Wilmer Willis Houston Papers, 1876-1964, undated | Sargeant Memorial Collection

By Laura Nebuchadnezzar

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Collection Overview

Title: Wilmer Willis Houston Papers, 1876-1964, undated

ID: 001/01/MSS 0000-025

Primary Creator: Houston, Wilmer Willis (1869-1964)

Extent: 2.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Arranged by series. Series 1: Speeches, Series 2: Clippings, Series 3: Correspondence, Series 4: Cards to Mrs. Houston, Series 5: Poems, Series 6: Genealogy, Series 7: Miscellaneous.

Date Acquired: 11/24/2014

Subjects: Genealogy, Norfolk (Va.), Norfolk (Va.)--Genealogy, Norfolk Community Fund, Rotary Club of Norfolk (Va.)

Forms of Material: Address books, Advertisements, Brochures, Budgets, Certificates, Citations, Clippings (information artifacts), Correspondence, Envelopes, Fragments, Genealogical tables, Genealogies (histories), Greeting cards, Membership cards, Menus, Nametags, Notes, Passports, Poems, Programs, Receipts, Speeches (documents), Stamps (marks)

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Speeches, correspondence, poetry, genealogy papers, and miscellaneous items relating to Wilmer Willis Houston.

Biographical Note

Wilmer Willis Houston was a major Norfolk civil leader and public speaker of the 20th century. Born on February 10, 1869 in Sadsbury Township in Chester, Pennsylvania, from 1886 to 1887 he was a schoolteacher in Chester County, Pennsylvania. From 1887 to 1904 he was in the publishing business in Philadelphia and briefly in Chicago, until his interests shifted to managing coal mines. For eight years he managed mining companies in Mingo County, West Virginia, then was an export agent for Houston Coal Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, founding its southern branch in Norfolk, Virginia. Afterwards, Houston co-managed the Pan-Handle Coal Company. He was also the local export agent for George E. Warren Corporation (a coal wholesaler based out of Boston) and for several steamship companies. In 1928, Houston retired from the coal business and he financed and led the Norfolk Industrial Commission in saving the naval town’s failing economy through diversification of industries, and convincing prospects that Norfolk had business potential. In 1928, Houston was the first person to receive the Cosmopolitan Club’s “First Citizen of the Year” award. In 1963, the Virginia National Bank elected Houston to the advisory board for the City of Norfolk. He played a vital role in transforming Virginia Beach into a tourist attraction, and in setting up a $1.1 million revolving fund which boosted the Tidewater economy. Houston was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Norfolk Maritime Exchange and secretary of the Hampton Roads Shipper’s Association. He was an active member of many clubs, including the Rotary Club, the Boys’ Club, and several country clubs. Houston was a life member of First Presbyterian Church and Olivet Masonic Temple. He died at 95 years old on February 17, 1964, leaving behind a $1.8 million legacy to be distributed among the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences, Randolph-Macon Women’s College (funding a chapel in his wife’s name), and the Norfolk Boys’ Club, which built its second branch with the donated money that year, on Azalea Garden Road. Wilmer Willis Houston was buried in the Oxford Cemetery in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Subject/Index Terms

Genealogy
Norfolk (Va.)
Norfolk (Va.)--Genealogy
Norfolk Community Fund
Rotary Club of Norfolk (Va.)

Administrative Information

Repository: Sargeant Memorial Collection

Access Restrictions: This collection is open to all researchers.

Use Restrictions: The status of copyright for these materials is governed by Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U. S. C.). Copyright restrictions may apply.

Acquisition Source: Unknown

Separated Materials: Wilmer Willis Houston Photographs, MSS 0000-385.

Preferred Citation: Wilmer Willis Houston Papers, MSS 0000-025, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.

Processing Information: Processed September 18 - October 26, 2015.

Other Note: Box 2 also houses Ship Stories Around the North Carolina Banks Scrapbook (MSS 0000-105).

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[All]

Box 1

Series 1: Speeches

Transcripts of speeches by W. W. Houston.

