Historic Uniforms of Cadets

1883 cadet uniform for Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College

In 1883 a change in uniform was made from a hip-length gray coat to a West Point pattern gray coatee. It proved to be a popular style for the enlisted grades who wore it and was not replaced until 1931. The coatee had two outside rows of large gold VAMC buttons on the breast, which curved inward toward the collar. Another change was in head gear. Instead of gray felt, spiked helmets, black kepi hats were worn, ornamented with gold braid for cadet commissioned officers.

Watercolor by Floyd Richard Vranian.

1897 cadet uniform for Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute

By the year 1897, the university's 25th anniversary, many changes had taken place. One of those was it's name. In 1895 the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, through an act of the Virginia General Assembly, had become known as "Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute", "V.P.I." for short.

Among the changes in the Cadet uniform that year was the replacement of a white helmet with a white kepi for fall and spring wear. The cap was white with a black leather visor. It carried a metal insignia of the letters "V.P.I." in silver, surrounded by a gold wreath which was open at the top. Cadet commissioned officers had a gold cord chinstrap, while all other cadets had a black leather chinstrap. The kepi was worn with white trousers and a blue blouse at parade formations.

Pictured in the backround is the Mess Hall. It was remodeled into Commerce Hall for use by the School of Business Administration in 1939. The building was demolished in 1957.

Watercolor by Floyd Richard Vranian.

1902 cadet uniform for Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute

Following changes in the official color of the US Army Infantry from white to light blue, in October 1902, the Senior cadets of the six Infantry companies and the Cadet Band at VPI changed the lining colors of their capes and the background of their officers shoulder straps to light blue. Seniors of the Artillery Battery continued to have red trimmings. VPI in block letters and gold branch insignia were worn on the blue blouses of the Senior cadets.

All cadets wore a dark blue, tightly fitted blouse with a stiff stand-up collar, its front fasteners concealed by black braid. Cadet underclassmen wore plain black braid collars. The Cadet Seniors wore US Army regulation blue caps, but cadet underclassmen wore the kepi.

In 1902, the building in the background was remodeled for use as the infirmary. It had been the residence of the college president, but in that year the president moved into "The Grove", the newly completed house located at the lower end of the drill field.

Watercolor by Floyd Richard Vranian.

1908 cadet uniform for Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute

In September, 1908, Commandant George H. Jamerson replaced the shoulder strap rank insignia with chevrons to designate all cadet ranks.

White felt chevrons on the sleeves of a blue blouse were designated for all cadet commissioned officers and cadet noncommissioned grades. Grades above the rank of corporal wore chevrons on upper sleeves with the points upward and touching the shoulder seam. Cadet corporals wore chevrons pointed up on the lower sleeves, between the elbow and the cuff. Seniors wore dark blue trousers; red trousers stripes had disappeared.

The Chapel and Auditorium Building is seen in the background. In 1914 it became the Library. The building was destroyed by fire in August 1953.

Watercolor by Floyd Richard Vranian

1910 cadet uniform for Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute

In 1910 the uniform for full dress formations consisted of black shakos and white crossed belts worn over coatees. The commissioned officer wore a single white belt over his right shoulder and a red sash around his waist. The enlisted grades wore a convex brass breast plate on his front where two white belts crossed. The black felt shako is a West Point pattern with a gold-plated VPI coat of arms in a wreath, topped by VPI. The shako is topped with black feathered plumes for commissioned officers, and with black pompons for the enlisted grades.

The shako was added in 1910 but the gray coatee was brought back in the fall of 1909 for the dress uniform. Chevrons made of gold bullion lace on black denoted rank on the coatee sleeves. Stripes of 1/8-inch wide gold lace worn at a 45-degree angle (from the front lower end of the sleeve at the front crease, upward to the back crease, passing between the top two sleeve buttons) denoted each full academic year completed at VPI.

The building in the background is "The Grove". Constructed in 1902 as the home of the university president, it continues in that capacity today.

Watercolor by Floyd Richard Vranian.

1931 cadet uniform for Virginia Polytechnic Institute

In September 1931 the white mess jacket replaced the gray coatee for formal wear by underclassmen. Worn on each lower lapel of the jacket was the "V.P.I." insignia in gold block letters. The front of the jacket was closed by a short gold chain attached to two large gold V.P.I. buttons. Gold V.P.I. buttons also appeared on each side of the front of the jacket and at the neck end of each shoulder loop. The jacket was worn with a starched white tuxedo shirt with plain round gold studs on the shirt front, matching gold cuff links, and a black bow tie. As part of this formal uniform the cadets also wore gray wool trousers with black seam stripes, black low quarter shoes and black socks.

Seniors continues to wear the white paletot for formal off-duty occasions, changing the V.P.I. insignia to the upper lapels and adding the Army officer branch insignia to the lower lapels.

This cadet is standing in the foyer of War Memorial Hall.

Watercolor by Floyd Richard Vranian.

1942 cadet uniform for Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Cadets were attending college year round during World War II, necessitating the addition of a lightweight summer uniform. This uniform, adopted in the summer of 1942 consisted of a gray poplin long-sleeved shirt, and trousers in matching gray twill cotton. These were worn with a matching gray web belt with a brass G.I. buckle. The shirts carried a US-ROTC patch on the pocket, and small black chevrons of rank were sewn on the sleeves. The uniform also included black neckties, black socks and black low quarter shoes. The uniform cap was of the overseas pattern, made of heavy gray cotton twill, carrying a braid in the color representing the branch of service and "V.P.I." embroidered in black within a black bordered gray oval.

This cadet is shown in the east sally port of the Lower Stone Quadrangle, known today as Eggleston Hall.

Watercolor by Floyd Richard Vranian