McNamara, Thomas R. A Guide to the Thomas R. McNamara Papers MG 4

A Guide to the Thomas R. McNamara Papers MG 4


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ODU Community Collections

3000 Perry Library
4427 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23529
Business Number: 757-683-5350
libspecialcollections@odu.edu
URL: https://www.odu.edu/library/special-collections

Dr. James R. Sweeney

Repository
ODU Community Collections
Identification
MG 4
Title
Thomas R. McNamara Papers 1961-1976, undated Date acquired: 01/00/1976
URL:
https://archivesguides.lib.odu.edu/repositories/5/resources/102
Quantity
31.20 Linear Feet
Quantity
78 Hollinger document cases boxes
Creator
McNamara, Thomas R. (1925-)
Language
English .
Abstract
Served in the Virginia General Assembly as a member of the House of Delegates (1968-1971) and the Senate (1972-1976). Consists of records of his service in the General Assembly, 1968-1976, including publications of state agencies and correspondence as member of the State Water Control Board.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

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.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers without restrictions.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Thomas R. McNamara Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Source of Acquisition

Thomas R. McNamara

Method of Acquisition

Gift. Accession #A76-4

Biographical or Historical Information

Thomas Randolph McNamara was born in Evanston, Illinois on February 17, 1925. He has spent most of his life in Norfolk, Virginia. He was educated at Virginia Military Institute where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (1949). He received his Bachelor of Laws degree from Washington and Lee University (1952). Mr. McNamara is married to the former Mary Bradford Colton. They have six children: Thomas Randolph, Jr.; John Colton; David Brooke; Mary Bradford; Leigh Douglas and Robert Hadley. After returning from naval service in World War II and completing his education, Mr. McNamara joined the law firm of Williams, Cocke and Tunstall in 1952 and remained with that firm for 18 years. He practiced law on his own in Norfolk from January 1971 to January 1976 when the Virginia General Assembly elected him to a circuit judgeship in Norfolk. Mr. McNamara's political career spanned a period of nine years. He was elected to the House of Delegates in 1967 and reelected in 1969. In 1972 he sought and won a four-year term in the Virginia Senate. In the House of Delegates his principal committee assignments were Courts of Justice (1970-1971), Counties, Cities and Towns (1968-1971) and Labor (1970-1971). His Senate Committee assignments were Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; Courts of Justice; Rehabilitation and Social Services; Transportation. He also served as chairman of the Policy Advisory Committee of James River 3(c) Comprehensive Water Quality Management Study. In 1975 Governor Mills E. Godwin appointed him to the chairmanship of the State Water Control Board. Mr. McNamara announced his intention in 1975 to return to the private practice of law in Norfolk. In January 1976, however, he was elected by the General Assembly to fill a circuit judgeship. Mr. McNamara is a member of numerous civic and professional organizations. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar, the American, Virginia and Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Associations; the Norfolk chapters of V.M.I. and Washington and Lee Alumni Associations; Vice-Chairman of the Lay Advisory Board, DePaul Hospital; the Board of Directors, Southeastern Tidewater Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc.; Vice- Chairman of the Norfolk Charter Advisory Study Commission (1968-1971); chairman of the Steering Committee, Tidewater Assembly in Family Life; vice-president, Health-Welfare-Recreation Planning Council; member, Mayor's Youth Commission; Board of Directors, United Drug Abuse Council, Inc.; co-chairman, Tidewater Chapter, National Council of Christians and Jews; member, coordinating Committee on Services for the Handicapped Child of the Virginia Council on Health and Medical Care.

Note written by James Sweeney

Scope and Contents

The McNamara papers are principally the records of his service in the Virginia General Assembly as a member of the House of Delegates (1968-1971) and the Senate (1972-1976), annual reports of state agencies, reports of legislative study commissions and reports of the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council.

Arrangement Note

The papers are organized into four series: Series I: Legislative Files; Series II: Records of Service on the State Water Control Board; Series III: Political Papers; and Series IV: Newspaper Clippings.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

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Significant Places Associated With the Collection

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Container List

Series I
Series I: Legislative Files
1961-1976, undated
Scope and Contents

This series include publications of state agencies, e.g., annual reports, reports of legislative study commissions, Virginia Advisory Legislative Council reports, copies of bills, and legislative correspondence. The correspondence consists of constituent letters, correspondence with officials of Tidewater area local governments, and professional organizations.

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Series II
Series II: Records of Service on the State Water Control Board
1967-1976, undated
Scope and Contents

The State Water Control Board files are not the official records of the board. They include Mr. McNamara's correspondence as a member of the board, staff communications, staff activities reports, letter ballots, minutes of meetings, publications distributed to members of the board, and newspaper clippings related to the activities of the board.

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Series III
Series III: Political Papers
1967-1975, undated
Scope and Contents

The political papers consist of some correspondence, publications, clippings and briefs in the Virginia reapportionment cases. The speech file is principally political speeches.

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Series IV
Series IV: Newspaper Clippings
1966-1975
Scope and Contents

This series consists of newspaper clippings collected by McNamara.

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