Godwin, Mills E., Papers Guide to the Mills E. Godwin, Jr. Papers Mss. 78 G54

Guide to the Mills E. Godwin, Jr. Papers Mss. 78 G54


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Special Collections Research Center

William & Mary Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections

Special Collections Staff.

Repository
Special Collections Research Center
Identification
Mss. 78 G54
Title
Mills E. Godwin, Jr. Papers 1712-1989 1947-1989
Quantity
53.50 Linear Feet
Creator
Godwin, Edwin Mills, Jr., 1914-1999
Language
English

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation:

Mills E. Godwin Jr. Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

Gift: 27 cubic feet 12/15/1978. Gift: ca. 40,000 items, 10/1/1978. Gift: 1 item, 06/01/1979. Gift: 3 cartons, 1985. Gift: 4 cartons, 1989. Gift:  1 box, 9/12/1991 Purchase: 11 items, 04/01/1994. Gift: ca. 2,070 items, 1994.


Biographical Information:

Mills Edwin Godwin, Jr., was born November 19, 1914, at Chuckatuck in Nansemond County, now the City of Suffolk, Virginia. He completed public school and attended the college of William and Mary. He obtained his degree in law from the University of Virginia in 1938.

He first entered politics in 1948 when he began service in the House of Delegates. From 1952 to 1962 he served in the State Senate of Virginia. He was lieutenant-governor of Virginia from 1962 to 1966. His first election as governor in November 1965, came after he had received the Democratic nomination without opposition. He was elected governor a second time in November 1973 as Republican. On January 30, 1999, Mills E. Godwin Jr. died in Newport News, Virginia at the age of 84. He is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, VA.

Scope and Contents

The personal papers of Mills E. Godwin, Jr., dating from 1947 to 1978, consist of 24 boxes of correspondence, 1,100 copies of speeches, schedules and appointments. Also included are 40 scrapbooks of news clippings and photographs, 159 citations and plaques, and one box of audiovisual materials, all of which pertain largely to Godwin's personal involvement in the government, political life, activities, organizations and institutions of Virginia during the 30-year period. The majority of the items comprising this collection were microfilmed by the Virginia State Library.

It should be noted that all of the above referenced papers are identified as "personal" since the official executive correspondence of Godwin's two terms as governor of Virginia (1966-1970 and 1974-1978) has been placed by statute in the Archives Branch of the Virginia State Library. In connection with the personal papers, however, and available to researchers, are copies of the guide to the executive correspondence. The guide is on file with the Curator of Manuscripts at the Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

In addition to Godwin's personal papers, the collection includes a small quantity of Mrs. Godwin's correspondence and papers of their daughter, Becky, who was fatally struck by lightning in 1968, at the age of 15, at Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Included among these papers is correspondence of, or concerning, the following individuals: Watkins M. Abbitt, Harry Flood Byrd, Sr., Harry Flood Byrd, Jr., John N. Dalton, Henry E. Howell, Carter O. Lowance, Richard D. Obenshain, Julian Sargeant Reynolds, A. Willis Robertson, Howard W. Smith, William B. Spong, Thomas B. Stanley, A. E. S. Stephens, and William M. Tuck.

Among the many topics the papers cover are: the College of William and Mary, segregation, the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, higher education, taxation, the contamination of the James River by kepone, the oystering industry and public mental health care.

Addition Acc. 1979.14 includes pamphlet, "Notes on the Mills Godwin Family of Isle of Wight County and Nansemond County, Virginia" prepared by Mills E. Godwin, Jr., 1979, a Daily Press article written at death of Mills Godwin, a typed copy of a paper entitled, "Biography of Mills Edwin Godwin, Jr." (author unknown) and a typed carbon copy of a speech by Mills E. Godwin to the Virginia Manufacturers Association in Williamsburg, Virginia on September 26, 1970.

Addition Acc. No. 1980.13 contains two small boxes of photographs, mostly official appearances of Governor Godwin.

Addition Acc. No. 1994.25 contains copies of eleven nineteenth century copies of eighteenth century Godwin family wills.

Arrangement of Materials:

Organization: The collection is organized twelve series. Series 1 is correspondence of Mills E. Godwin, Jr.; Series 2 is correspondence of Katherine B. Godwin; Series 3 is correspondence of Becky Godwin; Series 4 is schedules; Series 5 is speeches; Series 6 is citations and plaques; Series 7 is audiovisual; Series 8 is scrapbooks; and Series 9 is Political Memorabilia and Selected Material. The last four series, 10-13, are additions to the collection and are group into series by their accession number. Series 10 is accession 1985.15; Series 11 is accession 1989.29; Series 12 is accession 1994.66 and Series 13 is Accession 1994.25. Arrangement: Series 1-10 are generally arranged chronologically. The Additions to the collection located in Series 11, 12 and 13, are also each arranged by date.

