Robert Morton Hughes Papers, 1715-1933.

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440

Background

Scope and content:

Papers, 1871-1933, of Robert Morton Hughes of Norfolk, Virginia, concerning his law practice; his interest in maritime law; his biography of Joseph Eggleston Johnston; his influence in Virginia politics; and the College of William and Mary. Correspondents include Joseph Eggleston Johnston, Fitzhugh Lee, Sir Arthur Sullivan, Thomas Nelson Page, Woodrow Wilson, Flora (Cooke) Stuart and Theodore Roosevelt. There is also an autograph collection, 1715-1924, which includes signatures of Frances Hodgson Burnett, Mark Hanna, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., Samuel L. Clemens and presidents of the United States.

Biographical / historical:

Robert Morton Hughes, an alumnus of the College of William and Mary, attended the University of Virginia Law School. He was the son of Robert William and Eliza M. (Johnston) Hughes. He practiced law in Norfolk, Virginia. Hughes was the president of the Virginia Bar Association; biographer of Joseph Eggleston Johnston; a member of the Virginia Board of Education; and served as a member and as rector of the Board of Visitors of the College of William and Mary.

Biography Timeline
Date Event
1855 Born, in Abingdon, Virginia,the son of Robert William and Eliza M. [Johnston] Hughes
1870- 1873 Attended College of William and Mary,A.B.
1877 M.A., University of Virginia
1877 Began law practice in Norfolk
1879 Married Mattie Smithof Williamsburg(two sons)
1893-1918 Member of the Board of Visitors of the College of William and Mary,served as Rector
1895 President, Virginia Bar Association
1930- 1935 Member, Virginia State Board of Education
1940 Died in Norfolk, Virginia

Acquisition information:
Gift: 237 items, 1940.
Arrangement:
Organization

This collection has been organized into 2 series: Series 1 includes Personal and Business Correspondence, and Series 2 includes an Autograph Collection.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into 2 series which are then broken down into subseries. Series 1 is arranged by date and Series 2 is arranged alphabetically.

Physical description:
237 items.