The Papers of Ellen V. Nash (1953-1990)MSS.98.4

The Papers of Ellen V. Nash (1953-1990)MSS.98.4


[logo]

Arthur J. Morris Law Library Special Collections

Arthur J. Morris Law Library
580 Massie Road
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
archives@law.virginia.edu
URL: http://archives.law.virginia.edu/

Repository
Arthur J. Morris Law Library Special Collections
Identification
MSS.98.4
Title
The Papers of Ellen V. Nash (1953-1990) 1935-1990
URL:
https://archives.lib.virginia.edu/ark:/59853/107327
Quantity
11.3 Cubic Feet, 27 archival boxes
Creator
Nash, Ellen Virginia, 1910-1995
Language
English .
Abstract
This collection document her career as a solo practitioner in Charlottesville. The files consist of case files and law practice ledgers (1935-1990) and some miscellaneous personal papers.

Administrative Information

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These papers were transferred to the Law Library from Alderman Library in January of 1998.

Biographical / Historical

Ellen Virginia Nash (Eenie) was born in Omaha, Nebraska on 20 May 1910. Prior to 1932 she spent several years in Paris with her aunt Frances Nash Watson, where she studied at the Ecole du Louvre and the Sorbonne. She moved to Charlottesville in 1945. All her life she had an interest in public service. In the 1930s, she began to work with the Civil Works Administration (later WPA). A few years later, she became Assistant to the General Counsel of the Federal Workers Agency, as political liaison with Capitol Hill, a position she held until she enlisted in the Armed Services (the WACS) during World War II. She earned a pilot's license in 1945 at the Milton Airport in Shadwell. She was member of the official Sign Ordinance Committee that seek to develop guidelines to protect Albermarle County's scenic places. She was a member of the Democratic party and served on the County Electoral Board from 1973-1979.

She was active in politics beginning in 1952 "Rising through various posts to be one of the three Albermarle County Electoral Board members." After her graduation as the sole woman of her law class, she was one of the first women to practice law on Charlottesville Court Square, and was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Charlottesville-Albermarle Bar Association fifteen times. Nash served as Scottsville's representative on the Albermarle Board of Supervisors from 1980-1984. "She would say things that were so frank and so correct, they would turn the head of her five fellow supervisors. In addition to her frankness, politics to her really was people." (Daily Progress, June 29, 1995)

Ellen V. Nash was an active member of the Charlottesville-Albermarle community. She was member of the Albermarle County Historical Society and the local SPCA, where she served as president when they were constructing the animal shelter and their offices. She was president of the Levy Opera House/Town Hall Foundation (1977), [Nash, Box 18], board member of the Southside Health Center in Esmont, chairman of the Scottsville Democratic Committee and Supervisor for the Scottsville District since 1980 (Daily Progress Aug. 17, 1979) and president of the Charlottesville-Albermarle Civic League.

Nash died at age 85 at her home in Kenwood on June 28, 1995.

Scope and Contents

These papers document Ellen V. Nash's career as a solo practitioner. Her legal work consisted primarily of trust and estates, insurance, divorce, adoptions, and real estate. ("I really enjoy real estate work...its really interesting to see the history of the land enfolding back to the time of Jefferson". Daily Progress, Dec. 12, 1971). Apparently, she worked by herself almost all her life, but had a partner, Alvin D. Edelson, in the 1970's and worked close to Bernard Chamberlain, lawyer and UVA alumni.

Some of these papers suffered extensive water and mildew damage; in fact, a portion of the papers were so badly damaged that were not transfered to the library.

Arrangement

Series I (boxes 1-23) is comprised of case files and law practice ledgers dating from 1953-1990.

Series II (1955-1988) is comprised of a small body of personal papers such as documents concerning her campaigns for Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, her work at the Levy Opera House, and her efforts to settle a complicate estate.

Nash's folder headings and numbers printed in folders have been noted on the new folders. Both series are arranged alphabetically.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

Back to Top

Container List

Series I: Case files (Restricted Files)
General

These files are restricted.

Back to Top
Series II: Miscellaneous files
Back to Top