Wallace Family Papers, 1867-1975 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

By Dawn Miles

Collection Overview

Title: Wallace Family Papers, 1867-1975

Extent: 16.28 Cubic Feet

Date Acquired: 05/25/1978

Subjects: Courtship, Kentucky--Social life and customs--20th century., Republican Party (U.S. : 1854-), World War, 1914-1918.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Through correspondence, diaries, speeches, photographs, news clippings, and other primary source materials the public career and personal life of William Luxon Wallace and his family are documented. Glimpses of late nineteenth century Richmond, KY social and political life can be found in the correspondence of Wallace's father, Coleman Covington Wallace. In addition, due to Wallace's significance as an organizer in the Kentucky Republican Party, the collection sheds some light on the party's history during the first half of the twentieth century. It also contains political memorabilia which Wallace assembled along with a quantity of materials that document his World War I experience.

The correspondence is mostly personal and covers Republican Party activities, World War I, and the proper behavior expected from young women of the 1920s. Other letters deal with various state and national elections. When Wallace served on the Eastern Kentucky University Board of Regents, the subject of the correspondence shifts to Eastern.

The collection also includes several diaries from the women in the family, Wallace's wife wrote over a span of 44 years; his sister wrote while she was at school in Louisville in the 1920s and there is one volume from his sister-in-law.

Collection Historical Note

William Luxon Wallace, lawyer and politician, was born in Richmond, Kentucky on January 2, 1889, the son of Coleman Covington Wallace and May Ballard Luxon. He had one sister, Coleman May Wallace. His father served as postmaster in Richmond from 1899 to 1915. The elder Wallace practiced law and was active in politics as a staunch defender of the Republican Party Wallace received his early education at Walters Collegiate Institute in Richmond and continued his preparatory education at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. In 1911 he graduated from Yale University Law School and in that same year established a law practice in Richmond. On July 16, 1923, Wallace married Velma Fay Nisius from Vanceburg, Kentucky. Their first child, a daughter, was born dead in May of 1924, four months premature. On June 19, 1925, another daughter, Wilma Fay, was born and on April 12, 1927, a son, William, Jr., was born. A fourth child, Patricia Coleman, was born on April 22, 1931.

On May 11, 1917, Wallace enlisted in the army for service in World War I. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, F.A. and served on the staff of Brig. Gen. H. H. Whitney, Commander of the 63rd Field Artillery Brigade. Later, he served as division trial judge advocate for the 38th Division. After being transferred to France in 1918, he served at general headquarters under Gen. John J. Pershing at Chaumont. He later served on the staff of Maj. Gen. Summerall, Commander of the 5th Army Corps. While in France, he attended the University of Lyons where he studied International Law. He received an honorable discharge in 1919 and upon his return to Richmond resumed his legal and political career.

In 1921 Wallace was elected to the Kentucky State Senate from the 29th district. His opponent, R. C. Oldham, contested Wallace's election on the grounds that Wallace was not a resident of that district. The contest was dismissed, however, on the recommendation of a Senate committee. Wallace served as judge advocate general for Kentucky with the rank of major from 1921 to 1923 and was three times appointed as a Special Judge of the Court of Appeals from 1931 to 1940.

Wallace began his legal career as a lawyer and member of the firm of Chenault, Wallace and Wallace. In 1922 he joined the Frankfort law firm of Judge Edward Clay O'Rear and later became a full partner in the firm of O'Rear, Fowler and Wallace. In 1927 Wallace moved to Lexington where the Fowler, Wallace and Fowler firm was formed. This partnership lasted until 1934 at which time Wallace went into practice alone. In 1951 he joined Job D. Turner, Jr. and Scott Reed in their firm. When Reed withdrew in 1964 to become a Fayette Circuit Court judge, the new firm of Wallace, Turner, and Trigg was established which was still in existence at the time of Wallace's death in 1974. From 1934 to 1936 Wallace served as assistant corporation counsel of the City of Lexington. He served as attorney and later director of the Citizens Union National Bank and Trust Company before becoming an advisory director.

