Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Papers of Paul Spivey, Accession #6560-e, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was given to the Library by Mrs. Helen Spivey O'Neal (daughter of Paul Spivey), of Norfolk, Virginia, on March 6, 1991.

Biographical/Historical Information

Mr. and Mrs. Davis lived at their Morven Park estate, near Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia, where they raised purebred cattle. Davis was governor of Virginia from 1918-1922; he had studied law at the University of Virginia, but graduated from Columbia University, New York, and practiced law in New York City. At forty-four, Davis moved to Virginia and became editor of The Southern Planter .

Scope and Content Information

The papers of Paul Spivey consist of ca. 2500 items (7 Hollinger boxes, 2 linear feet), ca. 1881-1967, and undated, chiefly papers generated in his capacity as co-executor of the estate of Marguerite G. (Inman) Davis (186[7?]-1963) and by his assistance to Mrs. Davis in settling the estate of her husband, Governor Westmoreland Davis (1859-1942).

This collection includes estate papers, correspondence, legal and business documents, plats, photographs, and printed material. Also included is material concerning Spivey's position as business manager and editor of The Southern Planter (established in 1840) and later as the president   and publisher of the magazine, following Westmoreland Davis's death in 1942. Davis became the president   and publisher of The Southern Planter in 1912, and Spivey went to work for Davis in 1915 as his business manager.

The first series (Boxes 1-2) of this collection consists of the correspondence of Westmoreland and Marguerite Davis and Paul Spivey. The correspondence of Westmoreland Davis and Paul Spivey is almost totally about the running of The Southern Planter business, including the financial affairs of the paper, editorials, exhibits, topics to discuss in the paper, costs of supplies used for the paper, and possible changes to the printing press (1926 Jan 2[6?]), but other financial affairs of the Davis's are also discussed. For very similar material concerning the magazine see The Southern Planter folder in the second series.

The correspondence of Paul Spivey and Marguerite Davis dates from the death of Westmoreland Davis in 1942 when Spivey assisted Mrs. Davis in settling the estate of her husband. Spivey continued to manage and administer the financial affairs of Mrs. Davis in conjunction with the representatives of the United States Trust Company of New York until her death in 1963.

These letters chiefly discuss the repairs and upkeep of Morven Park, and the negotiations to eventually give Morven Park to Washington and Lee University (1951 Mar 14 & 30 and April 20 & 27), Mrs. Davis's federal taxes, the Inman Properties in New York, the Florida Trading Company (see folder in second series), the sale of Morven Park acreage, the daily financial concerns of Mrs. Davis, and the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation (see folder in second series) set up by Mrs. Davis to perpetuate and honor the memory of Governor Davis and his service to Virginia.

Spivey was an officer of the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation (Vice- President ); when Mrs. Davis expressed her wishes to Mr. Diefenbach of the United States Trust Company of New York, he would consult with Spivey concerning Virginia charities. Also present among the letters of Mrs. Davis and Paul Spivey are letters from Alice Profitt, the companion of Mrs. Davis in her later years, about Mrs. Davis's health and affairs.

Many of the subjects discussed in the correspondence files also have additional related material in the second series. The folders for the entire collection are in reverse chronological order and have maintained the original folder headings whenever they could be ascertained.

The second series consists of the financial and legal papers of the Davis family, with some material dating back to the financial affairs of various members of the Inman family of Mrs. Davis. A large portion of this material pertains to the settling of the estates of Westmoreland and Marguerite Davis, their estate tax returns, and the law firms of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn of New York and Stirling Harrison, Leesburg, Virginia, involved in the settlement.

Other files pertaining to the Davis' financial interests include audits for Morven farms and the Loudoun Times Publishing Company; the Central Manhattan Improvement Company; the Federal Land Bank of Baltimore; the Florida Trading Corporation; the Hotel Chelsea in New York; the house at King and Cornwall Streets, Leesburg, Virginia; the Loudoun Times-Mirror ; and The Southern Planter .

Political papers of Westmoreland Davis include folders concerning the Federal Reserve Bank Directors; the Market Commission Bill & Bureau of Markets; political papers, chiefly concerning the gubernatorial primary of 1917 involving J. Taylor Ellyson, John Garland Pollard, and Westmoreland Davis, and includes a list of campaign expenses (1922), and a printed copy of the "Inaugural Address of Governor Westmoreland Davis" (1918 Feb 1); and a report by Hon. E.P. Cox concerning railroads chartered in Virginia (1904).

Material related to Morven Park include files concerning the Sam Marcum lease; an appraisal; the boxwoods; an inventory; surveys and deed; soil conservation; and the Virginia State Department of Highways Right of Way.

Files pertaining to the accounts of Mrs. Davis include those of Henry G. Diefenbach and the United States Trust Company of New York. The financial affairs of her sisters are discussed in the files of Mrs. Jennie Inman Payne; the Estate of Willie Lee Inman and the United States Trust Company of New York account with Willie Lee Inman.

A good photograph of Governor Davis (1939) suitable for use in publications can be found in Box 6 and an electrostatic copy can also be found in the control folder for this collection.

Arrangement

The collection is in reverse chronological order within each folder, and is arranged in two series. Series I consists of correspondence and Series II consists of financial and legal papers, as well as a few miscellaneous personal folders.