A Guide to the A. Christian Compton Papers, 1960-1999 Compton, A. Christian 2007M:001 017

A Guide to the A. Christian Compton Papers, 1960-1999

A Collection in
Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Archives
Collection number 017


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Washington and Lee University, School of Law, Lewis F. Powerll, Jr. Archives

Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Archives
Washington and Lee University
School of Law
Lexington, Virginia 24450-0303
USA
Phone: (540) 458-8969
Email: powell@wlu.edu
URL: http://law.wlu.edu/library/powell/

© 2016 By Washington and Lee University. All rights reserved.

Processed by: John N. Jacob

Repository
Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Archives, School of Law, Washington and Lee University
Accession number
017
Title
A. Christian Compton Papers, 1960-1999
Extent
7 cubic feet .
Creator
A. Christian Compton
Storage Location
Powell Archives stacks
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

A. Christian Compton Papers, Ms 017, Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Archives, Washington and Lee University School of Law, Lexington, VA

Acquisition Information

From the estate of A. Christian Compton.

Biographical Information

Asbury Christian Compton (October 24, 1929 – April 9, 2006) was an American attorney and judge who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia from 1974 until 2000, and as a Senior justice until his death.

Compton was a native of Ashland in Hanover County, Virginia, and graduated from Ashland High School in 1946. Compton earned his B.A. in history and politics from Washington and Lee in 1950 and his LL.B. from the Washington and Lee University School of Law in 1953. While at Washington and Lee, Compton served as president of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, class officer and captain of the basketball team. He was also a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, the lacrosse team, Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity, the University Glee Club and the Cotillion Club.

Compton served in the U.S. Navy from 1953-1956 and the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1953-1961. He practiced law in Richmond with May, Garrett, Miller, Newman and Compton from 1957-1966.

In 1966, Gov. Mills Godwin appointed Compton to the Law & Equity Court of the City of Richmond and then to the Supreme Court of Virginia in 1974. The General Assembly re-elected him to another term in 1987. He retired from the Supreme Court in February 2000 and began service as a senior justice.

Compton maintained strong ties to Washington and Lee throughout his career. He served as president of the Alumni Association from 1972-1973. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from his alma mater in 1975. He served member of the Board of Trustees from 1978-1989. He selected most of his law clerks from the top graduates of Washington and Lee School of Law.

Compton was married to Betty Stephenson Compton for 52 years until his death. They had three daughters-Leigh Compton Kiczales, Mary Compton Psyllos, Melissa Compton Patterson; and eight grandsons. (Source: Wikipedia, 5 October 2016.)

Scope and Content

The A. Christian Compton Papers consist of four record cartons of subject files and three record cartons of his Supreme Court of Virginia case files. Much of the subject files deal with Compton's service to his alma mater, Washington and Lee University, as a board member and as an active alumnus. The case files contain appeal documents with an occasional newspaper clipping or letter.

Contents List

1: Subject Files 1960-1995
  • Carton 1-2
    1.1: Washington and Lee University Trustee 1977-1972
  • Carton 3
    1.2: Washington and Lee University Alumni Correspondence, 1969-1973
  • Carton 3
    1.2: Washington and Lee University Law Review 1972-1974
  • Carton 4
    1.3: Damages 1964
  • Carton 4
    1.4: Domestic Relations 1967
  • Carton 4
    1.5: Damages 1964
  • Carton 4
    1.6: Tucker v. Lower 1974-1995
  • Carton 4
    1.7: Research Notes 1960-1963
2: Supreme Court of Virginia Case Files (in alphabetical order) c. 1978-1999
Box 1
3 cu. ft.