Wallace had a deep interest in the development of Eastern Kentucky University, and on April 2, 1968, Governor Louie B. Nunn appointed him to the Board of Regents. When that term ended on March 30, 1972, Wallace was Appointed to the Board by Governor Wendell Ford for another four years.

Wallace was very active in the Republican Party and served as a delegate the Republican National Convention in 1920, 1952, 1954, and 1960 as well serving as chairman of the Fayette County Republican Executive Committee from 1928 to 1936. He was also assistant Republican state campaign chairman Kentucky for the 1935 gubernatorial race. From 1936 to 1952 he chaired Republican Executive Committee for Kentucky's 6th Congressional District and served as a member of the Republican State Central Committee from the District from 1936 to 1969, and from then on, an at-large member of the committee.

Wallace belonged to numerous fraternal and charitable organizations and clubs including the Community Chest, The Family Welfare Society and Social Service Club Exchange of Fayette County. He was past president of the Lexington Club; past exalted ruler of BPOE Lodge No. 581, Richmond; past noble of Madison lOOF Lodge No. 14, Richmond; past president of the Sons the Revolution, Society of Kentucky; president of the Fayette County Bar Association in 1946; past president of the Kentucky Yale Alumni Association; president of his Yale Law School class. He was also a member of the Lexington Kiwanis Club; the Lexington Club; the Idle Hour Country Club; the Lexington Country Club; the AUV Fraternity at Phillips Academy; Merrick Lodge F No. 31, Lexington; Madison lOOF Lodge No 14, Richmond; American Legion, Lexington; the Jesse Dykes American Legion Post in Richmond for which was responsible for organizing the Waite Chapter, Legal Fraternity Phi Delta Phi; the Kentucky State and American Bar Associations; the American Law Institute; and the Yale Law School Graduate Board.

William Luxon Wallace died on December 23, 1974, at the age of 85 and is interred in the Richmond Cemetery.

Information for this biographical sketch comes primarily from the Lexington Herald obituary, December 23, 1974; and assorted news clippings found in Box 25 of the collection.

Subject/Index Terms

Courtship
Kentucky--Social life and customs--20th century.
Republican Party (U.S. : 1854-)
World War, 1914-1918.

Administrative Information

Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Acquisition Source: Wallace, Velma & Pat Wilkerson

Processing Information: In May 1978 Mrs. Velma Wallace, wife of William Luxon Wallace, donated the Wallace family collection of records to Eastern Kentucky University. The records were scattered throughout the Wallace family house in Lexington. A small portion of the papers found in the basement and attic along with some World War I correspondence and reports Wallace kept in an old steamer trunk required fumigation and extensive cleaning. Since the bulk of the Wallace collection had no organization, the Archives staff imposed its own pattern of arrangement. The inventory to the collection describes material at the folder title level. In addition, a correspondent name index lists letters of content Wallace received from prominent persons. According to provisions of the Donor Gift Agreement the entire collection is open to research.

Other Note: Photographs were initially numbered with the accession number; however, a decision was made to change to collection number. The database was changed, but the numbers written on the images were not changed.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence, 1867-1978],
[Series 2: Class Notes, 1905-1940],
[Series 3: Diary and Appointment Books, 1883-1974],
[Series 4: Financial Records, 1881-1973],
[Series 5: Genealogy Records],
[Series 6: Legal Documents, 1871-1973],
[Series 7: Maps and Blueprints],
[Series 8: Memorabilia],
[Series 9: News Clippings],
[Series 10: Photographs],
[Series 11: Publications],
[Series 12: Speeches],
[Series 13: World War I, 1916-1919],
[Series 14: Oversize Materials],
[All]

