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Preferred Citation

Preferred citation: [Identification of item], LeRoy Hodges Papers, WLU Coll. 0162, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA

In some cases the citation format may vary. Please contact Special Collections' staff to verify the appropriate format.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was a gift of LeRoy Hodges, Jr. between 1948-1952.

Biographical / Historical

July 12, 1888. Born in Tarboro, North Carolina
1906-1910 Attended Washington and Lee
1911 Married Almeria Orr Hill
1911-1916 Various positions as economist, teacher
1916-1918 Secretary, Virginia Commission on Economy and Efficiency
1918-1922 Aide and director of budget for Govenor Westmoreland Davis
1920-1926 President, State Prison Board (member 1930- 37)
1922-1926 Director of budget (Govenor E. Lee Trinkle)
1924-1937 Managing director, Virginia State Chamber of Commerce. Continued as State Ordance Officer, Virginia National Guard
1937-1938 Director of Federal Old-Age Benefits, Social Security Board
1938-1941 State Comptroller and chair, State Compensation Board (Governor James H. Price)
1941-1942 Served with Army Ordance Office, War Department
1944 18 December, died of leukemia.

See also Who Was Who in America, 1943-1950, various resumes and biographical articles in the collection (box 1).

Scope and Contents

The collection covers nearly all phases of Hodges' career as economist and public official, from 1908 until 1942, when he retired from the Army Ordnance office. Early materials include reports on Southern agriculture and immigration for various agencies. Hodges' first efforts to reform and streamline Virginia state government may be seen in the minutes and papers of the Virginia Commission on Economy and Efficiency. There is considerable correspondence from his service as aide and director of the Budget under Governors Davis and Trinkle. In 1924, Hodges became the first managing director of the Virginia State Chamber of Commerce; his activities reflected in the official and unofficial correspondence, included development of trade relations with Great Britain and other countries and the creation of the 'Five-Five' (later 'All Virginia') program designed to enhance the state's internal economy, efficiency, and sense of civic pride. Also included are the Chamber of Commerce's publications and numerous addresses by Hodges on trade and economic issues. During this period Hodges continued to participate in the State Prison Board (he served as the president) and as Colonel in the Virginia National Guard; the collection contains his 'Ordnance Notes' and other papers relating to aspects of ordnance and defense preparation in the period between the wars. Hodges' office files as Comptroller include reports, addresses, proposals, and organizations requesting him to speak. A small amount of material concerns his brief service during World War II with the War Department, which was cut short by illness.

Col. Hodges' correspondents include economists, government officials, businessmen, and other prominent figures in Petersburg and Richmond. Among the names represented are W. Jett Lauck, James H. Price, Gordon Bohannon, Junius P. Fishburn, Francis P. Miller, Robert H. Tucker (Prof. Of Economics at Washington and Lee), members of the 'Virginia Musketeers' (a group of businessmen and officials in the Richmond area), John W. Davis and Lady Astor.

The collection is of interest to students of reform and government efficiency movements in Virginia politics as well as students of Virginia economic history and army ordnance.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Agriculture
• Budget
• Davis, Westmoreland
• Economists
• Immigrants
• International trade
• Southern states
• Speeches, addresses, etc., American
• Trinkle, Elbert Lee
• United States. War Department
• Virginia State Chamber of Commerce
• Virginia. Commission on economy and efficiency
• Virginia. Governor's Office. Division of the Budget
• Virginia. National Guard
• World War (1939-1945)