The David John Mays Papers, 1905-1985

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Historical Society
Virginia Historical Society
P.O. Box 7311
428 N Arthur Ashe Blvd
Richmond, VA 23221-0311
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Laura Stoner
Phone: (804) 342-9662
Phone: (804) 342-9677
Fax: (804) 355-2399

Summary

Creator:
David John Mays (1905-1985)
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Include diaries, 1916, 1925-1928, and 1938, scrapbooks, 1916-1971, correspondence, accounts, tax and land records, materials concerning his law practice, and historical research on Edmund Pendleton (1721- 1803) and Virginia judges, particularly Spencer Roane, Henry St. George Tucker, and St. George Tucker.

Significant correspondents include Julian Parks Boyd, Harry Flood Byrd, Harry Flood Byrd, Jr., Andrew Jackson Montague, John Garland Pollard, Lewis Franklin Powell, and Absalom Willis Robertson. The scrapbooks cover Mays's entire career, consisting mostly of newspaper clippings on his political, social, legal and community activities. Beginning in 1955, they document his work as counsel to the Virginia Commission on Public Education (the so-called Gray Commission) and his service in the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1956 and the Virginia Commission on Constitutional Government. From 1959-1963, the volumes largely concern May's involvement in the proposed merger of Richmond and Henrico County.

Biographical / historical:

David J. Mays was born in Richmond, Va., 22 November 1896, but spent most of his youth in Mobile, Ala., and Memphis, Tenn. His parents were Harvey James Mays and Helga Christine Nelsen, both Richmond natives. Mays saw service on the Mexican border, 1916-1917, and in France with the Allied Expeditionary Force, 1918-1919. After World War I he attended the University of Richmond and received his law degree in 1924. He practices in Richmond throughout his life, and died on 17 February 1971.

Acquisition information:
Bequest and gift of the estate of Mrs. Ruth (Reams) Mays, Richmond, Va., 2 December 1985.
Arrangement:

Collection is arranged into eight sections by document type.

Physical description:
8250 items