Henry Clay Hofheimer II Papers, 1793-2002, undated | Sargeant Memorial Collection

By Sarah Osorio

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Collection Overview

Title: Henry Clay Hofheimer II Papers, 1793-2002, undated

Predominant Dates:1940s-1980s

ID: 001/01/MSS 0000-024

Primary Creator: Hofheimer, Henry Clay (1906-2005)

Extent: 8.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Arranged by record type in chronological order.

Date Acquired: 04/00/1996

Subjects: Businesses, Businessmen, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Economic development--Virginia--Norfolk, Families--Virginia, Hampton Roads (Va. : Region), Housing--Virginia--Norfolk, International Azalea Festival (Norfolk, Va.), Jews--Virginia--Norfolk--Social life and customs--20th century, Naval ceremonies, honors, and salutes, Norfolk (Va.), Norfolk (Va.)--Commerce, Norfolk (Va.)--Social life and customs--20th century, Organizations, United States. Navy, Virginia--Social life and customs

Forms of Material: Admission tickets, Annual reports, Assignats (paper money), Audiocassettes, Awards, Cards (information artifacts), Certificates, Clippings (information artifacts), Correspondence, Envelopes, Greeting cards, Invitations, Magazines (periodicals), Military passes, Newsletters, Photographs, Place cards, Postcards, Posters, Press releases, Printed ephemera, Programs, Receipts, Reports, Resolutions (administrative records), Scrapbooks, Sheet music, Souvenir programs, Speeches (documents), Telegrams

Languages: English, French

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Henry Clay Hofheimer II Papers include correspondence, invitations, event programs, speeches, newsletters, periodicals, reports, conference materials, Future of Hampton Roads, Inc. records, documents relating to the economic development of Hampton Roads, certificates and resolutions, photographs, scrapbooks, clippings, family mementos, and other ephemera. Most of the materials date from the 1940s through the 1980s and relate to Henry Clay Hofheimer II's involvement in Norfolk and the Hampton Roads region.

Notable events depicted in the collection include the International Naval Review of 1957, Norfolk's First Citizen Award for 1958, and the International Azalea Festival of 1959. Other notable engagements include retirements, reviews, and commissioning of United States naval officers, commissioning of naval ships, and various other social parties and affairs. Family-related materials include announcements and telegrams of congratulations for Hofheimer's wedding, wedding announcements for one of Hofheimer's daughters, and materials relating to Hofheimer's brother Edward Daniel Hofheimer and father Julius Caesar Hofheimer.

Biographical Note

Henry Clay Hofheimer II was born on December 28, 1906 in Norfolk, Virginia. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1928. He married Elise Maidie Nusbaum on September 26, 1931 in Norfolk, Virginia. He was a civic leader and philanthropist, dedicating much of his life to the improvement of Norfolk and the Hampton Roads region. Before World War II, Hofheimer ran his first business, Hofheimer Construction Company, building many bridges and roads in Virginia. In 1945, he bought a majority interest in Southern Materials Company, Inc., which was purchased by Lone Star Industries, Inc. Hofheimer served as director of Lone Star Industries until 1971/1972.

Hofheimer was named Norfolk's First Citizen of 1958 by the Cosmopolitan Club of Norfolk. In 1964, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Hofheimer was involved in numerous businesses and organizations, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Norfolk General Hospital, U. S. Navy and Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk Academy, Virginia Wesleyan College, the University of Virginia Graduate School of Business Administration, Old Dominion University, The College of William and Mary, Norfolk Symphony, Wells Theatre, WHRO, WAVY TV, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

In 1971, Hofheimer helped arrange for the movement of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.'s art collection to Norfolk. He was also involved in efforts to preserve the Moses Myers House and the Adam Thoroughgood House, and his involvement in historic preservation extended to organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Colonial Williamsburg, and the Winterthur Museum. Hofheimer was awarded the Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Service in 1975. He was instrumental in the founding of Eastern Virginia Medical School in 1973. Hofheimer was also chairman of Future of Hampton Roads, Inc. In 1982, he and Mrs. Hofheimer were awarded the President's Medal from Old Dominion University. Hofheimer also received honorary degrees from Eastern Virginia Medical School and Virginia Wesleyan College. He died on February 6, 2005 at the age of 98 in Virginia Beach, Virginia and was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.