Folder 1

Item 1: Speech, about 1943 war fund, undated: Speech to an unspecified club about plans for their 1943 campaign.
Item 2: Speech, to Admiral Smith, Gentlemen of the Army and Navy, and fellow citizens, undated: Speech about the history of Admiral Smith.
Item 3: Speech, introduction of the speaker William E. Borah, undated
Item 4: Speech, to Rotary Club, undated: A speech about changing officials' positions in the rotary club.
Item 5: Speech, about Norfolk Association of Commerce, undated: A speech about the importance of the Norfolk Association of Commerce, with rough draft of this speech.
Item 6: Speech, about ancient Egyptian History, undated
Item 7: Speech, to Rotary Club, undated: A speech describing the travels that Houston and his wife had experienced in their trip to the East.
Item 8: Speech, to the Bar Association, undated
Item 9: Speech, introduction of the speaker Dr. Fitzgerald Flournoy, undated
Item 10: Speech, to Monday Club, undated: Introduction of their chairman; several stories are told in this speech.
Item 10a: Speech, to Monday Club, undated
Item 11: Speech, about the United War Fund, undated: Speech about subscription quotas.
Item 12: Speech, "The Scots of North Ireland", undated: A speech to the Scottish Society of Norfolk.
Item 13: Speech, "The Irish People", undated: Speech about the virtues of Irish people.
Item 14: Speech, about W. W. and Mrs. Houston's travels, undated: Discusses nine months of travel through Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia Minor.
Item 15: Speech, to Mayor and Gentlemen of the Council, undated: Speech about fire protection of residential buildings at Bird Neck Point, Virginia Beach.
Item 16: Speech, toasts and introductions for Mingo County Republican Party, undated
Item 17: Speech, on parking meters and those who oppose them, undated: A speech to the President and members of an unspecified board, about the issue of parking meters.
Item 18: Speech, to the Board of the N. & P. Belt Line Railway, undated: A speech about the accomplishments of the Industrial Commission.
Item 19: Speech, to Norfolk National Bank of Commerce, 1936: Speech about an indebted artist's (Charles A. Morrissette's) honorable promise to paint a portrait of the bank's president, accomplishments of the bank, etc. Includes a notice about bank operations on a holiday and a letter confirming the completion of the painting.
Item 20: Speech, about the United War Fund, undated: Speech about the importance of buying war bonds to support people fighting the war overseas.
Item 21: Speech, to the Norfolk Woman's Club, undated: Houston's speech to the Woman's Club as a representative of the Speakers Bureau of the Norfolk Community Fund. A fragment of another speech is attached, suggesting that the same speech was given to the Norfolk Quota Club.

Folder 2

Item 22: Speech, introductions of Mayor Albert L. Roper, etc., undated: Persons introduced in this speech include Mayor Albert L. Roper, Joseph L. Crupper, Homer L. Ferguson, Thomas F. Thompson, Harry R. Houston, and Barton Myers.
Item 23: Speech, on Norfolk Community Fund, undated: Speech about the importance of the Norfolk Community Fund to the Norfolk community.
Item 24: Speech, on Norfolk Community Fund, undated: Speech about the importance of the Norfolk Community Fund to the Norfolk community.
Item 25: Speech, "Shall We Pay Our Taxes By a Sales Tax?", undated
Item 26: Speech, about fundraising for the Museum of Arts and Sciences, 1934: Speech suggesting that the City Council would want to help in acquiring one million dollars in funding from the federal government in order to build the first building of the Museum of Arts and Sciences. Includes a copy of this speech and a letter from the Committee on Cultural Development.
Item 27: Speech, about the Norfolk-Portsmouth Industrial Commission, undated
Item 28: Speech, to Rotary Club, undated: Speech about the benefits of the Boys' Club for developing boys.
Item 29: Speech, to the Norfolk & Western Railway, undated: Speech about the United War Fund.
Item 30: Speech, about cooperation in the banking business, undated: A speech of reminder based on the words of J. P. Morgan that "Co-operation is better than competition".
Item 31: Speech, to the Rotary Club, undated: Speech persuading the Rotarians to contribute to the United War Fund.
Item 32: Speech, to the Rotary Club, November: Speech informing the Rotary Club of an upcoming Referendum election and an ordinance to vote on, about the unification of Norfolk bus and trolley transportation.
Item 33: Speech, about the humility of the Speaker's Bureau, undated: Speech about the Speaker's Bureau. Includes a paragraph about Reverend Rowland P. Wagner and the construction of the city auditorium on Granby Street.
Item 34: Speech, "Resolutions", undated: Speech about appreciation Admiral Arthur St. Clair Smith.
Item 35: Speech, about 1943 United War Fund, 1943
Item 36: Speech, about the Norfolk Industrial Commission, undated: Speech about the accomplishments of the Norfolk-Portsmouth Industrial Commission, and the hand that the City of Norfolk played in funding these projects.
Item 37: Speech, about the United War Fund, undated: Speech about reaching quotas for the United War Fund.
Item 38: Speech, to Rotary Club, undated: Speech about the Norfolk Association of Commerce.
Item 39: Speech, to Monday Club, undated: Several stories precede a narrative of W. W. Houston's trip to Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor.
Item 40: Speech, on several stories, undated
Item 41: Speech, to the citizens of Norfolk, undated: Speech about the campaign for the United War Fund.
Item 42: Interview, "Interview With W. W. Houston, for Sunday Edition", 1933 January 1: An interview with W. W. Houston about his opinions on a toll at the Campostella Bridge.
Item 43: Speech, persuading the annexation of adjoining territory into Norfolk County, undated
Item 44: Speech, to Norfolk Cosmopolitan Club, 1931: Speech about the awarding of the Norfolk Cosmopolitan Distinguished Service Award to George H. Lewis.
Item 45: Speech, to the citizens of Norfolk, undated: Speech about the United War Fund.
Item 46: Speech, to the citizens of Norfolk, undated: Speech about the United War Fund.
Item 47: Speech, about the United War Fund, undated
Item 48: Speech, to the citizens of Norfolk, 1943 January 27: Speech about the United War Fund.
Item 49: Speech, to the Bar Association, undated: A nostalgic introduction to a speech about the United War Fund.
Item 50: Speech, to the citizens of Norfolk, 1943 February 2: Speech about the United War Fund.
Item 51: Speech, to the Norfolk Cosmopolitan Club, undated: Speech about the importance of the Norfolk Community Fund.
Item 52: Speech, to the National Bank of Commerce, 1936 February 12: Speech about the Norfolk-Portsmouth Industrial Commission. Included are two letters to the National Bank of Commerce, and a paper with notes for the speech.
Item 53: Speech, about the Norfolk-Portsmouth Industrial Commission, undated
Item 54: Speech, about the United War Fund, undated