Related Material

Related papers can be found in the faculty-alumni file at the University Archive, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Other related papers can be found at the Library of Virginia.

Audiocassettes, phonograph records, and reel-to-reel tapes from this collection have been moved to the Manuscripts Audiovisual Collection.

Note: The College of William and Mary, Swem Library, Special Collections has a copy of the inventory/finding aid to this collection at the Library of Virginia. It is located with the Mills E. Godwin Jr. Papers. Executive Papers of Mills E. Godwin Jr., Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St., Richmond, Va. 23219 USA.

Separated Material

Two campaign buttons (78G54.01ab) were transferred to the Manuscripts Artifact Collection (Mss. 1.03).

All audiovisual material from this collection has been moved to the Manuscripts Audiovisual Collection.


Subjects and Indexing Terms


General

Other Information:

Additional information may be found at http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaead/published/wm/viw00042.frame

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

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Significant Places Associated With the Collection

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Container List

id167687
Series 1: Correspondence of Mills E. Godwin Jr.
1947-1978
Scope and Contents

Box 1-15 (325 folder, numbered consecutively across boxes). This series is comprised of Godwin's personal, political and business correspondence. Included are letters, telegrams, statements, memoranda, reports, clippings, photographs, legal documents, announcements, notes, invitations and other material documenting: 1) Godwin's political career, including election to the House of Delegates, Senate of Virginia, lieutenant- governor and his two terms as governor; 2) his personal life, church and civic endeavors; 3) documenting critical events of his political career such as the school integration crisis, revision of the State Constitution and bonded indebtedness referenda. Individual folders made for specific topics can be found at the end of the year during which they occurred. For example, the role Godwin played as a private citizen in connection with the 'Virginians for the Constitution' movement in 1970 and with the U. S. Senate campaign of Harry F. Byrd, Jr. and related correspondence are filed at the end of 1970. Other topics arranged in the same manner are: Commission on Constitutional Government, 1958-1962; George Kostel for lieutenant-governor campaign, 1971-1972; and Virginians for the re-election of the President, 1972.

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id182486
Series 2: Correspondence of Katherine B. Godwin
1966-1976
Scope and Contents

This series begins with an article from the Virginia Record of January, 1966, entitled "First Lady of the Commonwealth." It gives much information regarding Mrs. Godwin, Governor Godwin, and their daughter, Becky. Correspondence highlights Mrs. Godwin's official, personal and social activities during the years her husband held public office. Other material related to Mrs. Godwin is scattered throughout the entire collection, and the items comprising this series constitute a small portion of the total amount of her correspondence in the Godwin Papers.

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id182663
Series 3: Correspondence and Diary of Becky Godwin
1957-1974
Scope and Contents

Includes letters, news articles and general information relating to Becky Godwin, beginning with her early school days and continuing through 1968. Also incuded is her diary, March and April, 1963, covering a European trip she made with her mother and father, who was then lieutenant-governor.

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id182682
Series 4: Schedules
1966-1978
Scope and Contents

This series consists of official appointment and engagement books compiled during Godwin's two gubernatorial terms, 1966-1970 and 1974-1978. Also included are his major appointments as a private citizen for the years 1971, 1972 and 1973.

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id182730
Series 5: Speeches
1957-1978
Scope and Contents

Boxes 17-24. arranged chornologially: This series contains Godwin's official speeches, as well as other formal speeches made as a private citizen from 1957 through 1977. Although Godwin was a popular speaker prior to 1957, especially during his active participation in Ruritan National and early days in the General Assembly, no copies of speeches given during that period have survived.

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id207493
[Series 6: Citations and Plaques - transferred to another repository]
undated
Scope and Contents

NOTE: The entire series 6 was transferred to Mills E. Godwin High School in Henrico County, Virginia in 1981. An inventory of the former Box 25 exists in the collection file.

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id207663
Series 7: Audiovisual
1966-1976
Scope and Contents

This series consists of one box of television and radio tapes, films and recordings. Included are tapes of the Governor's Education Conferences in 1966 and 1967 and a 30-minute film, The Godwin Years, presented to Godwin by the Virginia Association of Electric Cooperatives.

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id207684
Series 8: Scrapbooks
1943-1978
Scope and Contents

The scrapbooks, arranged chronologically, cover Godwin's political activities beginning in 1943, his service in Ruritan National and his presidency of that organization in 1952, his gubernatorial campaign of 1965, educational conferences, and first and second terms as governor. A number of scrapbooks have been retained by Governor and Mrs. Godwin and are not included with those transferred to William & Mary.

