Lewis F. Powell Jr. Papers 1921-1998

Access and use

Location of collection:
Washington and Lee University, Law School
Washington and Lee University
School of Law
1004 Sydney Lewis Hall
1 Denny Circle
Lexington, VA 24450-0303
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jennifer V. Mitchell
Phone: (540) 458-8969

Summary

Creator:
Lewis F. Powell, Jr.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Lewis F. Powell Jr. Papers document the life of this Richmond, Virginia attorney and Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. The papers span the years 1921-1998(some few items of family history pre-date this period)and document his legal career; military service in World War II; leadership positions in varied civic and professional organizations; and friendships and family relations. Documentation of his work as an attorney is limited, as client files remain with his former law firm, Hunton & Williams. At one hundred forty two cubic feet, Supreme Court case files, 1972-1987, constitute almost half of the collection.

Biographical / historical:
LEWIS F. POWELL, JR. CHRONOLOGY
Date Event
1907 Sept. 19, Born, Suffolk, Virginia
1925 B.S. magna cum laude, Washington & Lee University
1931 LL.B, Washington & Lee University; Admitted to Virginia Bar
1932 LL.M, Harvard Law School; Joined Richmond Law Firm of Christian, Barton & Parker
1935 Joined Richmond law firm of Hunton, Williams, Anderson, Gay & Moore
1936 Married Josephine Pierce Rucker
1938 Jan.1, Became partner of Hunton, Williams; July 1 Josephine McRae (Jody) Powell born
1938-1941 Instructor in economics, Evening School of Business, University of Richmond
1940 Sept. 19, Ann Pendleton (Penny) Powell born
1941 Elected Chairman, Junior Bar Conference, American Bar Association
1942 Volunteered for service in Army Air Forces
1946 Discharged from Army with rank of colonel; resumed practice at Hunton, Williams
1947 July 1, Mary Lewis Gwathmey (Molly) Powell born
1947-1948 Chairman, Richmond Charter Commission
1948-1949 President, Richmond Bar Association
1948-1952 Special Assistant to the Attorney General re Selective Service
1950 Joined Richmond School Board
1952 Sept. 14, Lewis F. Powell, III born
1952-1961 Chairman, Richmond School Board
1954 June 1 Became senior, named partner of Hunton, Williams, Gay, Moore & Powell
1958 Member of American Bar Association delegation to Soviet Union
1961-1969 Member of Virginia State Board of Education
1962 Represented Albemarle Paper Manufacturing in Acquisition of Ethyl Corporation
1964-1965 President, American Bar Association
1965-1966 Member, National Advisory Committee on Legal Services to the Poor
1965-1967 Member, President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice
1967-1968 Member, Virginia Constitutional Revision Commission
1969-1970 Member, Blue Ribbon Defense Panel; President, American College of Trial Lawyers
1969-1971 President, American Bar Foundation
1971 Oct. 21, Nominated to Supreme Court by President Nixon; Dec. 7, Nomination confirmed by Senate
1972 Jan. 7, Sworn-in as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
1987 June 26, Retired as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
1987-1996 Sat on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as an extra judge
1996 July 24 Josephine Rucker Powell died
1997 Jan. 7, Powell Supreme Court Chambers closed
1998 August 25, Lewis F. Powell Jr. died
Arrangement:

The papers are arranged in twelve subgroups. There are also oversized materials that are housed separately for preservation purposes. The first eleven subgroups represent different aspects of Powell's life and career. The final subgroup contains series of materials by form. These materials had never been integrated into the preceding larger body of papers. Most series are divided into subseries. Further divisions beneath this level are common.