Subject/Index Terms

Businesses
Businessmen
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Economic development--Virginia--Norfolk
Families--Virginia
Hampton Roads (Va. : Region)
Housing--Virginia--Norfolk
International Azalea Festival (Norfolk, Va.)
Jews--Virginia--Norfolk--Social life and customs--20th century
Naval ceremonies, honors, and salutes
Norfolk (Va.)
Norfolk (Va.)--Commerce
Norfolk (Va.)--Social life and customs--20th century
Organizations
United States. Navy
Virginia--Social life and customs

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: Elise Hofheimer Wright by donation

Preferred Citation: Henry Clay Hofheimer II Papers, MSS 0000-024, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.

Processing Information: Processed May 9, 2018.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Correspondence / Invitations],
[Box 2: Invitations / Programs],
[Box 3: Programs / Speeches / Periodicals],
[Box 4: Reports / Organizational Records / Certificates],
[Box 5: Certificates / Photographs],
[Box 6: Scrapbooks / Clippings],
[Box 7: Scrapbooks],
[Box 8: Miscellaneous Materials],
[All]

Box 1: Correspondence / Invitations

Folder 1: Correspondence (Folder 1 of 6), 1916-1949
Folder 2: Correspondence (Folder 2 of 6), 1956-1959: Primarily includes letters and notes of acceptance or regret for a dinner held by the Hofheimers on Friday, April 17, 1959.
Folder 3: Correspondence (Folder 3 of 6), 1960-1968
Folder 4: Correspondence (Folder 4 of 6), 1970-1979: Primarily includes letters from September 1975 congratulating Hofheimer on receiving the Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Service, as well as notes of acceptance or regret for the dinner held in his honor.
Folder 5: Correspondence (Folder 5 of 6), 1980-1997
Folder 6: Correspondence (Folder 6 of 6), undated
Folder 7: Invitations (Folder 1 of 11), 1939-1989: The invitations in this folder are much larger than the invitations in the folders that follow.
Folder 8: Invitations (Folder 2 of 11), 1956-1958
Folder 9: Invitations (Folder 3 of 11), 1959
Folder 10: Invitations (Folder 4 of 11), 1960
Folder 11: Invitations (Folder 5 of 11), 1961 February - June

Box 2: Invitations / Programs

Note: Some invitations, tickets, and other materials may be included with programs if they were found together.

Folder 11 is oversized and located separately.

Folder 1: Invitations (Folder 6 of 11), 1961 July - December
Folder 2: Invitations (Folder 7 of 11), 1962 January - June
Folder 3: Invitations (Folder 8 of 11), 1962 July - September
Folder 4: Invitations (Folder 9 of 11), 1979-1989
Folder 5: Invitations (Folder 10 of 11), undated
Folder 6: Invitations (Folder 11 of 11), circa 1950s-1960s: Includes additional information and menus.
Folder 7: Programs (Folder 1 of 10), 1918-1924
Folder 8: Programs (Folder 2 of 10), 1953-1959
Folder 9: Programs (Folder 3 of 10), 1960
Folder 10: Programs (Folder 4 of 10), 1961
Folder 11: Programs (Folder 5 of 10), 1961 August 17: This folder is oversized. Two copies of a program for a dinner honoring Admiral Claude V. Ricketts, United States Navy.
Folder 12: Programs (Folder 6 of 10), 1962

Box 3: Programs / Speeches / Periodicals

Note: Some invitations, tickets, and other materials may be included with programs if they were found together.