Series 14: Oversize Materials

Box 37

Barcode: 31234014052813

Folder 1: Awards and Certificates - Coleman C. Wallace

Item 1: Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Oct 24, 1892: Certificate commissioning Wallace as District Deputy Grand Master; Physical Description: 8 1/2 x 11
Item 2: Appointment of C. C. Wallace as Postmaster, 18 Jan 1900: Signed by William McKinley; Physical Description: 17 x 22
Item 3: Appointment of C. C. Wallace as Postmaster, 12 Jan 1904: Signed by Theodore Roosevelt; Physical Description: 16 x 20
Item 4: Appointment of C. C. Wallace as Postmaster, 31 Dec 1907: Signed by Theodore Roosevelt; Physical Description: 16 x 20
Item 5: Lincoln-Jefferson University, 20 Nov 1908: Matriculation certificate of C. C. Wallace; Physical Description: 9 x 13
Item 6: Appointment of C. C. Wallace as Postmaster, 01 Feb 1912: Signed by William H. Taft; Physical Description: 16 x 20
Item 7: U.S. Fuel Administration, 28 Feb 1919: Release of C. C. Wallace as Chairman of Fuel Committee, Madison County, Kentucky; Physical Description: 8 1/2 x 11

Folder 2: Awards and Certificates - William L. Wallace

Item 1: The Walters School Diploma, 21 May 1906: Also known as Walters Collegiate Institute; Physical Description: 11 x 17
Item 2: Certificate of Initiation, 23 Feb 1909: Of William Wallace into Waite Chapter of Legal Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi; Physical Description: 9 x 13
Item 3: Yale University Law School diploma, 1911: Physical Description: 16 x 19
Item 4: License to practice law, 15 Sep 1911: Physical Description: 9 x 12
Item 5: Appointment of William Wallace as 2nd Lt., 15 Aug 1917: In Field Artillery Section in Officers' Reserve Corps of the Army of the U.S.; Physical Description: 12 x 15
Item 6: Appointment of William Wallace as 2nd Lt., 15 Aug 1917: In the National Guard; Physical Description: 11 x 14
Item 7: University of Lyons, France, 30 Jun 1919: Headquarters of American School Detachment certificate; Physical Description: 8 1/2 x 11
Item 8: William L. Wallace, 4 Oct 1921: Admittance of W. Wallace as an attorney and counselor of United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; Physical Description: 14 x 17
Item 9: William L. Wallace, 14 Jun 1922: Appointment of Senator William Wallace as a member of the KY Executive Committee of National Committee of Mental Hygiene; Physical Description: 11x17
Item 10: Certificate of appreciation, 22 Feb 1928: W. Wallace's services in organization of Yale Twenty Million Endowment Fund of 1926; Physical Description: 5 x 8
Item 11: William L. Wallace, 11 Feb 1931: Appointment of William Wallace as Special Judge of the Court of Appeals; Physical Description: 11 x 17
Item 12: William L. Wallace, 19 Feb 1931: Appointment of William Wallace as Special Judge of the Court of Appeals; Physical Description: 11 x 17
Item 13: William L. Wallace, 14 Jan 1935: Admittance of William Wallace as an attorney and counselor of U.S. Court of Claims; Physical Description: 10 x 14
Item 14: William L. Wallace, 17 Oct 1940: Appointment of William Wallace as Special Judge of the Court of Appeals; Physical Description: 11 x 16
Item 15: Appointment by Office of Civilian Defense, 1 Jun 1942: Of W. Wallace as Air Raid Warden for Lexington and Fayette County, Kentucky; Physical Description: 8 x 10
Item 16: Victory Fund Committee, ca 1945: For Fourth Federal Reserve District certificate in recognition of Wallace's service in First Victory Fund Drive; Physical Description: 8 x 11
Item 17: Supreme Court of the United States of America, 17 May 1954: Admittance of W. Wallace as attorney and counselor of Supreme Court of the United States; Physical Description: 15 x 19
Item 18: Kentucky State Bar Association, 26 May 1961: KY State Bar Association certificate conferring title of Senior Counselor upon William Wallace; Physical Description: 8 1/2 x 11
Item 19: Fayette County Bar Association certificate of recognition, 14 Feb 1963: Physical Description: 8 1/2 x 11
Item 20: Citizens Union National Bank & Trust Company, 25 Jan 1966: Certificate conferring title Director Emeritus upon William Wallace; Physical Description: 8 1/2 x 11
Item 21: Sons of Revolution certificate of membership, 21 Mar 1966: Physical Description: 19 x 24
Item 22: YMCA certificate of recognition, 16 Mar 1967: Physical Description: 8 x 10
Item 23: Commonwealth of Kentucky, 2 Apr 1968: Appointment of William Wallace to the Board of Regents of Eastern Kentucky University; Physical Description: 10 x 15
Item 24: Kentucky Colonel Commission, 17 Sep 1968: Physical Description: 10 x 15
Item 25: Society of Sons of Revolution certificate of appreciation, 19 Apr 1969: Physical Description: 7 x 9
Item 26: Yale University, 30 Jan 1971: Admission of W. Wallace to the degree of Juris Doctor in Yale University; Physical Description: 8 1/2 x 11
Item 27: Commonwealth of Kentucky, 30 Mar 1972: Appointment of W. Wallace to the Board of Regents of Eastern Kentucky University; Physical Description: 10 x 15
Item 28: Eastern KY University degree of Doctor of Laws, 12 May 1974: Physical Description: 14 x 17
Item 29: American Legion Certificate of Merit: Physical Description: 14 x 17
Item 30: Henry T. Duncan Memorial Award, 25 May 1905: Physical Description: 12 x 16

