Clarence B. Pearce papersMSS.86.2Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.Arthur J. Morris Law Library Special Collections

Arthur J. Morris Law Library580 Massie RoadUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesville, Virginia 22903archives@law.virginia.eduURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-08-01 00:00:19 +0000.Description is written in: English, Latin script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard Arthur J. Morris Law Library Special Collections Clarence B. Pearce papers Pearce, Clarence B., 1897-1984 MSS.86.2 Archival Resource Key Previous Archival Resource Key /repositories/4/resources/75 80 items 1916-1920 English Scope and Contents

The papers of Clarence B. Pearce consist primarily of letters written by Pearce to his mother as well as photographs of Pearce and the University of Virginia grounds while Pearce was a law student (1917 - 1921). His college activities included participation in the debating society and service on the editorial board of Virgina Law Review.

 Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers of Clarence B. Pearce were given to the Law Library in 1986 by his daughter, Gary Pearce Lehan, and her husband, Judge James E. Lehan.

 Biographical / Historical

Clarence B. Pearce of Kirkwood, Georgia, enrolled at the University of Virginia School of Law in 1917 when he was about 19 years old. His father, who apparently was a soldier in World War I, died in 1916, and Pearce's education was interrupted by a brief stint in the Army just before the Armistice in 1919. Away from home while at the University, Pearce wrote his mother frequently, at least for the periods represented by the letters in this gift. Early in his academic career he was active in the debating society, and later was selected for the editorial board of theVirginia Law Review, at that time a publication in serious financial difficulty. In these letters Pearce does not mention any of his professors by name, but he does discuss the books he is using for some of his courses, the amount of studying he does, and the strain and tension surrounding the exam period. For most of the time he was at the University he lived on Dawson's Row. The collection contains snapshots of Pearce and his friends around the Grounds.

 University of Virginia. School of Law -- photographs photographs University of Virginia. School of Law -- History Law -- Study and teaching Pearce, Clarence B., 1897-1984 1 TL (typed letter),____ to C. B. Pearce (CBP): notification of University of Virginia scholarship awardArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599431916 June 9MSS 86-2, Box 13 ALS (autographed letter signed), CBP to "Mother" [Mrs. James R. Pearce]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599441917 OctoberMSS 86-2, Box 13 ALS, CBP to "Mother"Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599451918 JanuaryMSS 86-2, Box 11 ALS, CBP to "Mother"Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599461918 April 11MSS 86-2, Box 11 ALS, CBP to "Mother" Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599471918 May 16MSS 86-2, Box 11 ALS, CBP to "Mother"Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599481918 July 20MSS 86-2, Box 12 ALS, CPB to "Mother"Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599491918 Sept. & OctMSS 86-2, Box 16 ALS, CBP to "Mother"Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599501919 JanuaryMSS 86-2, Box 15 ALS, CBP to "Mother"Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599511919 FebruaryMSS 86-2, Box 19 ALS, CBP to "Mother"Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599521919 MarchMSS 86-2, Box 17 ALS, CBP to "Mother"Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599531919 AprilMSS 86-2, Box 11 ALS, CBP to "Mother"Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599541919 May 14MSS 86-2, Box 12 ALS, CBP to "Mother"Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599551919 Aug. & Sept.MSS 86-2, Box 12 ALS, CBP to "Mother" Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599561919 OctoberMSS 86-2, Box 11 TLS (typed letter signed), "Charlie" to "Hon" [CBP]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599571919 November 5MSS 86-2, Box 11 ALS, "Mother" to "My Darling Boy"Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599581919 November 30MSS 86-2, Box 11 ALS, CBP to "Mother"Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599591919 December 14MSS 86-2, Box 11 TLS, "Charlie" to "Hon" [CBP]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599601920 January 31MSS 86-2, Box 12 ALS, CBP to "Mother"Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599611920 Feb. & Mar.MSS 86-2, Box 11 ALS, CBP to "Mother"Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599621920 June 2MSS 86-2, Box 11 ACS, CBP to Mrs. JRP: picture postcard of Dawson's RowArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/59963n.d.MSS 86-2, Box 1Miscellaneous military service documents Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599641916-18MSS 86-2, Box 1Scope and Contents

[6 items]

Law School records and clipping re graduation Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599651918-20MSS 86-2, Box 1Scope and Contents

[4 items]

Programs of events and activities at the University of Virginia, including a Phi Delta Phi libel show program Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599661918-[1920?] MSS 86-2, Box 1Scope and Contents

[4 items]

Program for "Sleeping Partners" performed at The Jefferson theatre in Charlottesville Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/599671920 March 26MSS 86-2, Box 1Scope and Contents

[1 item]

PhotographsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/6879[Ca. 1917-20]18 photographs taken while Pearce was a student at the University; includes a shot of him and his friends, Minor Hall, the Commons, Dawson's Row, and the Grounds covered in snow (see Pearce in photo files)Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/6880Ca. 1917-1920MSS 86-2, Box 1