A Guide to the R. Bolling Batte papers, 1921-1996, #51386

Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference)
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Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/

Processed by: Trenton Hizer

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

R. Bolling Batte papers, 1921-1996. Accession 51386. Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Purchased from Crown Collectibles, Chesterfield, Virginia.

Biographical Information

Robert Bolling Batte was born 13 August 1906 in Norfolk, Virginia, to Samuel Bassett French Batte (1876-1933) and Mary Campbell Jones Batte (1878-1957). He graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1928. Batte served in the Army, then worked for the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company before World War II. When the United States entered World War II, Batte returned to military service and was stationed in Germany after the war ended. He returned to Chesapeake and Potomac after the war, and earned a law degree in the early 1950s. After retiring from Chesapeake and Potomac in 1969, he was a partner in Batte, Batte, and Wicker. Batte married first Elizabeth Jacquiline Bacot (b. 1908) on 30 December 1933. He married second Frances Harrison Drummond (1910-1996) on 12 November 1938, and they had three children. Batte died in Richmond, Virginia, 3 June 1996, and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk.

Scope and Content

Papers, 1921-1996, of R. Bolling Batte (1906-1996) of Richmond and Chesterfield County, Virginia, consisting of appointments, articles, cards, certificates, clippings, correspondence, deposit books, diplomas, envelopes, grade reports, invitations, military orders, newspapers, pamphlets, photographs, powers of attorney, receipts, and other papers concerning R. Bolling Batte (1906-1996) of Norfolk, Richmond, and Chesterfield County, Virginia, and covering Batte's personal life and his military service, as well as his son's, Robert Bolling Batte IV (1943-), education and efforts to defer his military service.

Contents List

Series I: Batte correspondence , 1921-1985 .

Box 1

Extent: 1 box.

Batte correspondence, 1921-1985, contains cards, clippings, correspondence, envelopes, invitations, and receipts, mainly to R. Bolling Batte from his mother, Mary Campbell Jones Batte (1878-1957), his wife, Frances Harrison Drummond Batte (1910-1996), family members, and friends, discussing family and personal news, including the birth of Batte's third child, Frances, and his first child's, Lucy's, first year of school; life in Norfolk, Virginia, New Orleans, Louisiana, and elsewhere; commenting on World War II and its events both in the United States and in Europe; and briefly mentioning genealogical research.

Box 1 Folder 1
Letters, 1921 .
Box 1 Folder 2
Letters, 1930-1938, 193[-] .
Box 1 Folder 3
Letters, 1942-1944 .
Box 1 Folder 4
Letters, June-September 1945 .
Box 1 Folder 5
Letters, October 1945 .
Box 1 Folder 6
Letters, November-December 1945 .
Box 1 Folder 7
Letters, January 1946 .
Box 1 Folder 8
Letters, February 1946 .
Box 1 Folder 9
Letters, March, August 1946, 194[-] .
Box 1 Folder 10
Letters, 1950-1958 .
Box 1 Folder 11
Letters, 1960-1963 .
Box 1 Folder 12:
Letters, 1964 .
Box 1 Folder 13
Letters, 1965 .
Box 1 Folder 14
Letters, 1967-1969, 196[-] .
Box 1 Folder 15
Letters, 1970, 1973, 1985 .
Box 1 Folder 16
Letters, undated .

Series II: Batte-Neumann letters , 1946-1947 .

Box 1

Extent: 1 box.

Batte-Neumann letters, 1946-1947, contain correspondence between R. Bolling Batte and Ursula Neumann of Berlin-Friedenau, Germany, regarding personal and family news. Neumann, whom Bolling befriended in Germany after World War II, offers a view of life in post-war Germany. Many of her letters are in German.

Box 1 Folder 17
Batte to Neumann, 1946, undated .
Box 1 Folder 18
Neumann to Batte, March-April 1946 .
Box 1 Folder 19
Neumann to Batte, June-August 1946 .
Box 1 Folder 20
Neumann to Batte, November-December 1946 .
Box 1 Folder 21
Neumann to Batte, January-March 1947 .
Box 1 Folder 22
Neumann to Batte, May-June 1947 .
Box 1 Folder 23
Neumann to Batte, including incomplete letters, undated .
Box 1 Folder 24
Die Neue Zeitung , 7 July 1947 .

Series III: R. Bolling Batte IV , 1943-1977 .

Box 2

Extent: 1 box.

R. Bolling Batte IV papers, 1943-1977, contain appointments, articles, certificates, correspondence, diplomas, grade reports, military orders, pamphlets, powers of attorney, receipts, reports, and other papers regarding R. Bolling Batte IV's (1943-) personal life, religious life, and education. Papers also concern Batte's education at the Virginia Military Institute, his efforts to defer his military service during the Vietnam War, his departure for Canada, and his interest in receiving amnesty. Papers also include account information on life insurance policies with New York Life and the Travelers Insurance Companies, as well as certificates, deposit book, and receipts regarding investments and savings.

Box 2 Folder 1
Certificates--religious, 1943, 1952-1955 .
Box 2 Folder 2
Certificates--education (St. Paul's Church School), 1952-1958 .
Box 2 Folder 3
Letters, 1954-[1968] .
Box 2 Folder 4
VMI--letters and papers, 1959-1963 .
Box 2 Folder 5
VMI--letters and papers, 1964, undated .
Box 2 Folder 6
VMI--receipts (including payment for chest x-rays), 1960-1964 .
Box 2 Folder 7
VMI--grades, 1961-1964 .
Box 2 Folder 8
VMI--articles, 1962, 1964 .
Box 2 Folder 9
Military papers, 1964 .
Box 2 Folder 10
Military papers, 1965 .
Box 2 Folder 11
Military papers, 1966-1967 .
Box 2 Folder 12
Military papers, 1977, undated .
Box 2 Folder 13
Miscellaneous papers (YWCA camp, Cub Scout pamphlet, driver's education certificate, College of William and Mary report card, power of attorney), 1951-1967 .
Box 2 Folder 14
Insurance policy with New York Life Insurance Company, 1962, 1967 .
Box 2 Folder 15
Insurance policy with Travelers Insurance Company, 1960-1967 .
Box 2 Folder 16
Financial papers, 1956-1964 .

Series IV: General papers , 1951-1996 .

Box 2

Extent: 1 box.

General papers, 1951-1996, contain an article about R. Bolling Batte's visit to Adolph Hitler's death site, ca. 1987; and two obituaries, 1996, for Batte; miscellaneous financial and insurance records, including insurance papers regarding a burglary claim by Batte; and a photograph of Batte and his daughter Lucinda "Lucy" Batte.

Box 2 Folder 17
Article and obituaries, ca. 1987, 1996 .
Box 2 Folder 18
Financial and insurance papers (letter, Richmond Federal Savings and Loan, Travelers Insurance Company, bank stub, insurance claim and correspondence, 1951-1981, undated .
Box 2 Folder 19
Photograph of Batte with his daughter Lucinda "Lucy" Campbell Batte, undated .