Series 2: Clippings

Newspaper clippings relating to the life and death of W. W. Houston.

Folder 3

Series 3: Correspondence

Correspondence to W. W. Houston and other members of the Houston Family.

Folder 4

Item 1: Correspondence, F. W. Houston to J. N. Houston, 1894 November 16
Item 2: Correspondence, F. W. Houston to J. N. Houston, 1894 November 16
Item 3: Correspondence, W. W. Houston to the Editor of the "Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch", 1930 November 19: Letter seconding the nomination of L. H. Windholz for the 1930 Cosmopolitan Distinguished Service Award.
Item 4: Correspondence, Library of Congress to Lenore Houston, 1931 July 2: Letter of thanks to Lenore Houston for a gift to the Library of Congress.
Item 5: Correspondence, W. W. Houston to The Woman's Club, 1934 February 7
Item 6: Correspondence, W. W. Houston to R. B. Halley, 1934 June 9: Letter to Halley's Roseland Flower Shop regarding the unkept state of the flowers of W. W. Houston's sister's family cemetery plot. Contains the response from R. B. Halley, and a drawing of a headstone labeled "HOUSTON".
Item 7: Correspondence, W. S. Harney to Colgate W. Darden, Jr., 1942 November 21
Item 8: Correspondence, W. W. Houston to General and Mrs. R. L. Denig, 1944 February 17: Letter of condolences for the death of Captain James Denig.
Item 9: Correspondence, Colgate W. Darden, Jr. to W. W. Houston, 1944 April 13
Item 10: Correspondence, W. W. Houston to Colgate W. Darden, Jr., 1944 April 17
Item 11: Clipping, "Virginians First, Darden Urges", 1944 April 14: Article is related to the correspondence in items 9, 10, and 12.
Item 12: Correspondence, W. W. Houston to Colgate W. Darden, 1944 April 20
Item 13: Correspondence, W. W. Houston to General and Mrs. R. L. Denig, 1944 November 21: Letter to General R. L. Denig and his wife, to suggest the name "Bendmere" for their estate.
Item 14: Correspondence, Robert L. Denig to W. W. Houston, 1944 November 25: Response to the suggestion of naming the Denig estate "Bendmere."
Item 15: Correspondence, W. W. Houston to Joseph Leslie, 1957 May 1: Letter containing biographical information for Wilmer Willis Houston.
Item 16: Correspondence, W. W. Houston to Joseph Leslie, 1957 May 1: Letter containing biographical information for Wilmer Willis Houston.
Item 17: Correspondence, William T. Hastings to W. W. Houston, 1962 February 9: Letter congratulating W. W. Houston on his 93rd birthday.
Item 18: Correspondence, Frank M. Miles to W. W. Houston, 1962 February 9: Letter congratulating W. W. Houston on his 93rd birthday.
Item 19: Correspondence, Harold Anderson to W. Willis Houston, 1962 February 9: Letter congratulating W. W. Houston on his 93rd birthday.
Item 20: Correspondence, E. T. Gresham to W. W. Houston, 1962 February 9: Letter congratulating W. W. Houston on his 93rd birthday.
Item 21: Correspondence, E. D. Peterson to W. Willis Houston, 1962 February 23: Letter congratulating W. W. Houston on his 93rd birthday.
Item 22: Correspondence, Edward H. Jones to Wilmer Willis Houston, 1962 December 21: Letter of thanks to W. W. Houston for his donation to Mary Baldwin College.
Item 23: Correspondence, S. T. Northern to W. W. Houston, 1963 February 10: Letter congratulating W. W. Houston on his 94th birthday.
Item 24: Correspondence, William G. Ashman to W. Willis Houston, 1963 February 12: Letter congratulating W. W. Houston on his 94th birthday.
Item 25: Correspondence, Virginia National Bank to W. W. Houston, 1963 April 29: Letter congratulating W. W. Houston on his election to the Norfolk Board of Virginia National Bank.
Item 26: Correspondence, H. M. Thompson to Sam Houston, 1964 February 29: Letter of resolution and regret at the death of Wilmer Willis Houston.
Item 27: Correspondence, to Bill, undated: Letter about Rotary Club administration.
Item 28: Correspondence, W. W. Houston to Frank S. Sager, undated: A letter outlining the merits of John S. Alfriend. Addressed to the chairman of the First Citizen Award Committee of Norfolk, Virginia.

