A Guide to the John L. Cochran Papers, 1879-1885
A Collection in
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Collection Number mss 00025
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Virginia Military Institute Archives
Virginia Military Institute ArchivesPreston Library
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, Virginia 24450-0304
USA
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7279
Email: archives@vmi.edu
URL: http://www.vmi.edu/archives
© 2002 Virginia Military Institute
Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by: Virginia Military Institute Archives Staff
Administrative Information
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Preferred Citation
John L. Cochran Papers, mss 00025, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.
Biographical/Historical Information
John Lynn Cochran was born at "Folly Farm" in Augusta County, Virginia on November 9, 1863. His parents were James C. Cochran and Elizabeth Brooke. He attended the Virginia Military Institute during the period 1879-1881, and subsequently attended Swarthmore College (Pennsylvania), from which he graduated in 1883. In the fall of 1883 he enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he became ill with typhoid fever. Cochran never regained his health and he died at "Folly Farm" on January 22, 1887.
Scope and Content Information
The John L. Cochran Papers consist of a report card (1879) from the secondary school Cochran attended before entering the Virginia Military Institute; one letter (September 4, 1880) from VMI Cadet Cochran to his mother; a diary, with sketches (1881), containing short and sporadic entries made while he was a student at the Virginia Military Institute and concerning various aspects of cadet life; and four volumes of class notes (1882-1885) taken while Cochran was a student at Swarthmore College and the University of Virginia, with some examples of poetry and sketches interspersed.
Contents List
From the private school held as his home, "Folly Farm." Lists marks in various subjects; "highest average in school"
Written from the Virginia Military Institute. "I am very well satisfied....There are a good many rats [first year cadets] here and as you asked me not to I have not been treating them badly."
Includes sporadic and brief entries, dating primarily from early 1881 when he was enrolled at the Virginia Military Institute. Mentions various school events; also includes small pen & ink sketches and doodles.
Dating from Cochran's years at Swarthmore and the University of Virginia. Subjects include philosophy, mineralogy, engineering. Some watercolor sketches and poetry interspersed.