1. Biographical Materials, 1797, 1859, 1873, 1942-1983

Series 1.1 General, 1942-1983
Series 1.2 Biographical & Historical Memoranda, 1959- 1983
Series 1.3 Genealogical Materials, 1797,1859, 1873, 1951-1981

2. Personal Papers, 1921-1996

Series 2.1 Correspondence, 1932- 1971
Series 2.2 Family Papers, 1941- 1996
Series 2.3 Education, 1921-1932
Series 2.4 Speeches, Statements and Writings, 1937-1971

3. Military Service Papers, 1942- 1994

Series 3.1 World War II, 1942-1946
Series 3.2 Post World War II, 1946-1964
Series 3.3 Historical Studies & Interviews, 1971- 1994

4. Law Firm (Hunton & Williams) Records, 1945-1972

Series 4.1 Correspondence, 1954,1958
Series 4.2 Memoranda, 1945-1972
Series 4.3 Forms File, 1945-1951
Series 4.4 Financial Statement, 1949-1954
Series 4.5 "Housekeeping" Records, 1949-1972

5. Professional Associations, 1937- 1971

Series 5.1 American Bar Association, 1937-1971
Series 5.2 American Bar Foundation, 1960-1971
Series 5.3 American College of Trial Lawyers, 1958-1971
Series 5.4 American Judicature Society, 1958- 1963
Series 5.5 American Law Institute, 1947-1967
Series 5.6 Association of Life Insurance Counsel, 1957-1963
Series 5.7 National Center for State Courts, 1971
Series 5.8 Richmond Bar Association, 1946- 1966
Series 5.9 Virginia State Bar Association, 1948-1970

6. Federal Commissions, Panels and Conferences, 1948-1971

Series 6.1 Special Assistant to the Attorney General re Selective Service, 1948-1952
Series 6.2 Joint Civilian Defense Orientation Conference, 1957- 1958
Series 6.3 Attorney General's Conference on Court Congestion and Delay In Litigation, 1958-1960
Series 6.4 President' s Commission On Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice, 1965-1967
Series 6.5 Blue Ribbon Defense Panel, 1969-1970
Series 6.6 Advisory Commission of the Federal Judiciary Center, 1971

7. Civic Activities, 1946- 1971

Series 7.1 Richmond Chamber of Commerce, 1946- 1960
Series 7.2 Richmond Charter Commission, 1947-1957
Series 7.3 American Cancer Society--Richmond Chapter, 1949- 1950
Series 7.4 Richmond School Board, 1950- 1962
Series 7.5 State Library Board (Virginia), 1954-1964
Series 7.6 Virginia Industrialization Group, 1958-1964, 1980
Series 7.7 Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, 1959-1961
Series 7.8 Virginia State Board of Education, 1961- 1969
Series 7.9 Virginia Magna Carta Commission, 1964-1965
Series 7.10 Commission On Constitutional Revision (Virginia), 1968-1971

8. Board Memberships, 1937-1994

Series 8.1 Civic, 1940-1966
Series 8.2 Educational, 1937- 1994
Series 8.3 Corporate, 1946- 1972

9. Political Campaigns, 1952-1970

Series 9.1 Virginia Democrats for Eisenhower, 1952-1956
Series 9.2 Walter Robertson Senate Campaign, 1965- 1966
Series 9.3 Harry F. Byrd, Jr. Senate Campaign, 1970

10. United States Supreme Court, 1968-1994 (bulk 1972-1987)

Series 10.1 Papers re Nomination and Confirmation, 1968-1971
Series 10.2 Correspondence, 1972-1987
Series 10.3 Memoranda, 1972-1987
Series 10.4 Subject Files, 1972-1987
Series 10.5 Opinion Assignments, 1972-1987
Series 10.6 Supreme Court Cases, 1972-1987
Series 10.7 Speeches, Writings and Interviews, 1972-1987
Series 10.8 Trips, 1972-1986
Series 10.9 Retirement, 1987
Series 10.10 Calendars, 1971-1987

11. Retirement, 1987- 1998

Series 11.1 Correspondence, 1987-1998
Series 11.2 Subject Files, 1987- 1996
Series 11.3 Habeas Corpus Committee, 1988-1992
Series 11.4 Teaching Files, 1988-1991
Series 11.5 Speeches & Writings, 1987-1995
Series 11.6 Case Files, 1987- 1996
Series 11.7 Trip Files, 1987- 1996
Series 11.8 Appointment Calendars

12. Materials by Form

Series 12.1 Photos
Series 12.2 Audio & Video Recordings
Series 12.3 Scrapbooks
Series 12.4 Clippings
Series 12.5 Printed Materials
Series 12.6 Artifacts

Physical description:
The papers are 363 cu. ft. in extent.