Royal E. Cabell Jr. Papers

Collection

Identifier: SC-000103

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists primarily of email correspondence related to Mr. Cabell’s position as a trustee of Hampden-Sydney College in the years 1992 through 1999. Topics discussed include trustee committee meetings and retreats, financial information, coeducation, information pertaining to college fraternities, and the implementation of various programs.

Dates

1992/1999

Access to materials

Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Copies of digital files will be provided for use upon request.

Use of these materials

The nature of the Hampden-Sydney College Archives and Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. As a result, Hampden-Sydney College claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g. cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning and individual’s private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the College assumes no responsibility.

Biographical/historical note

Royal Eubank Cabell, Jr. (1923-1999) was one of several members of the Cabell family to act as a trustee of Hampden-Sydney College, a position that he held from 1968 until his death in 1999. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Cabell graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 1943, and served as a Naval lieutenant in the Pacific theatre of World War II. Upon returning home, he studied law at the University of Virginia and later joined his father’s firm of Cabell, Moncure & Cabell. The firm merged into Williams, Mullen, Christian & Dobbins in 1985, and Mr. Cabell officially retired from practicing law in 1994.

Mr. Cabell was very active in the Republican party, serving as chairman of the Republican 3rd District Committee. He ran for the 3rd District Congressional seat in 1956, but was defeated. In 1957, he co-chaired for Ted Dalton’s gubernatorial campaign. Though Dalton lost, the campaign was notable for criticism of the “Massive Resistance” strategy employed by Virginia Democrats to block integration in the wake of Brown v. Board of Education and the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Cabell served as Chairman of the Board for The Library of Virginia and, together with his wife, Kathleen Buchanan Cabell, was honored by The Library of Virginia Foundation. He served as a board member of the Virginia Capital chapter of the American Red Cross and the Science Museum of Virginia. Royal E. Cabell, Jr. was a direct descendant of William Cabell, one of Hampden-Sydney College’s founding trustees, who together with his son Samuel Jordan Cabell participated in the ratification of the United States Constitution. Samuel Jordan Cabell went on to serve Virginia as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1795-1803, and William Cabell’s nephew, William H. Cabell (H-SC 1789), went on to become the 14th governor of the state. Three of William Cabell’s four sons attended Hampden-Sydney College, matriculating in 1777 and 1778.

Extent

3 Linear Feet (6 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The papers are organized chronologically within fourteen distinct subjects. A complete inventory of this collection is also available by request.

Processing Information

Collection description and biographical note authored by: Sarah Almond, 2020 May. Machine-readable finding aid created from previous inventories by: Sarah Almond, 2020 June.