Armistead Boothe Papers (MS164)

Collection

Identifier: MS164

Staff Only

Content Description

These are the collected papers of Alexandria politician Armistead Lloyd Boothe (1907-1990). Papers created or collected by Boothe in the course of his career include campaign materials, correspondence with colleagues, and extensive newspaper clippings in addition to other research on political issues such as segregation, education, and transportation.

The collection also includes scrapbooks, journals, albums, memorabilia and other forms of personal papers from various family members. One scrapbook documents Joseph Armistead Carr's career and death as a Rough Rider. Among the highlights of the business, legal, and financial papers in this collection are Captain William Boothe's ship logs. Genealogical papers relate to the Boothe, Carr, Harrison, and other families of Virginia and Alexandria.

Dates

1803-1990

Creator

Boothe, Armistead L. (Armistead Lloyd), 1907-1990 (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Armistead Boothe (1907-1990) was an Alexandria lawyer and politician. He began practicing law in 1931 at his father’s practice. He served as special assistant to the U.S. Attorney General from 1934 to 1936, and then as City Attorney of Alexandria from 1939 through 1943. He was a naval officer in the Pacific Theater from 1943-1945. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1948 and served until 1956, when he was elected to Virginia State Senate, where he served until his retirement in 1964. Boothe married Elizabeth Ravenel Peele in 1934 and had three children and six grandchildren.

Armistead’s father, Gardner Lloyd Boothe (1872-1964), was an Alexandria attorney, and president of the First National Bank and the First and Citizens National Bank, member of the Virginia Theological Seminary Board of Trustees from 1916 to 1956, and a vestryman of Christ Church from 1895 to 1956. He married Eleanor Harrison Carr (1881-1968) of Petersburg, Virginia, in 1906, and they lived at 711 Prince Street in Alexandria. Together they had two children, Gardner Lloyd Jr. and Armistead.

Armistead Boothe’s paternal grandfather, Captain William J. Boothe (1818-1894), went to sea at an early age and worked up to ship captain. He was married to Mary Leadbeater Boothe (1839-1914) of the Leadbeater Apothecary Shop family. Captain Boothe later served as president of the Alexandria Water Company, vice-president of the First National Bank, and General Superintendent of the American Coal Company.

Extent

10.2 Cubic Feet (14.5 boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 18 oversize folders, 3 oversize items, 2 items in map drawers, 1 rolled item)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection has been rearranged to increase access and findability. Previously, it was arranged "Roughly chronologically and thereunder topically. Oversized items are grouped by size rather than by subject."

The collection has been re-arranged into four series, the first focusing on Armistead Boothe's close and extended family, and the second focusing on Boothe's life and work in Alexandria and Virginia politics. The third series is realia, and and the fourth is photos.

The first series is organized by generation, with genealogical information of Boothe's extended family at the end. The second series is organized topically by the phases of Boothe's life. The fourth series, photos, is arranged by family and then topically.

Included in Series 1 and 2 are folders specifically labelled as containing correspondence, however there are additional instances of correspondence in other folders.