Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Use Restrictions

Physical characteristics and conditions affect use of this material. Photocopying not permitted. Visual materials may require special handling.

Preferred Citation

Wilbur C. Hall Papers (M 005), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

Loudoun County Library Administration and Karen Titus, Leesburg, VA

Alternative Form Available

None

Accruals

2012.0025; 2012.0026

Processing Information

Laura Christiansen, Lisa DeZarn, Alexandra S. Gressitt, Mary Pender, Gabrielle Sanchez, 2004, 2012, and 2014

NOTE: For ease of access, diaries (1811-1820) of Samuel B.T. Caldwell were processed separately as SC0004.

Biographical Information

Born in Leesburg, VA on February 7, 1892, Wilbur C. Hall is noted for his career as a lawyer, state legislator, orator, and public figure. Graduating from Washington and Lee School of Law in Lexington, VA in 1915, Hall served in the United States Navy during World War I. In 1918, at the age of 24, he was elected to the Virginia General Assembly and served on the Assembly until 1935. He served as Chairman of the Virginia Conservation Commission from 1935-1939, and authored or sponsored important and influential legislation.

Wilbur Hall also had a legendary career as a lawyer; he was called a "lawyer's lawyer" and "the best prepared lawyer before the bar of any court in Virginia." Hall contributed to the legal profession in numerous ways, being widely cited in case law and also serving as a supporter of Washington and Lee University's law program. He made several sizable gifts to the law school program during his lifetime, including a loan fund for deserving law students, and left the majority of his estate to Washington and Lee University. In 1967 Washington and Lee bestowed an honorary doctorate degree upon him. Hall noted this as being "the happiest moment of my life." Following his death in August 1972, the law school library, which he helped develop, was named Wilbur C. Hall Law Library.

Hall was a founding member of the Rotary Club of Leesburg and belonged to numerous civic and fraternal organizations. As a public figure and noted orator, he was in demand as a speaker and frequently spoke on historical topics. An amateur historian, Hall also contributed to the preservation of historical landmarks and local historic sites. As Chairman of the Virginia Conservation Commission he helped to create a state historic marker program, establishing a number of markers for Loudoun county historic sites, including the site of Revolutionary war figure John Champe. Hall published articles about Champe and other historical topics of interest to him in a variety of journals. While Hall was a popular speaker and contributor to publications, it should be noted that he hired researchers to complete much of his writing and historical inquiries.

Scope and Content

The Wilbur C. Hall Papers consist primarily of materials relating to Wilbur Hall's interest in the history of early America, Virginia, and Loudoun County. There is little material pertaining to his work as an attorney in Leesburg, his career in government, or his personal and family life. The collection is organized into two series.

Series I consists of documents relating to his research into the history of Loudoun County and surrounding areas. The materials are organized alphabetically by subject. The documents include transcripts of speeches he gave on various historical topics to organizations such as the American Legion, Lion's Club, Rotary Club, Ruritan Club, Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, local historical societies and others. Also included are associated correspondence and research materials, including publications, maps, historical accounts, clippings and notes. Correspondents include: J. Lindsay Almond, Jr. (1898-1986); W. J. Barrow (1904-1967); Armistead L. Boothe (1907-1990); Mary Brackett (Mrs. Scott) Bowen (1887-1974); Omar N. Bradley (1893-1981); Benjamin H. Branch, Jr. (1919-1993); Wiley T. Buchanan, Jr. (1914-1986); Bryan Conrad (1870-1950); Elbert Cox (1906-1993); Cecil B. Dickson (ca. 1899-1986); E. Griffith Dodson (1923-1962); H. J. Eckenrode (1881-1952); Eugenia T. Fairfax (1873-1966); David E. Finley, Jr. (1890-1977); Marshall W Fishwick (1923-2006); Caroline B. Furness (1922-2007); R. K. Gheen (1914-1974); Stilson H. Hall (1893-1981); George P. Hammerly (1921-1984); Huntington Harris (1914-1993); B. Powell Harrison (1911-2000); William J. Heffner (1909-1995); Laurence G. Hoes (1900-1978); George A. Horkan, Jr. (1926-2005); Carlisle H. Humelsine (1915-1989); Eppa Hunton, IV; (1904-1976); Patrick J. Hurley (1883-1963); Asa Moore Janney (ca. 1908-2002); W. Pat Jennings (1919-1994); Aurelia M. (Mrs. Walter T.) Jewell (1900-1992); Marven Jones (1882-1976); George Harrison Sanford King (1914-1985); George C. Marshall (1880-1959); Katherine Marshall (1882-1978); H(erbert) A. Martz (1898-1990); Frank P. Moncure (1889-1969); Benjamin Muse (1898-1986) Millard C. Myers (1883-1975); Lawrence F. O'Brien, Jr. (1917-1990); Carleton Penn (1922-2009); Lucas D. Phillips (1904-1994); Forrest C. Pogue, Jr. (1912-1996); Joseph E. Profitt (1876-1958); W. Griffith Purcell (1912-1983); Jennings Randolph (1902-1998); A. Willis Robertson (1887-1971); Clarence L. Robey (1884-1969); John W. H. Spencer (1919-2011); William B. Spong, Jr. (1920-1997); Stuart Symington (1901-1988); [Dorothy] Ullrich Troubetzkoy (1914-2003); William M. Tuck (1896-1983); Robert Whitehead (1897-1960); and Conrad L. Wirth (1899-1993).

Series II is made up of original nineteenth century documents collected by Wilbur Hall in the course of his historical research. These documents include letters, public notices, legal documents, and advertisements originating from Loudoun County and surrounding areas. They are organized chronologically.

The collection also contains a scrapbook of newspaper clippings chronicling Wilbur Hall's political activities, and two artifacts. There is a United States flag with 46 stars which belonged to General George C. Marshall and an undated "Christmas card" (a photograph of Wilbur Hall pasted onto a wooden stand).

The visual materials consist of sixteen photographs of various sizes and formats dating from 1866-1968. Photographs feature Wilbur Hall or were collected by him in the course of his research into a variety of historical topics. Organization of the photographs fall into two series: Series I consists of four folders containing photographs from research projects (speech or paper); Series II contains portrait images of Wilbur Hall.

Arrangement

Box: folder

Adjunct Descriptive Data

Bibliography

Washington and Lee University, School of Law, Alumni, Biographies, Wilbur C. Hall, http://law.wlu.edu/alumni/bios/hall-wilbur.asp (accessed 2 February 2012).

Wilbur C. Hall Papers (M 005), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Out of the Attic, Volume 2, February Birthday, 25 February 1982.

Other Finding Aid

Past Perfect catalogue records