Middleton, Beverly Randolph A Guide to the Beverly Randolph Middleton Papers MG 64

A Guide to the Beverly Randolph Middleton Papers MG 64


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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

Joseph Legaspi

Repository
ODU Community Collections
Identification
MG 64
Title
Beverly Randolph Middleton Papers circa 1938-1984, undated Date acquired: 11/18/1998
URL:
https://archivesguides.lib.odu.edu/repositories/5/resources/136
Quantity
3.20 Linear Feet
Quantity
3 Hollinger document cases and 1 oversize box boxes
Creator
Middleton, Beverly Randolph (1928-1996)
Language
English .
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.

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

Open to researchers without restrictions.

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.

Source of Acquisition

Ernestine K. Middleton

Method of Acquisition

Gift. Accession #98-13


Biographical or Historical Information

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

Scope and Contents

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.

Arrangement Note

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.

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: Correspondence
1968-1990
Scope and Contents

The majority of materials in this series consist mostly of the political correspondence of Middleton written between 1970 and 1971. The political correspondence is divided by topic and consists mostly of letters from concerned citizens with replies from Delegate Middleton concerning specific legislation. Personal correspondence as well as invitations to several inaugurations for the governors of Virginia are also included.

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Series II
Series II: Campaign Files
1969-1971, undated
Scope and Contents

The material in this series includes packet guides for campaign volunteers and poll workers, press releases and speeches made by Middleton during his election and re-election campaigns, and a poll book registration of voters who voted on September 14, 1971, among others.

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Series III
Series III: Organizations
1984, undated
Scope and Contents

The papers in this series concern the Virginia Beach Women's Democratic Club, the Thoroughgood Garden Club, and the Virginia Building Officials Conference.

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Series IV
Series IV: Printed Materials
1965-1982
Scope and Contents

This series contains programs, newsletters, and an annual report. Topics covered in the series include the Kiwanis Club Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA), and a dinner honoring Senator Harry F. Byrd.

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Series V
Series V: Photographs
1971, undated
Scope and Contents

The photographs in this series include a photo of the Norview High School football team, Middleton in track and field attire and cadet uniforms, and Middleton presiding over a Kiwanis Club conference. Of note are photographs of Governor Linwood Holton with State Senator James Turk.

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Series VI
Series VI: Artifacts
1972-1974, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains Virginia Delegate license plates, a cocktail napkin from the Middleton campaign, and a bumper sticker from a Middleton re-election campaign.

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Series VII
Series VII: Newspaper Clippings
circa 1938-1971
Scope and Contents

The newspaper articles in this series concern both Middleton's election and re-election campaigns as well as his family.

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Series VIII
Series VIII: Scrapbooks
1945-1973, undated
Scope and Contents

The four scrapbooks in this series are relatively intact; however, there are certain items which have been displaced and are now located in folders of their own. Scrapbook I is a compilation of items related to either Middleton's athletic career at VPI or his career as a Cadet in Company "B" from 1945 to 1949. The scrapbook also mentions his high school athletic career. The other three scrapbooks incorporate Middleton's political career including his election and re-election campaigns for the Virginia House of Delegates.

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