Folder 1: Programs (Folder 7 of 10), 1970-1975
Folder 2: Programs (Folder 8 of 10), 1976-1979
Folder 3: Programs (Folder 9 of 10), 1980-1984
Folder 4: Programs (Folder 10 of 10), 1985-1989
Folder 5: Speech, "Should Children Be Allowed to Graduate from the High School Without Mathematics?", circa 1919
Folder 6: Writings by pupils relative to Maury, 1945-1946
Folder 7: Speech, Talk by Bruce Catton, Luncheon, 1959
Folder 8: Speeches, 1975-1978
Folder 9: Newsletters, 1959-1987
Folder 10: Periodical, Norfolk, 1958-1960: Official Publication of the Chamber of Commerce.
Folder 11: Periodical, Norfolk Museum Bulletin, 1961 March and June
Folder 12: Periodical, The Trailways Magazine, 1961 May - June
Folder 13: Periodical, Bulletin of the Norfolk General Hospital, 1961 October
Folder 14: Periodical, The Commonwealth, 1964 April: The Magazine of Virginia.
Folder 15: Periodical, Federal Observer, 1972 Spring
Folder 16: Periodical, Lone Star Reporter, 1967 Spring: No. 74.
Folder 17: Periodical, New Norfolk: The Tidewater Magazine, 1976 August
Folder 18: Periodical, Pace, 1978 July/August
Folder 19: Periodical, VITA, circa 1980
Folder 20: Periodical, Norfolk Academy Alumni Bulletin, 1981 January
Folder 21: Periodical, Eastern Virginia Medical Authority Bulletin, 1982 Summer
Folder 22: Periodical, The Darden Report, 1983 Winter

Box 4: Reports / Organizational Records / Certificates

Folders 20 and 21 are oversized and located separately.

Folder 1: Report, Virginia Wesleyan College Report, 1973-1974: Special Issue.
Folder 2: Annual Report, The Friends of Winterthur, 1974
Folder 3: President's Report, Eastern Virginia Medical Authority, circa 1985
Folder 4: Annual Report, Medical College of Hampton Roads Foundation, 1989
Folder 5: Envelope, Conference on SALT II, 1979 October 4
Folder 6: Booklets from SALT II (Folder 1 of 2), 1979 May - October
Folder 7: Booklets from SALT II (Folder 2 of 2), 1979 June - August
Folder 8: Papers relating to the Virginia Leadership Conference on Trade, 1979 November 19
Folder 9: Mission and Vision Documents, Future of Hampton Roads, circa 1980s
Folder 10: History, Tidewater's Future, Inc., circa 1980s
Folder 11: Paper, "A Proposal for the Construction of a Regional Stadium in York County", 1982 February 9
Folder 12: Paper, The Cousteau Ocean Center, Project Profile, 1984 January
Folder 13: Organizational records, Future of Hampton Roads, Inc., 1984
Folder 14: Paper, Case Study III: The Tale of Eight Cities, by Harrison H. Owen, 1985
Folder 15: Published Materials, Future of Hampton Roads, Inc., circa 1986
Folder 16: Illustrative Site Plan, Downtown Norfolk, 1990
Folder 17: Booklet, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, 1990
Folder 18: Booklet, The Planning Council, 1991
Folder 19: Resolutions, relating to Henry Clay Hofheimer II, 1978, undated
Folder 20: Certificate, 1958 Distinguished Service Medal, Cosmopolitan Club, 1959: This folder is oversized.
Folder 21: Certificate, Cosmopolitan International, 1959 January 27: This folder is oversized.
Folder 22: Certificates, From the University of Virginia, 1958-1986
Folder 23: Certificate, Robert E. Lee Associate, Washington and Lee University, 1974 May 31

Box 5: Certificates / Photographs

Folders 2-7, 9, 11, 19, and 40 are oversized and located separately.

Folder 1: Certificate, The University Medal, Old Dominion University, 1982 October 6

Folder 2: Certificates, From The College of William and Mary and the Hampton Institute, 1984, undated

This folder is oversized.

Folder 3: Certificates, From the Commonwealth of Virginia, 1959, 1962

This folder is oversized.

Folder 4: Certificates, From the Commonwealth of Virginia, 1963, 1969

This folder is oversized.

Folder 5: Certificate, From the Commonwealth of Virginia, 1977 May 10

This folder is oversized.

Folder 6: Certificates, From the United States Navy, 1956-1957

This folder is oversized.

Folder 7: Certificate, From the United States Navy, 1958 March 27

This folder is oversized.

Folder 8: Certificates, From the Department of the Navy, 1963, 1983

Folder 9: Certificates, Relating to Ronald Reagan, 1980s

This folder is oversized.