Folder 3: Awards and Certificates - Velma Nisius Wallace

Item 1: Berea College diploma of Velma Nisius, 13 Jun 1923: Physical Description: 11 x 14
Item 2: Republican National Committee, 31 May 1978: Certificate of appreciation; Physical Description: 7 x 7

Folder 4: Cartoons , Posters and Prints

Item 1: Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, circa 1921: Poster with reproductions of paintings of chief justices.; Physical Description: 15 x 22
Item 2: Drawing illustrating Wallace's life, 1932: By Jack Moranz; Physical Description: 19 x 23
Item 3: James B. McCreary: Lithograph; Physical Description: 12 x 16
Item 4: Charles E. Hughes, American Bar Association President: Print; Physical Description: 10 x 14
Item 5: Republican Senators, ca 1922: Who conducted a 17 hour filibuster to defeat Simmons Highway Bill; Physical Description: 11 x 12
Item 6: Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidential oath certificate, 1953: Physical Description: 8 1/2 x 11
Item 7: Eastern Kentucky University Founders Day, 24 Mar 1976: Physical Description: 8 x 10

Folder 5: Photographs

Item 1937: Annual Dinner of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce, 13 Dec 1910: Creator: Drucker & Co.; Physical Description: 23.5x16.5
Item 1938: Kentucky State Senators, 1922: Composite photo with head shots of all the senators.; Creator: Cusick Studios; Physical Description: 24x20
Item 1939: Students National Assembly, 11 May 1925: In Washington, DC; Creator: E. DeSouza; Physical Description: 25.25x10

Box 38

Barcode: 31234014052821

Item 1: Portrait of unidentified man, head shot: Charcoal drawing; Physical Description: 16 x 20
Item 2: Portrait of Unidentified Man, head shot: Charcoal drawing (16x20)

Box 39

Barcode: 31234014052839

Item 1: Political Scrapbook, May 19, 1934-Mar 1, 1939: Physical Description: 11 x 16
Item 2: Political Scrapbook, Mar 3, 1939-Oct 24, 1950: Physical Description: 12 x 16

