Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

James A. Kerr Letter Books, 1889-1907. Local government records collection, Norfolk (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from the city of Norfolk.

Historical Information

James A. Kerr was lawyer practicing in Norfolk, Va., during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Scope and Content

James A. Kerr Letter Books, 1889-1892 and 1902-1907, provide a record of out going correspondence related to Kerr's law practice, which appears to have specialized in property law. Letter Book, 1889-1892, contains frequent correspondence with the Board of Directors of the Twin City Permanent Building Association of Norfolk about transfer of property rights along with other letters concerning the settlement of cases and finalizing of client bills. Also included in the earlier letter book are several letters to Kerr's aunt Rosa, no surname provided, and his brother Henry Kerr detailing the settlement of his aunt Martha's estate to which Kerr was administrator. Letter Book, 1902-1907, consists almost solely of correspondence with the clerk's office of the county and corporation courts of Norfolk regarding legal rights to transfer property titles. Included in the letters regarding property rights are detailed descriptions of the property and any improvements along with the names of the original property owners and to whom the title was being transferred. The majority of the letters are signed James A. Kerr but a few are signed Ellis & Kerr, presumably Kerr's law firm.

Index Terms

Persons:

• Kerr, James A.

Subjects:

• Law firms--Virginia--Norfolk.
• Lawyers--Virginia--Norfolk.
• Right of property--Virginia--Norfolk.

Geographical Names:

• Norfolk (Va.)--History--19th century.
• Norfolk (Va.)--History--20th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Business records--Virginia--Norfolk.
• Letter books--Virginia--Norfolk.
• Letters (correspondence)--Virginia--Norfolk.
• Local government records--Virginia--Norfolk.

Added Entry - Corporate Name:

• Ellis and Kerr (Norfolk, Va.).