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:

Carter Lowance Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

Gifts between 1991 and 1994.

Biographical Information:

Carter Lowance was born in 1910 in Greenville, West Virginia. He graduated from Roanoke College and worked as a reporter for the Roanoke Times and the Associated Press. He served as an Army counter-intelligence officer in World War II. Lowance was Chief of Staff for Virginia governors William M. Tuck, John Stewart Battle, Thomas B. Stanley and J. Lindsay Almond and Albertis S. Harrison. He was Commissioner of Administration in both terms of Mills E. Godwin's governship. Lowance also served as an administrator at Virginia Commonwealth University and the College of William and Mary. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .

Scope and Contents

The personal and professional papers of Carter Lowance, executive assistant to six governors of Virginia: William M. Tuck, John S. Battle, Thomas B. Stanley, J. Lindsay Almond, Albertis S. Harrison and Mills Edwin Godwin. Papers also concern Harry F. Byrd, Sr. and Harry F. Byrd, Jr., and John N. Dalton. There are speeches, papers relating to Lowance's military career (including correspondence with his wife, Elizabeth Austin Lowance), awards received by Lowance, photographs, and papers concerning his funeral. There is also correspondence received by Mrs. Lowance after his death. The collections includes material concerning proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution as well as some papers concerning Lowance's service with the College of William and Mary.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Agendas (administrative records)
• Certificates
• College of William and Mary--History--20th century
• Correspondence
• Dalton, John N
• Godwin, Mills Edwin 1914-1999
• Photographs
• Publications
• Speeches
• Stanley, Thomas Bahnson, 1890-1970
• Tuck, William Munford, 1896-1983
• Virginia--Governors
• Virginia--Politics and government--20th century
• World War, 1939-1945