A Guide to the Martin Ashton Hutchinson Papers, 1923-1962
Accession Number 7736
A Collection in
Special Collections
The University of Virginia Library



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Preferred Citation

Martin Ashton Hutchinson Papers, Accession #7736, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

The papers were a gift to the library on 16 November 1964 from Mrs. Martin A. Hutchinson, 1625 Westbrook Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, through Joseph H. Harrison, Jr., 11 Ashby Road, Fairfax, Virginia.

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Special Collections, University of Virginia Library
Accession number: 7736
Martin Ashton Hutchinson Papers 1923-1962
Physical Characteristics: This collection consists of 756 items.
Language: English

Scope and Content Information

The Martin Ashton Hutchinson collection, ca. 25,000 items (21.7 shelf feet), consists of correspondence, papers and newspaper clippings documenting the political and legal career of this prominent Virginia Democrat, 1923-1962. The principal subject of the correspondence is Democratic party politics, and its theme is Hutchinson's gradual shift from alliance with Harry F. Byrd to leadership of the liberal anti-Byrd faction. The Hutchinson papers would be useful to students of twentieth century Virginia politics and invaluable to those interested in the development of the liberal wing of the state Democratic party. This collection complements the Byrd, Miller, and Whitehead papers in the Manuscripts Department.

In his capacity as state government official, secretary of the Democratic State Central Committee, and party faithful, Hutchinson corresponded with Democratic leaders such as J. M. Hooker, John W. Flannigan, James P. Hart, P. H. Drewry, E. Lee Trinkle, James H. Price, G. Walter Mapp, E. R. Combs, Leonard G. Muse, Claude Pepper, Colgate Darden, and others. The subjects include political strategy, primary and general election campaigns, fund-raising, patronage, and state issues. There are many letters to Hutchinson from persons seeking jobs. Hutchinson corresponded with national Democratic party leaders such as James A. Farley and J. Howard McGrath concerning various presidential campaigns.

In the mid-1930's, Hutchinson expressed his strong support for Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal and in 1945 began to correspond primarily with liberal Democrats who opposed the Byrd organization such as Lloyd M. Robinette, Francis Pickens Miller, Moss Plunkett, Robert Whitehead, and Joseph H. Harrison. There is a great deal of correspondence relating to Hutchinson's unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for senator in 1946, Miller's two unsuccessful primary races, and the formation of the liberal "Committee for Democracy in Virginia" in 1947. Hutchinson corresponded with President Harry S. Truman, his Administrative Assistant Donald S. Dawson, Assistant Attorney General H. Graham Morison, and Senator Paul Douglas concerning his nomination for Federal Trade Commissioner in 1949-1950. There is a little correspondence with J. Lindsay Almond as well. Hutchinson frequently wrote to newspapermen Virginius Dabney, James J. Kilpatrick, and Drew Pearson, discussing political subjects.

The collection includes correspondence pertaining to Hutchinson's law practice, heaviest from 1942-1945, when his political activity was at a relatively low ebb. The only significant family correspondence in the collection is between Hutchinson and his brother Curry P. Hutchinson. These letters discuss not only family matters, but also national, state, and local politics as Curry was extremely active in the Democratic Party in southwest Virginia. Hutchinson also corresponded with his parents Daniel Mason Hutchinson and Theresa (Jones) Hutchinson, his daughter Madge (Mrs. Franklin Marsh), his brother John, and his sister Gertrude. Several folders concerning Hutchinson's participation in Centenary Methodist Church, 1955-1962, complete the correspondence.

In addition to the letters, there are political papers such as speeches, pamphlets, press releases, reports, and campaign account records, and a few business papers. There are also a number of miscellaneous papers such as Sunday School lessons and inspirational quotations. The collection includes many newspaper clippings, mainly relating to politics, and one photograph of Senator Thomas S. Martin. There are seven phonograph recordings of speeches by Hutchinson in his 1946 campaign. Legal case files from Hutchinson's office round out the collection.

Biographical/Historical Information

The son of Daniel Mason Hutchinson and Theresa (Jones) Hutchinson, Martin Ashtin Hutchinson was born in Newport, Giles County, Virginia, on September 13, 1892. Raised on a farm, he attended public schools, and in 1914 he studied at Roanoke National Business College. From 1915-1919 he worked in a law office in Pearisburg and was Deputy Treasurer of Giles County. He served in the army for a seven month period in 1918 and in that same year married Mary Estelle Givens of Craig County by whom he had one daughter, Madge. Hutchinson had helped E. Lee Trinkle in his campaign for the state senate, and Trinkle, later governor, got him a job as journal clerk of the Senate. Hutchinson served in this post from 1920 to 1923. He then served as chief clerk to the secretary of the Commonwealth, 1925-1927. He studied law at night for two years and was admitted to the Virginia Bar on 20 December 1927.

In 1927, Governor Harry F. Byrd appointed him secretary of the Commonwealth; however, Byrd later decided to abolish this office and merge the duties with those of the governor's secretary. Hutchinson opposed this move, not only because he would lose his post, but also because he believed Byrd's plan was undemocratic. Byrd did in fact abolish the job in 1930. Hutchinson devoted himself to the practice of law, mainly tax and corporate cases, in the Richmond firm of Kirsch and Bazile from this time until his death in 1962. He continued to be heavily involved in politics, as he served as secretary of the Democratic State Central Committee from 1925-1939. He became a staunch backer of the progressive governor James Price, and held the post of chairman of the State Compensation Board in Price's administration from 1939-1942. During World War II he was United States Government Appeal Agent, Richmond Local [Draft] Board No. 6.

Through his career, Hutchinson consistently supported the Democratic party on the national level and worked hard for all of the presidential candidates. He greatly admired Franklin D. Roosevelt and criticized Byrd and Carter Glass for their opposition to the New Deal. By the mid-forties, Hutchinson had emerged as one of the leading Democratic liberals who opposed the Byrd "organization" and advocated improved social services and education. In 1946, he challenged Senator Byrd in the Democratic primary. His campaign was handicapped by a lack of money and manpower, however, and he received only 31.6% of the vote. In the wake of his defeat, he and other liberal leaders organized the Committee for Democracy in Virginia to discuss and articulate their political principles.

In 1948 Hutchinson managed and directed the campaign of the Truman-Barkley Straight Ticket Committee, which was believed to have significantly contributed to the Truman victory in Virginia and to have strengthened the liberal cause. Hutchinson actively assisted his friend Francis Pickens Miller in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in 1949 and the senatorial primary of 1952; Miller was defeated on both occasions. In 1950, President Truman nominated Hutchinson for the position of Federal Trade Commissioner, but the nomination was blocked by Senator Byrd for political reasons. By 1954, Hutchinson was suffering from impaired vision and was unable to actively participate in politics during the latter part of his life.

Hutchinson was a member of the Richmond City and American Bar Association, the Scottish Rite Masons of Richmond, and the Virginia Historical Society. He belonged to Centenary Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School. He died of a heart attack on November 27, 1962.

Organization

The collection arrived at the library in rough chronological order, and this organization has been retained. The material has been arranged into the following major groups: Political and Business Correspondence; Political and Business Papers, Miscellaneous Papers; Newspaper Clippings; and Legal Case Files. The political, business and family correspondence has all been interfiled and is followed by several folders of correspondence concerning Centenary Methodist Church. The Miscellaneous Papers include the Sunday School lessons and inspirational quotations. All of the material in each of the categories has been arranged chronologically.

Contents List