Folder 10: Certificates, Miscellaneous, 1942-1970

Folder 11: Photograph, Chi Chapter, Zeta Beta Tau, University of Virginia, 1927-1928

This photograph is very fragile. Handle with care.

This folder is oversized.

Folder 12: Photograph, Engineer's Force, USS Utah, circa 1930

Folder 13: Photographs, Princess Anne Hunt Club, 1937, undated

Folder 14: Photographs, Coal Strip Mining, Centre County, Pennsylvania, 1943-1947

Folder 15: Photographs, Marshall Manor Housing Project Dedication, 1949 May 27

Folder 16: Photographs, Henry Clay Hofheimer II and Elise Hofheimer at an event, circa 1950s

Folder 17: Photographs, Oyster Bowl, Duke and UVA, circa 1953

Folder 18: Photographs, Henry Clay Hofheimer II with College of William and Mary President Alvin Duke Chandler, 1956 January

Includes information relating to Hofheimer's donation of a June 4, 1691 letter patent to The College of William and Mary.

Folder 19: Photographs, Henry Clay Hofheimer II at the Cosmopolitan Club, 1959 January 23

This folder is oversized.

Folder 20: Photographs, Henry Clay Hofheimer II at an event, circa 1960

Folder 21: Photographs, Henry Clay Hofheimer II and Elise Hofheimer, circa 1960s

Folder 22: Photographs, Henry Clay Hofheimer II onboard the USS Henry Clay, circa 1960s

Folder 23: Photographs, Henry Clay Hofheimer II and Elise Hofheimer boarding a boat, circa 1961

Includes a letter dated May 24, 1962 from Vice Admiral H. T. Deutermann.

Folder 24: Photograph, CINCLANTFLT Type / Operational Commanders Conference, 1963 February 4

Folder 25: Photograph, Fifteenth Annual Global Strategy Discussions, United States Naval War College, 1963 June

This photograph is extremely faded.

Folder 26: Photographs, Henry Clay Hofheimer II and Elise Hofheimer with General Mogg, circa 1970s

Folder 27: Photographs, Henry Clay Hofheimer II and Elise Hofheimer with Harry Byrd, Jr. and Ralph and Mary Cousins, circa 1970s

Folder 28: Photographs, Henry Clay Hofheimer II at a meeting with other men, circa 1970s

Folder 29: Photographs, Aerial Views, 1953 January 22, circa 1970s

Folder 30: Photographs, Launching of the USS Memphis, 1976 April 3

Folder 31: Photographs, Henry Clay Hofheimer II and Elise Hofheimer at various events, circa 1970-1986

Folder 32: Photograph, Henry Clay Hofheimer II, National Geographic Society, circa 1980s

Folder 33: Photographs, Henry Clay Hofheimer II with "Campaign 1981 Committee", 1981

Folder 34: Photographs, Henry Clay Hofheimer II and Governor Gerald Baliles, 1987 May 14

Folder 35: Photographs, Henry Clay Hofheimer II and Elise Hofheimer at an event, circa 1990

Folder 36: Photographs, Miscellaneous, 1940s-1980s

Folder 37: Photographs, Miscellaneous, 1950s-1980s

Folder 38: Photographs, Buildings and Monuments, undated

Folder 39: Photographs, Virginia Coal Piers, undated

Folder 40: Prints, circa 1919-1960s

Includes a print of Norfolk Academy by Kenneth Harris, a print of Troop 11, Boy Scouts of America, and two prints celebrating the Civil War Centennial in 1961.

This folder is oversized.

