urn:taro:houpub.00109 W. Arthur Combs Collection: An Inventory of Records at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library
500 McKinney St. Julia Ideson Building, 2nd Floor Houston, Tx 77002 832-393-1665
Encoded in EAD Version 2002 and edited according to instructions in TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions by Amber Seely inDecember 2006 Finding aid written in English. Descriptive Summary Combs, W. Arthur W. Arthur Combs Collection 1935-1972 Materials are in English. MSS 59 5 boxes Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library Biographical Note

W. Arthur Combs has been called the "Dean of Houston Labor Attorneys". He established his law practice in Houston in 1919 after passing the bar examination in 1915 at age eighteen. He specialized in labor problems; in 1951 he argued the case for the largest personal injury case in history. Mr. Combs served as a state Democratic Party committee member from Houston. He was a governor of the American Trial Lawyer's Association and a founding member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.

Scope and Contents

The W. A. Combs collection consists of Mr. Combs' papers and the records of two firms with which he was associated in the early 1950's. Correspondence and photographs including prominant political figures provide information of Democratic party activities. Clippings folders concentrating on the NAACA convention in 1952, the Democratic Party chairmen's convention in 1949, and the Sam Rayburn Rally in 1949 are included.

Arrangement

The organization of the collection begins with Mr. Combs' correspondence which is divided into incoming and outgoing and within those divisions, by type: political, professional, and personal. Various materials such as Combs' Labor Messenger columns, NAACA proceedings, and photographs follow the correspondence. The last box contains firm records.

 Access Restrictions

None.

 Use Restrictions

Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the W. Arthur Combs Collection must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder.

 Preferred Citation

W. Arthur Combs Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library.

 Acquisition Information

Donated by W. Arthur Combs in 1977 and additional materials donated in 1980.

 Processing Information

Processed by Pam Barron in 1978.

 Index TermsSubjectsLawyers--Texas--HoustonDemocratic Party (Tex.)--History--20th centurySubjects (Persons)Combs, W. ArthurPlacesTexas--Politics and government--1865-1950Texas--Politics and government--1951- Detailed DescriptionCorrespondenceIncoming11Political: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1949-1970; Hubert Humphrey, 1967; Edmund Muskie, 197112Political: Albert Thomas, 1949-1963; Ralph Yarbrough, 1955-1972; Sam Rayburn, 195013Political: Tom Connally, 1949-1951; Maury Maverick, 1951-1954; Allan Shivers, 1950-1951; Roy Hofheinz, 1954; Price Daniel, 1952-195414Miscellaneous Political15General Democratic Party16Professional, 1949-195317Professional, 195418Professional, concerning $200,000 verdict19Business, 1949-1955110Clubs, Charities, Associations111PersonalOutgoing112Political, 1949-1954113Professional, 1949-1954114Business, 1949-1953115Personal, 1942-1958Miscellaneous116Miscellaneous notes, cards, memos; History of the descendents of Enoch Combs217Photostatic copies of settlement checks; Papers relating to State Bar Grievance committee censure218Papers concerning Bar Examination, 1915; Military certificates and cards; copies of Family wills219Correspondence concerning the Houston Labor Journal and Labor Messenger; Manuscripts of Combs' column, "Briefing the Case"220Clippings: "Briefing the Case", January 20, 1943; 1953-1955221Articles, Papers by Combs, 1964-1977222Invitations, programs; Seating list for Governor Hobby dinner, 1951; Rayburn rally contributors; List of Elks Lodge #151, 1953National Association of Claimants' Compensation Attorneys Convention, 1952223Proceedings224Proceedings225Proceedings226Proceedings227Clippings228PhotographsPhotographs329Sam Rayburn Reception, November 1949330Combs and Ralph Yarbrough; Combs and partners with check from largest settlement; Portraits of Combs and Ethel Combs Roeller 331Lyndon B. Johnson, Edmund Muskie, Melvin Belli, others332Mary J. Conners, personal injury case; Property at Scott and McGregor, 1947; Office snapshotsClippings333Sam Rayburn Reception, Democratic County Charimen Convention, 1949; Profile of Combs334MiscellaneousCombs' Business and Legal Papers435W. A. Combs: Records and papers relating to investment properties436Combs, Brown and Brock: Incoming Correspondence, 1949-1954437Combs, Brown and Brock: Outgoing Correspondence, 1949-1954438Combs, Brown and Brock: Financial records439Combs, Brown and Brock: Case lists440Combs, Brown and Brock: Dockets; Claims not in suit; Pooled cases; Settlements441Combs, Brown and Brock: Advances on cases; List of appealed compensation cases442Combs, Brown and Brock: Office rules; Office incentory; Firm dissolution443Combs, Brock, Forney and Mitchell: Correspondence, 1955-1956; Account with Dr. Martin A. Zionts444Miscellaneous legal papersAddenda: Materials donated by Mr. Combs after processing545Incoming correspondence: Personal and family business, 1935-1940546Incoming correspondence: Personal and family business, 1940-1948547Outgoing correspondence: Personal and family business, 1935-1940548Outgoing correspondence: Personal and family business, 1941-1949549Materials relating to estate of Philip Ford Combs550Miscellaneous materials regarding stock and real estate551Miscellaneous family legal documents552Deeds; indentures; Plat of Brazos Coast Investment Co. 553W. A. Combs: Transcribed Speeches554W. A. Combs: Transcribed Speeches555W. A. Combs: Transcribed Speeches556W. A. Combs: "Maritime Personal Injuries", Houston Bar Association Institute, 1965557W. A. Combs: Published articles