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Special Collections, University of Virginia Library
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Papers of Lewis Preston Collins, Accession #Papers of Lewis Preston Collins, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
The main portion of the Lewis Preston Collins, II Collection, accession #10615, was made a gift to the Library by Lewis Preston Collins, III, of Marion on October 17, 1984. The scrapbook of photographs, accession #10615-a, was lent to the Library by Mr. Collins for the purpose of making copies to be placed with the main collection.
1896: Lewis Preston Collins, II, born on December 25, in Lynchburg to Lewis Preston and Ella Bolling (Moorman) Collins.
1918: Served as a sergeant in World War I.
1920: Received B.A. degree from Washington and Lee University.
1921: Received law degree from Yale University; admitted to the Virginia State Bar.
1921-1952: Practiced law in Marion, Virginia.
1926: Married Pauline Staley on January 2.
[1928] Dec 17: Son, Lewis Preston Collins, III, born.
1936-1946: Member of the Virginia Legislature.
1946-1952: Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, under governors William Munford Tuck and John Stewart Battle.
1950-1952: Director and President of Marion National Bank.
1952: Died of a heart attack on September 20 in Wytheville, aged fifty-six.
This collection of ca. 8,370 items (22 Hollinger boxes and eight sound recordings (ca. 7.5 linear shelf feet), ca. 1862, 1918-1952, consists of correspondence, papers, printed material, photographs, and sound recordings, chiefly pertaining to Lewis Preston Collins, a prominent citizen of Marion, Virginia, member of the Virginia Legislature, and Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, as well as to his family and personal life. In addition, there is material concerning his brother, Harold Moorman Collins, U.S. Consul in Tampico, Mexico.
Collins was involved in civic activities in and around Smyth County, working with many projects, such as the Marion-Chilhowie airport, the Civil Aeronautics Administration Intermediate Field at Chilhowie, the Wytheville Diagnostic Center, a Marion elementary school proposal, and an apartment project in the county, as well as assisting Marion in acquiring appropriations from the Department of Highways, regarding obtaining the best possible rural route delivery system, and other activities.
As a member of the House of Representatives in the Virginia General Assembly, Collins represented the Smyth County area with concern for its growth and development. Correspondence with constituents and other legislators show that citizens approached Collins for assistance and guidance in local matters. He was also active in Democratic party conventions, including the 1984 State Democratic Convention where he delivered the keynote address and the 1952 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and in campaign, and Saxon W. Holt's campaign for lieutenant governor in 1937. In addition, he was elected as the permanent chairman for the Young Democratic Clubs.
During his lieutenant governorship, Collins was a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and collected much material from its budget hearings, such as exhibits, estimates, reports, and letters. As lieutenant governor he maintained contact with constituents, often addressing various organizations or attending dedications. Excerpts from his speeches are included.
Topics of interest include family news, the construction of Collins' house in Marion, the Kiwanis Club, the Marion National Bank, management of the Moorman Farm, the divorce of Harold Moorman and Mary (Proctor) Collins, Smyth County civic and political concerns, Southwestern State Hospital, Democratic party campaigns, conventions, and platforms, state appropriations, Booker T. Washington Industrial Training Center, the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and the University of Virginia.
Items of interest include an Exemption Notice, March 14, 1862, for James B. Collins (Legal Papers of the Collins Family); a letter, November 4, 1918, from Collins in France describing the last days of the Meuse Argonne offensive; a letter, April 1, 1942, from Collins to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt offering his services in a war emergency (Military Service); a plat of Lot #3 of the H.L. Moorman property surveyed in 1934 (Moorman Farm); Harold Moorman Collins' Patent for a drink mixer; "Memoir and Analysis of Virginia's Participation in the Chicago National Democratic Convention" by Collins (Democratic National Convention, Chicago, Illinois, 1952); photographs from an album regarding Collins' inauguration as lieutenant governor; and recordings of speeches by Collins and tributes to him.
Collins corresponded with many prominent persons, particularly Virginians. Among the more important correspondents are Virginia governors James Lindsay Almond, Jr., John Stewart Battle, Harry Flood Byrd, Sr., Colgate Whitehead Darden, Jr., Albertis Sydney Harrison, Jr., George Campbell Peery, John Garland Pollard, James Hubert Price, Thomas Bahnson Stanley, and William Munford Tuck. Lewis also corresponded with many of the members of the Virginia Assembly during his political career. Specific correspondents, including family members, are listed in the contents list.
The material in this collection arrived at the Library in twenty-two boxes of varying sizes, including eight letter boxes. Its alphabetical arrangement has been maintained and most folder headings have been retained, being modified only where necessary. Other folders have been interfiled with similar material.
This collection has been arranged into six series: I. Correspondence; II. Personal Papers with two subseries, 'Lewis Preston Collins' and 'Harold Moorman Collins'; III. Political Papers; IV. Legislative Papers; V. Photographs; and, VI. Non-Print Media Material. Items are arranged chronologically.
The papers and other material from Collins' legal practice have been transferred to the University of Virginia Law Library (MSS 85-6) where they will be made available to researchers.