, Envelopes
- box-folder 1 folder: 29
Miscellaneous Documents
- box-folder 1 folder: 30
Newspaper Clippings
- box-folder 1 folder: 20
Photographs
- box-folder 1 folder: 21
Report Upon Proposed Spur Track Serving VPI
- box-folder 1 folder: 22
R.O.T.C. Manual: Engineers Basic
- box-folder 1 folder: 23
VPI Memorabilia
- item 1
Painting of VPI "Fightin Gobblers," created while Drumeller was a student at VPI1942
- box-folder 1 folder: 31
Rental Lease1949
- box-folder 1 folder: 32
Resume
- box-folder 2 folder: 1
Agreements1976
- box-folder 2 folder: 2
Bills
- box-folder 2 folder: 3
Business Cards
- box-folder 2 folder: 4
Chesapeake and Ohio, Organization Charts - Operating Department
- box-folder 2 folder: 5
Contracts, Architecture and Planning1973-1975
- box-folder 2 folder: 6
Correspondences1964-1978
- Lease Agreements
- box-folder 2 folder: 7
1928
- box-folder 2 folder: 8
1938
- box-folder 2 folder: 9
1939
- box-folder 2 folder: 7
- box-folder 2 folder: 10
Notes
- box-folder 2 folder: 11
PublicationsBibliography
- "Baseboard Electric Heater: Installing and Operating Instructions with Parts List," Sears,
- "Capital Square Intelligence Newsletter," Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, 1969/1970
- "The Engineers Club of Huntington: Directory and Yearbook," 1974
- "Portable Parking Structures International"
- box-folder 2 folder: 12
Railway Design Drawings1963-1964
- box-folder 3 folder: 1
Reports and StudiesBibliography
- "Before the Interstate Commerce Commission in the Matter of the Application of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company," 1970
- "Brief History of the James River and Kanawha Coal," 1933
- "Council for Reorganization of Washington State Government: Survey Report and Recommendations," 1965 (excerpt)
- "Directory of Offices, Shop Facilities and Gasoline Supply Points," The State Road Commission of West Virginia, 1966
- "Governor's Management Task Force: West Virginia State Government," 1969
- "Outline of the Jame River and Kanawha Canal and the Principal Agreements and Leases for Water Rights in the Canal," 1960
- "Recommendation for Gasoline Pump Stations"
- "Report on James River Canal Owned by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company Between Richmond and Clifton Forge, on the Waters of James River and Its Tributaries"
- "Report Writing Guide: Governor's Management Task Force," 1967
- "A Study of Surface Coal Mining in West Virginia," Stanford Research Center, 1972