University History
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
African American history
no creator given
See the finding aid for the Historical Photograph Collection.
c 1921
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Virginia Tech Alumni and Students
Black History at Virginia Tech
image/tiff
English
Photographs
Faculty
Virginia Tech Faculty and Staff
Faculty and Staff: Last Names A - E
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Corps of Cadets
no date given
Corps of Cadets at Virginia Tech
Veltri, Bob
L Squadron, Cheryl Butler, Commander. First women in the Corps at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
c 1974-75
2nd Lt. Patricia Ann Miller, Army Special Corps and Lt. Col. Raymond O. Miller, CE, USA
2nd Lt. Patricia Ann Miller, Army Special Corps and Lt. Col. Raymond O. Miller, CE, USA. Commissioning of Patricia Ann Miller, Medical Specialist Corps
June, 1959
Marilyn Helmeyer, Class of 1977, the First Woman Highty Tighty
Marilyn Helmeyer, Class of 1977, the First Woman Highty Tighty. Receiving her band card.
c 1970s
Matthew Winston, Essex Finney, Charlie Yates, and Lindsay Cherry, left to right.
Matthew Winston, Essex Finney, Charlie Yates, and Lindsay Cherry, left to right.. A Reunion Forty Years Later. Reunion of the four Virginia Tech students who roomed with Mrs. Janie Hoge at 306 East Clay St., Blacksburg, Virginia. Dr. Yates is a member of the faculty in the College of Engineering at VPI. The other three gentlemen are retired. Essex Finney was one of the first Black students at Virginia Tech.
Finney, Essek Collection
Dr. Essex Finney in his office in Philadelphia
Dr. Essex Finney in his office in Philadelphia. In 1988, Dr. Finney was appointed to the Federal Senior Executive Service while he was the Associate Director of the North Atlantic Area of ARS, USDA. Later he became Director of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland. In 1992, he was appointed Associate Administrator of ARS. In 1993, he was appointed Acting ARS Administrator. He retired from the USDA in 1995. Essex Finney was one of the first Black students at Virginia Tech.
c 1988
Dr. Essex Finney, left, Dean Wilbur Meir, and Mrs. Rosa Ellen Finney
Dr. Essex Finney, left, Dean Wilbur Meir, and Mrs. Rosa Ellen Finney. The College of Engineering at Pennsylvania State University presented Dr. Finney an Outstanding Engineering Alumnus Award in recognition of "his expertise in agricultural research, for his contributions to enhancing the quality of our nation's food and agricultural products, and for his invaluable activity within professional agricultural organizations." Essex Finney was one of the first Black students at Virginia Tech.
1985
President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Essex Finney
President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Essex Finney. President Jimmy greeted Dr. Essex Finney in the Oval Office. Finney served from July 1980 to June 1981 in the Office of the Science Advisor to the President in Washington, D.C. At that time, Dr. Frank Press, who later became President of the National Academy of Sciences, was the Presidential Science Advisor. Essex Finney was one of the first Black students at Virginia Tech.
January, 1981
Essex Finney at Princeton University. In 1973-74, Dr. Finney was a Princeton Fellow in Public Affairs in the Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University. He is shown on the left in the second row. Essex was a member of the Class of Mid-Career Fellows. Essex Finney was one of the first Black students at Virginia Tech.
c. 1973-74
Essex Finney, and staff of the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Essex Finney, and staff of the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Dr. Finney joined the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in 1965 as a Research Agricultural Engineer. He worked in the Instrumentation Research Laboratory at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland. Before Finney retired from the ARS in 1995, he had been appointed Acting Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service. In the photo left to right: Essex Finney, Dr. George W. Irving, ARS Administrator; karl H. Norris, Chief of the Instrumentation Research Laboratory; and Talcott W. Edminster, Deputy Administrator of ARS.
1967
Essex Finney at Graduation Day at VPI, June 1959
Essex Finney at Graduation Day at VPI, June 1959. Lady on right, Mrs. Janie Hoge, Blacksburg, Virginia. Her husband, William is to the left of Essex Finney. When Essex was admitted to VPI in June 1956, he was advised by the Director of Admissions that: "it has been arranged for you to live with Mrs. William Hoge whose address is 306 E. Clay Street. This is an excellent home and you will be taken care of in the very best way. Mrs. Hoge furnishes room, board, and laundry at the rate of $60 a month." Black students were not permitted to live on campus at that time. Four black students lived with Mrs. Hoge between 1956 to 1959. Essex graduated from VPI with honors in 1959 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Army. Essex Finney was one of the first Black students at Virginia Tech.
Essex Finney in First Year in the VPI Cadet Corps
Essex Finney in First Year in the VPI Cadet Corps. Essex Finney's first year in the Cadet Corps, 1956. Essex Finney was one of the first Black students at Virginia Tech.
1956
Essex Finney, right, and Edward Finney. Essex and his cousin, Edward Finney, the high school vocational agriculture teacher, discuss the desirable traits of hogs. Edward took Essex on his first visit to Virginia Tech and provided guidance during his college career. Essex Finney was one of the first Black students at Virginia Tech.
c. 1950s
155mm Rifle, Blacksburg. Negative # 185, "Long Tom", 155mm Rifle, near the Alumni Gate, Finals 1922
1922
1912
Events at Virginia Tech
c 1954-57
Cadets at VPI from left to right: Floyd Wilson, Irving L. Peddrew, III, Charlie Yates
Cadets at VPI from left to right: Floyd Wilson, Irving L. Peddrew, III, Charlie Yates.
Cherry, Lindsey
1954
Lindsay Cherry. At home of Mr. and Mrs. William Hoge, 306 Clay Street, Blacksburg, VA. This is where the first black cadets at Virginia Tech were boarded.
Cadet Lindsay Cherry with Company A at Va. Tech
Cadet Lindsay Cherry with Company A at Va. Tech.
Airplane near Virginia Polytechnic Institute campus
Airplane near Virginia Polytechnic Institute campus.
c. 1924
Company A, Virginia Polytechnic Institute cadets 1920's
Company A, Virginia Polytechnic Institute cadets 1920's.
VPI Graduation, c. 1927. War Memorial Hall, c. 1927, VPI Graduation
c. 1927
1941
1905 VPI Football Champions of the South
1905 VPI Football Champions of the South. 1905 Football Champions of the South Tyler Smith, in front. In early days, all athletes, like race horses, got rub downs before games. Tyler Smith was the rubber - and in this way could be called first trainer. by W.D. Altman 3/14/72
1905
Student Life and Organizations
c. 1920's
1919 Corps Band at Virginia Polytechnic and State University
1919 Corps Band at Virginia Polytechnic and State University.
1919
Celebration of the One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of Virginia Tech
Celebration of the One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of Virginia Tech.
1997