William H. Sims diplomaMSS.2013.02Arthur J. Morris Law Library Special Collections

Arthur J. Morris Law Library580 Massie RoadUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesville, Virginia 22903archives@law.virginia.eduURL:

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-08-11 00:01:36 +0000.Description is written in: English, Latin script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard Arthur J. Morris Law Library Special Collections William H. Sims diploma University of Virginia. School of Law MSS.2013.02 Archival Resource Key Previous Archival Resource Key /repositories/4/resources/737 1 items 1841 English Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Law Library bought the William H. Sims Diploma in March of 2013, thanks to a tip from law student Shannon A. Hayes, Law Class of 2015, who discovered the diploma on eBay.

Biographical / Historical

William Howson Sims was born 8 April 1820 in Halifax County, Virginia. His parents were John Sims and Maria Wilson Sims. He attended the College of William and Mary and afterward the University of Virginia, where he studied modern languages and law with Professor Nathaniel Pope Howard. He graduated with a bachelor of laws degree in 1841. He married Sallie J. Wilson. Sims was appointed justice of the peace for Halifax County in 1849. He was a tabacco planter. Apparentely, he never practiced law. Sims died June 6, 1890.

diplomas Sims, William H., 1820-1890 DiplomaArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/29435918411