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id207779
Series 9: Political Memorabilia and Selected Material
1965-1973
Scope and Contents

This series (box 27) consists of one large box of 1973 campaign material, of which two binders have been placed on microfilm, and one small box which contains magazines, news clippings, and small scrapbooks concerning special activities. One envelope of unclassified photographs and copies of inaugural programs and invitations for 1966 and 1974 are also included. Other items in this series include VEA Convention edition - Godwin, Virginia's Education Governor, 1973. Papers: Virginia's Future First; Howell Rejects; 88%; Yes, Godwin stands for Neighborhood Schools; Yes, Godwin will protect our Right to Work Law; And Where Does Henry's Money Come From; Henry's Tax Scheme, Can You Afford It; Virginia's Future, Let's Give it Our Best; On the One Hand, But on the Other, Let's Keep Henry Honest. Godwin bumper stickers and buttons. Virginia Record, July, 1973, Mills E. Godwin, Jr., The Man for Virginia; The New Majority Program. Posters: Mills Godwin, The Clearest Choice for Virginia's Future; Virginia's Future, Give it Your Best - Godwin for Governor; Dalton for Lieutenant-Governor. Godwin for Governor stationery; Godwin for Governor buttons; Volunteer Register, September 4-November 2, 1973. Black notebook containing congratulatory letters and thank you letters sent to lists in notebook; blue notebook containing sample letters sent to groups and individuals for support and help in Godwin's inauguration. The items listed separately below are those that have been microfilmed.

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id207790
Series 10: Addition 1 (Acc. 1985.15)
1978-1983
Scope and Contents

Boxes 28-30: These papers of Mills E. Godwin begin after he left gubernatorial office in 1978. Godwin remained a significant player in Virginia political circles, hoping to maintain the power of the coalition of conservative Democrats and Republicans which he headed. The papers concern the U. S. Senate campaigns of 1978 (Warner v. ), and 1982, the gubernatorial campaign of 1981 (Robb v. Coleman), investment policies of Virginia, affirmative action (quotas), public employee collective bargaining, Virginia Wesleyan College, Harry F. Byrd, Jr.'s decision to retire from the Senate, the Martin Luther King holiday in Virginia (federal and state), Republican Party of Virginia, General Assembly and local elections, the Virginia Community College System and the city of Suffolk. Correspondents include Gerald Baliles, Harry F. Byrd, Jr., J. Marshall Coleman, John N. Dalton, Gerald R. Ford, Albertis Harrison, Charles S. Robb, D. French Slaughter, and John Warner. There are also routine letters written by Godwin of sympathy, get-well wishes, recommendation as well as replies to requests for help. This addition continues with the box numbers of the larger collection that ended with Series 9. The series is arranged primarily by date.

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id207822
Series 11: Addition 2 (Acc. 1989.29)
1978-1990
Scope and Contents

This addition (Boxes 1-4) covers committees and organizations that Mills E. Godwin belonged to and/or had an vested interest in from 1978 to 1990. These include the Obenshain Senatorial (Republican primary) Campaign of 1978, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, the Virginia Science Museum, the City of Suffolk, the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, the Republican Party politics, Virginians for Reagan, the John N. Dalton Oncology Clinic, the Medical College of Virginia, the Virginia Wesleyan College and Godwin's opposition to pledge bond amendments to Virginia Constitution for transportation. Correspondents include Harry F. Byrd, Jr., Paul Trible, Wyatt Durrette, and D. French Slaughter. This series is arranged primarily by date.

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id207999
Series 12: Addition 3 (Acc. 1994.66)
1981-1992
Scope and Contents

Circa 2,070 items (Boxes 1-4). Most of the letters concern personal matters, invitations, get-well wishes, and letters of sympathy. Political papers concern the 1992 Virginia Bond issue, Godwin's contribution to Bush's 1988 and 1992 presidential campaigns, Chichester for lieutenant-governor in 1985, the 1989 gubernatorial race (Coleman v. Wilder), the Virginia Republican Party, Godwin's support for Trible for Republican gubernatorial candidate in 1989, the 1978-1979 HEW controversy in Virginia (desegregation of higher education), and the 1986-87 Virginia Transportation Commission. Correspondents include Gerald Baliles, Harry F. Byrd, Jr., J. Marshall Coleman, Albertis S. Harrison, Charles S. Robb, John Warner, Richard Short and Hunter Andrews. This series is arranged by subject.

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