Series 4: Cards to Mrs. Houston

Christmas cards and envelopes sent from W. W. Houston to his wife, Mrs. Frances Houston.

Folder 5

Item 1: Envelope, undated: Small postcard-sized envelope to Mrs. W. Willis Houston.
Item 2: Correspondence, W. W. Houston to Mrs. Frances Houston, 1934 June 26: Birthday letter from Wilmer Willis Houston to his wife, with original envelope.
Item 3: Correspondence, W. W. Houston to Mrs. Frances Houston, 1937: Christmas letter from W. W. Houston to his wife, with original envelope.
Item 4: Correspondence, W. W. Houston to Mrs. Frances Houston, 1938 December 25: Christmas letter from W. W. Houston to his wife, with original envelope.
Item 5: Envelope, 1942 December 20: Envelope from a Christmas card to Mrs. Frances Houston, from her husband, Wilmer Willis.
Item 6: Envelope, 1944 December 25: Envelope from a Christmas letter to Mrs. Frances Houston, from her husband, Wilmer Willis.

Series 5: Poems

Poems by W. W. Houston, and several other poems that he collected.

Folder 6

Item 1: Poem, "The Lord had a Job," by Paul Laurence Dunbar, undated
Item 2: Poem, "Put Your City on the Map," by Edgar A. Guest, undated
Item 3: Poem, Untitled, by W. W. Houston, 1911 May 2: A draft of a letter in poem form to Governor Frank B. McLain, complaining that Jacob King's shop is an eyesore.
Item 4: Poem, Untitled, by W. W. Houston, 1911 May 2: A draft of a letter in poem form to Governor Frank B. McLain, complaining that Jacob King's shop is an eyesore.
Item 5: Poem, "Eventide at Crestwold," by W. W. Houston, undated
Item 6: Poem, "Eventide at Crestwold," by W. W. Houston, undated
Item 7: Poem, "A Parting Shot," by W. W. Houston, 1912 January
Item 8: Poem, "His Farewell Shot," by W. W. Houston, undated
Item 9: Poem, Untitled, by W. W. Houston, undated: Draft for poem that appears to be a toast to "Paul". On the back is a note of criticism for this poem. It is written on the back of a letter that was printed with mistakes.
Item 10: Poems, Untitled, undated: Three biographical poems, and four limericks, several assumed to be written by W. W. Houston, and one written about him.
Item 11: Poem, "The Sentinels," by W. W. Houston, undated: Poem; included is the envelope in which the poem was found.
Item 12: Poem, "The Storm," by W. W. Houston, 1933 September 17
Item 13: Poem, "Christmas Message 1962," by W. W. Moss, 1962
Item 14: Poem, "And Men Move On," by Helen Baxter Smith, undated
Item 15: Poem, "Lochinvar Jr.", undated: A poem about the bravery of W. W. Houston.
Item 16: Poem, "Lochinvar Jr.", undated
Item 17: Poems, Untitled, undated: Two poems about the state of Virginia.
Item 18: Poem, Untitled, undated: A poem about how good Sally Ann Bread is.

Series 6: Genealogy

The genealogy papers of W. W. Houston.