Box 6: Scrapbooks / Clippings

Folder 1: Scrapbook 1, circa 1930-1940: Five pages of pasted clippings. The clippings relate to projects by Hofheimer Concrete Corporation and Hofheimer's election as president of the Builders and Contractors Exchange.
Folder 2: Scrapbook 2, circa 1937: Nine pages, primarily of pasted photographs. The photographs depict Clifton Forge Bridge, a damaged automobile, and construction by Hofheimer Construction Company on Route 13 of the Eastern Shore.
Folder 3: Clippings (Folder 1 of 8), 1912-1948
Folder 4: Clippings (Folder 2 of 8), 1950-1959
Folder 5: Clippings (Folder 3 of 8), 1960-1969
Folder 6: Clippings (Folder 4 of 8), 1970-1979
Folder 7: Clippings (Folder 5 of 8), 1980-1989
Folder 8: Clippings (Folder 6 of 8), 1990-1991
Folder 9: Clippings (Folder 7 of 8), 2002
Folder 10: Clippings (Folder 8 of 8), undated: Some themes within the undated clippings include public housing/slum clearance, preservation of the Adam Thoroughgood House, baseball in Norfolk, and housing in Ghent.
Folder 11: Announcements, Marriage of Henry Clay Hofheimer II and Elise Nusbaum, 1931
Folder 12: Telegrams, Congratulations on Hofheimer - Nusbaum marriage, circa 1931 September 26
Folder 13: Booklet, In Memorian, J. Caesar Hofheimer, 1934 October 26
Folder 14: Resolutions of Respect, Julius Caesar Hofheimer, circa 1934 October
Folder 15: Announcements, Marriage of Elise Hofheimer to Wesley Wright, Jr., 1957 June 15
Folder 16: Certificate, To Edward Daniel Hofheimer, 1973 April 14

Box 7: Scrapbooks

Scrapbook 3 is divided into three folders.

Folder 1: Scrapbook 3 (Folder 1 of 3), circa 1950-1960: 10 pages. Primarily clippings. Includes a magazine from The Atlantic and Danville Railway Company: The A&D Chatterbox (January 1955) and a Special Bulletin to members of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, dated November 1, 1955.
Folder 2: Scrapbook 3 (Folder 2 of 3), circa 1950-1960: 10 pages. Primarily clippings. Includes a memorandum.
Folder 3: Scrapbook 3 (Folder 3 of 3), circa 1950-1960: Six pages. Includes a circa 1958-1959 booklet on Norfolk General Hospital.
Folder 4: Scrapbook 4 (Blue Scrapbook), 1956-1959: Includes invitations, programs, booklets, tickets, and other materials. Subject matter relates to the Jamestown 350th Anniversary, International Naval Review in 1957, commissioning of the ships USS Ranger, USS Observation Island, and USS Independence, dedication ceremonies of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, and various military-related functions.
Folder 5: Scrapbook 5 (Green Scrapbook), 1958 December - January 1959: First Citizen, 1958. The scrapbook includes more than 150 letters, telegrams, and cards congratulating Henry Clay Hofheimer II on his receipt of the First Citizen Award. It also includes clippings relating to his receiving the Award, along with Hofheimer's January 22, 1959 speech, ticket for admission to the Cosmopolitan Club of Norfolk, name cards for him and Mrs. Hofheimer, and the presentation ceremony program.

Box 8: Miscellaneous Materials

Folder 10 is oversized and located separately.

Folder 1: Postcards, circa 1905-1930

Folder 2: Receipts, 1931-1937

Folder 3: Envelopes, 1932-1939, undated

Folder 4: Name cards, 1950s-1960s

Folder 5: Tickets and Passes, circa 1950s-1960s

Folder 6: Seating List, Azalea Ball, 1959

Folder 7: News releases, 1970 February - March

News releases relate to the opening of the Hofheimer Library at Virginia Wesleyan College.

Folder 8: Audiocassette, Henry Clay Hofheimer II Dinner, EVMS, Side 1, undated

Folder 9: Miscellaneous Ephemera, circa 1900-1990

Includes Henry Clay Hofheimer II's selective service registration and sheet music for Mary Turner Salter's "The Sweet o' the Year."

Folder 10: Oversized Miscellaneous Materials, 1793, 1959 - circa 1982

Item 1: Poster, Elise N. Hofheimer Art Library, circa 1982
Item 2: Assignats, 1793: Two sheets.
Item 3: Certificate, Henry Clay Hofheimer, II, Admiral of the Flagship Fleet, 1959 November 4: American Airlines, Inc.
Item 4: Resolution, Norfolk City Planning Commission, 1962 March 23: Resolution names Henry Clay Hofheimer, II a member of the City Planning Commission.