Tyrrell Historical Library. Finding Aid for the Elmo Willard, III, Papers, Accession 109

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1 Tyrrell Historical Library Finding Aid for the Elmo Willard, III, Papers, Summary Information Title: Elmo Willard, III, Papers Creator: Willard, Elmo, III, Inclusive dates: Extent: 6 boxes Abstract: Accession 109 Finding aid created by Tyrrell Historical Library staff Elmo Willard, III, was a leader of Beaumont's civil rights movement. He and his law partner, Theodore Johns, won cases for the desegregation of Beaumont's public parks and Lamar University. These papers include correspondence, legal documents, news clippings, and photographs. Call number: AC-109 Language: The material is in English. Repository: Tyrrell Historical Library 695 N. Pearl St Beaumont, TX Phone: Home Page: Access and Use Acquisition Information: Donated by Patricia Willard in August Arrangement: 1

2 The collection is organized into six boxes. The first three boxes contain documents related to Willard s legal career, while the last three boxes hold awards and commendations received by Willard. Access Restrictions: Some restrictions may apply. Copyright: The Tyrrell Historical Library holds copyright for papers created by Willard. Exceptions include published works, for which copyright is retained by the creators and/or publishers. The researcher must secure permission to publish. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the Tyrrell Historical Library. The researcher assumes full responsibility for complying with copyright, literary property rights, and libel laws. Related Material: Theodore and Lamar Johns Collection, AC-278. Separated Material: None. Preferred Citation: [item], [folder], [box], Elmo Willard, III, Papers, AC-109, Tyrrell Historical Library, Beaumont, Texas. Biographical/Historical Note Elmo Willard, III, was born on September 14, 1930, in Beaumont, Texas. His parents were Elmo Willard, Jr., a local mortician, and Faye Durden Willard, a schoolteacher. His grandfather was Elmo Willard, Sr., who was born on the Old Calder Plantation at Eleventh Street on August 19, Elmo, Sr., s parents, Riley and Margaret, were former slaves. Elmo, Sr., started working various jobs at age eight, after his father died, and eventually was employed at the Old Long and Company Shingle Mill. He also opened up his own barber shop, bought real estate, built rental houses, and invested in business. He sat on juries in Beaumont, and was one of the earliest donors to the fund that founded the South Texas State Fair. He married Sarah J. Adams, daughter of Captain Elisha Adams, at age 31, and they had eight children. Elmo Willard, III, graduated from Charlton-Pollard High School in 1947, and then entered Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Business Administration in 1951, with minors in History and Psychology. He then attended law school at Howard University in Washington, D.C. 2

3 Howard University Law School played a crucial role in the desegregation law cases of the 1950s. Thurgood Marshall and Robert Carter would test their civil rights cases in the mock courts held by students at Howard. Indeed, Marshall tested his Brown v. Board of Education (1954) arguments at Howard during Willard s final year there. Willard was chief of the Student Critique Team which analyzed Marshall s case. Willard graduated third in his class from Howard in Returning to Beaumont, he began to practice law with Theodore R. Johns, and they helped lead Beaumont s civil rights movement. They achieved their first major victory with the case Fayson v. Beard (1955), which desegregated Beaumont s public parks. They followed this success by winning another major case, Jackson v. McDonald (1956), which desegregated Lamar State College of Technology (today, Lamar University). Lamar s admission of its first black students sparked two weeks of picketing by whites in favor of segregation, and Willard s and John s offices were vandalized. Willard and Johns also freed and represented blacks who had been arrested for conducting sit-ins at whites-only restaurants and lunch counters in Beaumont. Willard considered these to be his most gratifying experiences. In 1981, Willard and Clayton Mayfield, arguing on behalf of the black Citizens Action Committee, won their case on the question of desegregation of the South Park Independent School District. Willard also filed successful cases to prevent employment discrimination against black men, who often were placed in the lowest-paying jobs in a company. Such cases were filed against Jefferson Chemical Company, Goodrich and Goodyear Chemical Companies, Gulf States Utilities, Pure Oil, Temple-Eastex, and Bethlehem Steel. Willard died on April 5, He is buried in Live Oak Memorial Park in Beaumont. Collection Scope and Content Note The Elmo Willard, III Papers primarily hold papers related to Willard s legal career. Correspondence and court documents from Willard s civil rights cases make up a large portion of the collection. Also included are early twentieth century land records and warranty deeds from the Beaumont area. As a prominent civil rights lawyer, Willard received many awards and commendations during his career, which are held in the collection. His papers also include invitations to the presidential inaugurations of Presidents John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. The collections also holds biographical information and photographs. Subject Terms Subjects: Civil rights movement Desegregation Lawyers 3