Folder 7: Genealogy Papers

Item 1: Correspondence, Mrs. James L. Pinnock to W. W. Houston, 1959 September 4: Genealogy research.
Item 2: Correspondence, Henry Howard Houston to his father and mother, 1876 August 24: Genealogy-related letter.
Item 3: Correspondence, F. W. Houston to J. N. Houston, 1894 November 16: Letter related to Houston family genealogy.
Item 4: Correspondence, from W. W. Houston, undated: Letter to the editor of a newspaper, about genealogy in reference to a newspaper article. Clipping of article is attached.
Item 5: Genealogy, "Valuable Papers Pertaining to the Ancestry of the Houston Family", 1899 March
Item 6: Certificate, Esther Rakestraw and Dr. J. Willis Houston, undated: Marriage certificate. An online resource shows that of Esther Rakestraw and J. W. Houston were married on April 30, 1868. Located in Oversize Miscellaneous Box 1.
Item 7: Genealogical table, Elizabeth Houston, undated: A genealogical table of Elizabeth Rakestraw Houston's family tree. Located in Oversize Miscellaneous Box 1.
Item 8: Genealogical table, Elizabeth Houston, undated: A genealogical table of Elizabeth Rakestraw Houston's family tree. Located in Oversize Miscellaneous Box 1.

Folder 8: Miscellaneous genealogy paper fragments

Series 7: Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous personal papers of W. W. Houston.

Folder 9

Item 1: Clippings, relating to Esther Houston, undated: Newspaper clippings about Mrs. J. W. Houston. Includes an untitled poem.
Item 2: Program, Cosmopolitan Testimonial Banquet for Distinguished Service, 1929 March 28: Program and menu for the Banquet honoring Norfolk's First Citizen in Civic Affairs for the year 1928.
Item 3: Program, Norfolk Rotary Club, "Wilmer Willis Houston - This is Your Life", 1959 February 10
Item 4: Envelope, addressed to Mr. W. Willis Houston, undated
Item 5: Nametag, Visiting Rotarian, Wholesale Coal, undated: Name tag for W. W. Houston.
Item 6: Citation, Distinguished Service Medal, undated: Awarded by the Cosmopolitan Club of Norfolk, Virginia.
Item 7: Membership card, Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, 1964
Item 8: Membership card, Norfolk Rotary Club, 1964
Item 9: Membership card, Olivet Lodge, 1964: Included is a reminder card for membership renewal dues.
Item 10: Membership cards, Salon Privés du Kursaal d'Ostende, 1931: Membership cards for W. W. Houston and Frances Houston.
Item 11: Membership cards, Hole-in-One Club, Kilauea Volcano, 1929 June 15: Membership cards of W. W. Houston and Frances Houston.
Item 12: Clippings, about the civic and social life of W. W. Houston, undated
Item 13: Notes, famous quotations, undated: Three pages of inspirational quotations handwritten on stationery.
Item 14: Note, about hotels, undated
Item 15: Note, Untitled, undated
Item 16: Menu, Chamberlin Hotel, 1918 December 29: Chamberlin Hotel menu for Sunday, December 29, 1918, with pictures of the hotel's features and a bird's eye view picture map of the Chesapeake Bay.
Item 17: Brochure, Liquid Peptonoids, undated: An advertisement booklet for a nutritional supplement.
Item 18: Program, "I'm Crazy 'Bout Norfolk", undated: Program for a song about Norfolk.
Item 19: Envelope, Hawaii, undated: An envelope from the Matson Navigation Company. Contains a ticket from San Francisco to Honolulu, an information card about the Hawaiian lei, and a card of introduction for W. W. Houston and Frances Houston.
Item 20: Advertisement, Tourist and Convention Committee, Charleston Chamber of Commerce, undated: An advertisement for vacations in Charleston, South Carolina. Made to look like Confederate money.
Item 21: Advertisement, Francis Marion Hotel, undated: An advertisement for the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina. Made to look like Confederate money.
Item 22: Notes, Untitled, undated
Item 23: Budget, 1943 War Fund, undated: Proposed budget for 1943 War Fund.
Item 24: Brochure, 1943 Norfolk United War Fund, undated
Item 25: Receipt, The Country Club, 1921 July 1
Item 26: Envelope, to W. W. Houston, undated
Item 27: Passport, Lenore Houston, 1930 May 14
Item 28: Notes, drafts of poetry, Undated: Includes Statement of Death for Lenore Houston, and a postage stamp.
Item 29: Stamp (mark), Wilmer Willis Houston Holiday Greeting, 1963 November 19
Item 30: Envelope, (fragment), 1936 July 16
Item 31: Program, Norfolk Rotary Club, "Wilmer Willis Houston, This is Your Life", 1959 February 10

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