Box 40: Oversized Photographs

Barcode: 31234014052847

Item 1940: Unidentified Woman, ca 1910: Creator: The Curtiss Studio; Physical Description: 8x14
Item 1942: William H. Taft, 1912: Signed to C.C. Wallace; Creator: Harris & Ewing; Physical Description: 10x14
Item 1943: Edward C. O'Rear, 1924: Signed to Wm. L. Wallace; Creator: Cusick Studios; Physical Description: 10x14
Item 1944: John Sherman Cooper: signed; Creator: Walton Jones; Physical Description: 10x14
Item 1945: Simeon Willis: Physical Description: 10x14
Item 1946: William L. Wallace: Creator: Patterson; Physical Description: 8x10
Item 1947: William L. Wallace: Creator: Blackwell; Physical Description: 10x13.5
Item 1948: William L. Wallace: Creator: Blackwell; Physical Description: 10x13.5
Item 1949: William L. Wallace, ca 1910: Creator: Studio of Weber; Physical Description: 10x14.5
Item 1950: Velma Wallace, 1938: Creator: Manzer; Physical Description: 11x14
Item 1951: Unidentified Child, 1938: Creator: Manzer; Physical Description: 11x14
Item 1952: Patsy and Fay Wallace: Physical Description: 11x15
Item 1953: Phillips Academy Football Team, 1908: Physical Description: 14x11
Item 1954: Phillips Academy Football Team, 1906: Creator: Sherman; Physical Description: 14x11
Item 1955: Officers Training Camp, 1917
Item 1956: Officers Training Camp, 1917: Creator: FJ. B. Harrison; Physical Description: 14x11
Item 1957: Dinner Gathering at Yale, 1911: Creator: Leopold Photographer; Physical Description: 14x17
Item 1958: Reunion for the 1911 Graduating Class of Yale Law school, 1966: Physical Description: 10x16
Item 1959: Phillips Academy Football Team, 1908: Creator: Oval Black; Physical Description: 11x14
Item 1960: Phillips Academy Group Photo, 1908: Physical Description: 11x14
Item 1941: Walters Collegiate Institute Football Team, 1903: Pictured are Talley (coach), Dodge (manager), Burton, Collins, Million (captain), Glass, Burnam, R. Dodge, Wallace, Deatherage, Patton, P. Burnam, Worrell, Mershon, Terrill, R. Burnam, Cobb, Tate.; Creator: Schlegel; Physical Description: 12x10

Box 41: Oversized Photographs

Barcode: 31234014052854

Item 1962: William Luxon Wallace, Jul 1941: Creator: American Photo; Physical Description: 11x16
Item 1961: William Luxon Wallace, Jul 1941: Creator: American Photo; Physical Description: 11x16
Item 1963: William Luxon Wallace: Creator: Randolph-Manaitis-Garcia, Inc.; Physical Description: 11.5x16.5
Item 1964: William Luxon Wallace: Creator: Randolph-Manaitis-Garcia, Inc.; Physical Description: 11.5x16.5
Item 1965: Class Reunion of 1911 Law, ca 1910: Yale University; Creator: Jay Storm; Physical Description: 16x10
Item 1966: Unidentified House in New Haven, CT: Creator: Jilley; Physical Description: 14x12
Item 1967: Berea College Class Photo, ca 1915: Physical Description: 19x4
Item 1968: Unidentified Group of Men, ca 1910: Creator: Pach Bros.; Physical Description: 17x14
Item 1969: Unidentified Group of Men, ca 1910: Creator: Pach Bros.; Physical Description: 17x14
Item 1970: Unidentified Group of Men, ca 1910: Creator: Pach Bros.; Physical Description: 17x14
Item 1971: Unidentified Group of Men, ca 1910: Physical Description: 17x14
Item 1972: Phillips Academy Football Team, 1906: Creator: Sherman; Physical Description: 20x16
Item 1973: Unidentified Group of Men at Phillips Academy, 1906: Creator: Sherman; Physical Description: 20x16
Item 1974: Kentucky Court of Appeals, ca 1935: Pictured are William L. Wallace and Albert "Happy" Chandler; Creator: Cusick Studios; Physical Description: 20x16

Folder OS 1: Oversize Photographs

Barcode: 31234014052862

Item 1975: 63rd F.A. Brigade, 27 Sep 1918: Headquarters Detachment, Camp Shelby; Physical Description: 9x40
Item 1976: 63th F.A. Brigade, 1918: On horseback; Physical Description: 9x40