BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Alfred Dickinson Barksdalewas born in
Halifax(then
Houston),
Virginia, on 17 July 1892. He was
educated in local schools, with the exception of one year
(1907-1908) which he spent at
Cluster Springs Academyin
Cluster Springs, Virginia. He attended
the
Virginia Military Institutefrom 1908 to
1911, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree after only
three years. Following a year of teaching in a
Halifaxschool, he entered the
University of Virginia Law School, and
received his LL.B. in 1915. He entered the practice of law in
Lynchburg, Virginia, but soon left to
serve as a first lieutenant in the First Virginia Infantry
--known as the "Musketeers"--on the Mexican border from June
1916 to February 1917. Promoted to captain in July 1917, he
served in the 116th Infantry, 29th Division,
American Expeditionary Forces, and saw
active service in
Francefrom June 1918 to July 1919.
Following the Armistice, he attended classes at the
Sorbonne, in addition to acting as a
judge-advocate for his battalion. He was released from service
in August 1919, and received the Distinguished Service Cross,
the Croix de Guerre, and the Chevalier Legion of Honor as a
result of his military performance.
Upon his return to the
United States,
Alfred Dickinson Barksdaleresumed his
legal practice in
Lynchburg. He served as a
Virginiastate senator from 1924 to 1928,
and although this was the extent of his active political
career, he formed many valuable political connections,
including one with
Harry F. Byrd, Sr., whom he assisted in
his campaign for governor. In 1938, Barksdale was named judge
of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of
Virginia, this being the same position
which his father,
William Randolph Barksdale, had filled
for many years in the early 1900's. In 1940 he was appointed
judge of the
United States District Courtfor the
Western District of
Virginia, and served in this capacity
until he retired in 1957. Following his retirement from the
bench he continued to do legal work, including service on the
Trial Bench and the Court of Appeals, until his death on 16
August 1972.
Judge
Alfred Dickinson Barksdalemarried
Estill Winfree Phillipsin 1934, and they
made their home in
Lynchburguntil the judge's death. Their
family included Mrs. Barksdale's son from her previous
marriage,
William Causey Phillips, Jr., and the
Barksdale's two daughters,
Louisa Estill Winfree Barksdale Loyd, and
Mary B. Garbee.
In addition to his legal career,
Alfred Dickinson Barksdaleserved on the
Board of Trustees of Hollins Collegefor
over thirty years, was a member of the
Board of Visitors of the University of
Virginiafor ten years, and was a member of both the
Virginia Bar Associationand
American Bar Association.
For further biographical information, see the typescript
biography in control folder no. 10230.
Scope and Content
These papers, consisting of cat 7770 items, (12 boxes, 1
oversize folder; 5 linear shelf feet), are the personal papers
of Judge
Alfred Dickinson Barksdaleof
Lynchburg, Virginia. Most of the papers
fall between the years 1938 and 1972, with some covering the
earlier period of 1918-1919. These periods correspond to the
years of
Alfred Dickinson Barksdale's career as
judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of
Virginiaand as judge of the U. S.
District Court of the Western District of
Virginia, and also of his military
service during World War I.
The major series in the collection is that of
chronologically-arranged personal correspondence, covering the
years 1918-1919 and 1940-1972. This correspondence consists
chiefly of personal and routine social correspondence with
family members, acquaintances, and friends, many of whom were
Virginialawyers, judges, businessmen, and
political figures. Prominent correspondents include
Virginiasenators
Harry F. Byrd, Sr., and
Carter Glass;
Virginiagovernor and
University of Virginiapresident
Colgate Darden; prominent businessman,
government official, and Secretary of State
Edward R. Stettinius, Jr.; and speaker of
the House of Representatives
Sam Rayburn. A minor problem in using the
correspondence is that Barksdale's nickname was "Dick," and
occasionally people address him as "Richard" Barksdale.
The chronological correspondence also includes
Alfred Dickinson Barksdale's World War I
correspondence with his father,
William Randolph Barksdale, his brother;
John Barksdale, and other family members
and American friends. There are also a substantial number of
letters and postcards from acquaintances he made in
France, including several young French
women. One folder contains official correspondence concerning
Barksdale's war honors.
Following the chronological correspondence is a section of
topical correspondence and related materials, which include
memoranda, newspaper clippings, notes, miscellaneous printed
material, etc.. The topics include important court cases,
organizations to which
Alfred Dickinson Barksdalebelonged, and
major turning points in his career, such as his appointment to
the district judgeship, and his retirement. The letters
relating to Barksdale's appointment to the district judgeship
are of particular interest as they shed some light on the
processes of political appointments. Other folders contain
material concerning Barksdale's World War I unit, Company M,
and the "Musketeers," and material regarding Barksdale's
associations with
Hollins Collegeand the
University of Virginia. Some genealogical
material is also contained in this section.
A major portion of the collection consists of speeches
given by
Alfred Dickinson Barksdale, with
background material, correspondence, and miscellaneous items.
Barksdale delivered speeches at naturalization ceremonies at
Roanokeand other
Virginialocations many times over a
period of about twenty years. He often spoke to various
University of Virginiaalumni groups,
women's groups, bar associations, and at various
Virginia Military Institute, court, and
law school functions. Some speeches are related to special
functions Barksdale performed such as introducing
Greer Garsonand
John F. Kennedyon the occasions when they
spoke in
Lynchburg. It should be noted that
material in the chronological correspondence overlaps with
both topical correspondence and speeches. This material was
not transferred as Barksdale had filed it chronologically.
Alfred Dickinson Barksdale's
miscellaneous papers and memorabilia consist of family,
personal, and professional items. His memorabilia from World
War I includes contemporary postcards from places he visited
in
Europe. Contained in this section, as
well as in the section of oversized material, are Barksdale's
certificates for awards he won and positions he held. Two
folders contain listings of addresses of people with whom he
was acquainted.
The printed material section contains printed items used in
Alfred Dickinson Barksdale's military and
professional careers, and printed memorabilia from the
Virginia Military Instituteand the
University of Virginia. Three folders of
newspaper clippings relate to important events in his life and
career, including the trial of several German-American Bund
leaders, convicted of violating the Selective Service Act in
1942 in
New York City, at which
Alfred Dickinson Barksdaleserved as
judge.