4 Persons: Willard, Elmo, III, Johns, Theodore, Organizations: Lamar University (Beaumont, Tex.) Locations: Beaumont (Jefferson county, Texas : inhabited place) Genres: Black and white photographs Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Invitations Legal documents Plaques Contents List Box Folder Title / Description 1A 1 Warranty deeds, A 2 Warranty deeds, A 3 Warranty deeds, A 4 Legal document, insurance, A 5 Warranty deeds, liens, A 6 Warranty deeds, liens, A 7 Warranty Deeds, A 8 Warranty Deed, A 9 Oil and Gas Lease, 1926; Bank Draft 1A 10 Willard and Willard Inc. Tax Receipt, A 11 Willard and Willard, Inc. Stock Amendment, A 12 Business Records (Share certificates), A 13 Meeting - Willard & Willard, IHN, circa 1937; and legal document, quit claim, A 14 Business Records, Rent Book A 15 Business Incorporation A 16 Legal Document Judgment/ deed, A 17 Willard and Willard, Inc. legal note,

5 Box Folder Title / Description 1A 18 Legal Document Divorce Decree, A 19 Warranty Deed Smith to Willard III, A 20 Will of Dora Smith Jefferson, A 21 Texas v. Joe Singleton, A 22 Property Tax Record 1964, A 23 Correspondence. Letters include: Letter from Lawhon's Law Firm, 1920; Letter from L.E. Fler's Law Firm, 1932; Letter from Willard's treasurer, 1937; Letter from Lipscomb's Law Firm, 1942; Letter from President Lyndon B. Johnson to Willard, 1965; Letter from Daisy Lipscomb to Willard Family, A 24 Correspondence: Letters to Reverend Hatch, 1988; Letter to Ben Shinn, 1989; Letter to Reverend Ellis; Letter to Ramada Inn; Letter to C. A. Ellis 1A 25 Legal Correspondence, BISD, 1984 May-December 1A 26 Court Documents, BISD, Texas Education Agency 1A 27 Court Documents, BISD, Texas Education Agency, A 28 Court Documents, BISD, Civil Action, US vs. Texas Education Agency 1A 29 Court Documents, BISD, Texas Education Agency 1A 30 Court Documents, BISD, Texas Education Agency vs. US 1A 31 Court Documents, BISD, Motion for Final Order 1A 32 Court Documents, BISD, Texas Education Agency Motion 1A 33 Court Documents, BISD, US vs. Texas Education Agency 1B 34 Legal Documents, South Park Independent School District, B 35 Legal Documents, BISD, Motions 1B 36 Court Copies, Trial Dates, BISD, B 37 Legal Documents, Seniguar vs. BISD 1B 38 Legal Documents, Seniguar vs. BISD, B 39 Court Documents, BISD, Court of Appeals 1B 40 Legal Documents, BISD, B 41 Legal Documents, BISD Case, B 42 BISD Re-Districting Map 1B 43 Naturalization Ceremony Speech from U.S. Judge Robert Parker, 1980 November 12 1B 44 Certificates, Memberships, Awards, B 45 Recognition of Black History, Port Arthur, B 46 Proclamation, Elmo Willard, III Day, Port Arthur, Texas 1B 47 Resolutions of the House of Representatives; Senate Resolutions 1B 48 Invitations to presidential inaugurations: John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, 1961; Lyndon B. Johnson and Hubert Humphrey, B 49a Presidential Inaugural Address; State of the Union Message 1B 49b Newsletter, Senator Carl Parker to Elmo Willard, 1990; See original photo A-20 dated

6 Box Folder Title / Description 1B 50 News Articles, Beaumont Magazine, Texas Bar Journal, Jet Magazine 1B 51 Newspaper articles, clippings, photocopies 1B 52 Biographical, media, special features 1B 53 Biographical references, Elmo Willard III 1B 54 Miscellaneous 1B 55 Photographs, 1800s B 56 Willard Family Addresses 2 1 Framed certificate from the National Bar Association, Inc., Plaque honoring Willard for civil rights work, from The Ministers Conference of Port Arthur, Texas and Vicinity, Jefferson County Bar Association certificate honoring Willard s service as director, Framed newspaper clipping, Willard first black bar fellow, 1977 May Typed biography of Elmo Willard 3 2 Handwritten biography of Elmo Willard III 3 3 Framed newspaper clipping, Profiles 83: Elmo Willard 3 4 Photo signed by Jimmy Carter, given to Elmo Willard 3 5 Framed photo portrait collage, Class of 1954, School of Law, Howard University 3 6 Certificate authorizing Willard to practice as attorney and counselor at law, given by the Supreme Court of Texas, Certificate admitting Willard as attorney and counselor, solicitor, advocate, and proctor of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Certificate admitting Willard as attorney and counselor of U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Fisk University Bachelor of Arts diploma, Service plaque from the Beaumont Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), undated 4 5 East Texas Legal Services appreciation plaque, Jefferson County Black Lawyers Association commendation plaque, Golden Triangle Chapter of the National Bar Association commendation plaque, undated 5 1 Texas Peace Officers Association, Port Arthur Branch, commendation plaque, undated 5 2 Certificate for Willard s election as charter member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 1971 (2 certificates) 6 Souvenir Styrofoam hat 6