Beverly Randolph Middleton Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
Old Dominion University
3023 Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library
Old Dominion University
4427 Hampton Blvd
Norfolk, VA 23529
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jessica Ritchie
Phone: (757) 683-4483
Fax: (757) 683-5954
Restrictions:

Open to researchers without restrictions.

Terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Beverly Randolph Middleton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
3.20 Linear Feet and 3 Hollinger document cases and 1 oversize box boxes
Creator:
Middleton, Beverly Randolph (1928-1996)
Abstract:
Engineer and Virginia State Delegate. Served three terms in the Virginia House of Delegates. Most of the collection pertains to his political career. Also included is material related to his days as a student athlete at Norview High School and VPI.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Beverly Randolph Middleton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

The papers of Beverly R. Middleton deal primarily with his athletic career at Virginia Polytechnic Institute from 1945 until 1949 and his political career from 1967 to 1974. The political aspects of the collection, which concentrate heavily on his election and re-election campaigns in 1967, 1969, and 1971, provide a genuine examination of his political aspirations. The collection also includes material as a student athlete at Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia, as well as his career after he left the Virginia House of Delegates.

Biographical / historical:

Beverly Randolph Middleton was born on September 7, 1928, in Norfolk County, Virginia. He graduated from Norview High School where he was a gifted athlete and a central force in both Norview's football and basketball varsity programs. After high school he began his university career at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute where again his athletic abilities stood out as a member and co-captain of the track and field team. Middleton finished his University career at VPI graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.

At VPI Middleton was enrolled in the Army cadet program. After college he joined the U.S. Army, and served from 1951 to 1953, attaining the rank of Captain. He was stationed in Europe where he received a special commendation from Queen Julianne of the Netherlands for his devoted and persevering personal assistance in coming to aid in a time of national crisis.

In 1967 Middleton was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates representing the city of Virginia Beach on a Democratic Union party ticket that opposed the Kellam Machine. He was a member of the House of Delegates from 1968 until 1974, having been defeated in his bid for re-election in 1973. He served three consecutive terms. The five committees on which he served were: Appropriations, Education, Roads, Chesapeake Bay and its Tributaries, and Conservation and Natural Resources. From 1972 to 1982 he was a member, appointed by the Governor of Virginia, of both the Virginia Housing Study Commission and the State Board of Housing and Development. Middleton also served as a member of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Commission and on the General Advisory Council for Vocational Education for Virginia Beach schools.

Beverly R. Middleton was a licensed professional engineer and retired as president of Middleton Construction Company. He was a member of several organizations including the Society of Professional Engineers and the Builders and Contractors Exchange. He served as director of the latter organization. He chaired the Joint Apprenticeship Committee of the Tidewater Electrical Industry from 1961 to 1974. He also served as president of the Suburban Kiwanis Club and Thoroughgood Civic League and was a member of the Royal Order of the Neptune Festival and Bayside Presbyterian Church.

Middleton died on July 12, 1996, was married twice and is survived by his second wife, Ernestine W. Middleton. He fathered three sons and four daughters: John Middleton, Barry Knight, Wayne Middleton, Shannon Knight, Gale Dunlap, Beverly Middleton Hathaway, and Terry Burton. He was active in coaching little league football and basketball and enjoyed bird hunting and fishing.

Note written by Joseph Legaspi

Acquisition information:

Ernestine K. Middleton

Gift. Accession #98-13

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into eight series: Series I: Correspondence; Series II: Campaign Files; Series III: Organizations; Series IV: Printed material; Series V: Photographs: Series VI: Artifacts; Series VII: Newspaper Clippings; and Series VIII: Scrapbooks.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard