A Guide to the J. Sargeant Reynolds Papers, 1965-1991

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

Abstract:
Include public correspondence, press releases, speeches, newspaper clippings, printed materials, legislative bills, private writings, condolences, and family correspondence relating to the political career of J. Sargeant Reynolds, member of the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate, who served as Lieutenant Governor until untimely his death in 1971.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection has been divided into thirty seven (37) series that are primarily organized to coincide with the political life of Reynolds. Series One contains information pertaining to Reynold's successful bid for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. Series Two includes correspondence, clippings and press releases from 1966 while in the House of Delegates. Series Three contains correspondence, committee work which includes the proposed merger of the Medical College of Virginia and Richmond Professional Institute, and the proposed consolidation of Richmond and Henrico county.

Series Four include campaign materials from the November 7, 1967 Virginia Senate race. Series Five includes senate correspondence, speeches given as senator. Series Six contains information on Virginia Senate bills and correspondence pertaining to senate legislation. Series Seven contains press release and letters to colleagues announcing his run for lieutenant governor, and resignation from the senate.

Series Eight contains campaign material concerning his election as lieutenant governor. Series Nine contains information pertaining to the expenses associated with running for the office of lieutenant governor. Series Ten contains congratulatory correspondence on a successful lieutenant governors race. Series Eleven includes materials concerning the inauguration of A. Linwood Holton (as governor) and Reynolds as lieutenant governor. Series Twelve includes correspondence and information of the proposed 1969 constitution change in Virginia. Series Thirteen includes materials pertaining to Virginia's POW's in Viet Nam, while he is lieutenant governor. Series Fourteen includes correspondence with the Federation of Women's Club, and initiatives to improve medical services in Virginia. Series Fifteen contains information on commission appointment while Reynolds served as lieutenant governor. Series Sixteen includes correspondence, clippings, and press release while Reynolds was lieutenant governor.

Series Seventeen contains speeches correspondence and clippings of Reynolds involvement with the Young Democratic Club of Virginia. Series Eighteen contains speeches correspondence and clippings of Reynolds involvement with the Jaycees Civic Association of Virginia. Series Nineteen contains correspondences speeches made at Virginia colleges. Series Twenty includes Reynolds correspondence to various groups events and organizations.

Series Twenty-one contains information correspondence, and speech given at the annual Shad Plank gathering in Southside Virginia. Series Twenty-two contains information on Reynolds involvement with the Richmond Urban League. Series Twenty-three contains speeches correspondence and clippings pertaining to Reynolds association with the Virginia Easter Seals Society. Series Twenty-four include speeches and correspondence pertaining to the Model General Assembly. Series Twenty-five contains general correspondence, press releases speeches and clippings (arranged chronologically) from 1961-1971. Series Twenty-six includes speeches and correspondence concerning high school speeches (1964-1971).

Series Twenty-seven contains clippings, correspondence and press release concerning the medical condition of Reynolds. Series Twenty-eight includes clippings, condolences press releases, and funeral arrangements, pertaining to the death of Reynolds, June 13, 1971. Series Twenty-nine includes contracts, and correspondence concerning the portrait dedication to commemorate the late lieutenant governor.

Series Thirty contains information concerning the creation and dedication of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Series Thirty-one contains press release, correspondence and clippings pertaining to the opening of the Reynold's homestead in Patrick County.

Series Thirty-two contains biographies and chronologies pertaining to the life of Reynolds. Series Thirty-three includes correspondence and clippings relating to first wife Virginia Weir and children. Series Thirty-four includes correspondence and clippings relating to second wife Mary Ballou. Series Thirty five includes personal correspondence of Reynolds and Virginia Governor A. Linwood Holton, Jr. Series Thirty-six includes personal correspondence of Mrs. R.S. Reynolds (mother of Julian Sargeant Reynolds).

The final series 37 is a compilation of miscellaneous information not able to easily fit in the categories listed above.

Biographical / historical:

Julian Sargeant Reynolds was born June 30, 1936 in New York City moved in 1938 to Richmond with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Samuel Reynolds, Jr. Mr. R. S. Reynolds of the Reynolds Metals Company was President from 1948-63 and became CEO in 1963. Julian Sargeant Reynolds attended Woodberry Forest School in Orange, Virginia, and the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics in 1958. He joined the Reynolds Metals Company and worked in the Market Research Department until 1959. He later worked with the Corporate Planning Department until 1961 leaving to become the companies assistant treasurer. In January, 1965, he was elected Executive Vice President of Reynolds Aluminum Credit Corporation. In 1964 he was elected to the House of Delegates from the Richmond and Henrico County district. He served in the House until his election to the 13th senatorial (Richmond and Henrico) district of the Virginia General Assembly. He resigned from the senate in 1969 to serve as the elected lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1970 until his death June 13, 1971. Julian Sargeant Reynolds was married twice. The first marriage was performed in Hertford, N. C., September 29, 1956 to Elizabeth Weir Veeneman of Louisville, Kentucky. The couple had three children, Virginia Weir, J. Sargeant, and Jeanne Elizabeth. The couple divorced in 1969. His second marriage was to the former Mary Ballou Handy of Lynchburg, Va., in 1969. By his second marriage he had one son, Richard Roland.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mrs. Mary Ballou Reynolds Ballentine, Richmond, Va., in 1994.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged primary in chronological order with only a few exceptions. Each series in then broken into individual folders organized with similar items sharing the same folder. The collection begins with Julian Sargeant Reynold's political life as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Julian Sargeant Reynolds was a delegate from the Richmond and Henrico County District. He served in the house of delegates from 1964-1966 [Series 1-3].

The next stage of the political life of Reynolds was his tenure in the Virginia senate. Reynolds served in senatorial district #13 from 1967-1969, before leaving to become the lieutenant governor of Virginia. Julian Sargeant Reynold resigned from the senate on November 12, 1969 to accept the office of lieutenant governor. [Series 4-7] (with series seven concerned with the lieutenant governor campaign while in the senate).

Julian Sargeant Reynolds served as lieutenant governor from 1970 until his death, June 13, 1971. These series span the entire length of Julian Sargeant Reynolds career as the lieutenant governor of Virginia. [Series 8-24]

Series 25-26 are the only series that encompass the entire span of Reynolds public life with out respect to the office he was occupying. Series 25 runs from 1961-1971. While section 26 includes speech and correspondence from 1964-1971. These two series cover the entire span of the collection, with correspondences, press releases and clippings.

The next grouping series 27-28 consist primarily of papers discussing the illness, subsequent death, of Julian Sargeant Reynolds. Materials maintained by other members of the family are included in these series.

Physical description:
1,800 items (18 manuscript boxes).