Descriptive Summary
Combs, W. Arthur
W. Arthur Combs Collection1935-1972MSS.0059
7.75 Linear feet,
5 boxes
Materials are in English.
Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library
Processing Information
Processed by Pam Barron in 1978.
Acquisition Information
Donated by W. Arthur Combs in 1977 and additional materials donated in 1980.
Preferred Citation
W. Arthur Combs Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library.
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.
Access Restrictions
None.
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.
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 prominent 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.
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 and 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 Lawyers Association and a founding member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.
Index Terms
Combs, W. Arthur
Democratic Party (Tex.)--History--20th century
Lawyers--Texas--Houston
Texas--Politics and government--1865-1950
Texas--Politics and government--1951-
Correspondence
Incoming
Political: Lyndon B. Johnson,
1949-1970; Hubert Humphrey,
1967; Edmund Muskie,
1971
1
1
1949-1963; Ralph Yarbrough,
1955-1972; Sam Rayburn,
Political: Albert Thomas,
1950
1
2
1949-1951; Maury Maverick,
1951-1954; Allan Shivers,
Political: Tom Connally,
1950-1951; Roy Hofheinz,
1954; Price Daniel,
1952-1954
1
3
1
4
Miscellaneous Political
1
5
General Democratic Party
1
6
Professional,
1949-1953
1
7
Professional,
1954
1
8
Professional, concerning $200,000 verdict
1
9
Business,
1949-1955
1
10
Clubs, Charities, Associations
1
11
Personal
Outgoing
Political,
1
12
1949-1954
1
13
Professional,
1949-1954
1
14
Business,
1949-1953
1
15
Personal,
1942-1958
Miscellaneous
1
16
Miscellaneous notes, cards, memos; History of the descendents of Enoch Combs
2
17
Photostatic copies of settlement checks; Papers relating to State Bar Grievance committee censure
2
18
Papers concerning Bar Examination,
1915; Military certificates and cards; copies of Family wills
2
19
Correspondence concerning the Houston
Labor Journal and
Labor Messenger; Manuscripts of Combs' column, "Briefing the Case"
2
20
Clippings: "Briefing the Case,"
January 20, 1943;
1953-1955
2
21
Articles, Papers by Combs,
1964-1977
2
22
Invitations, programs; Seating list for Governor Hobby dinner,
1951; Rayburn rally contributors; List of Elks Lodge #151,
1953
National Association of Claimants' Compensation Attorneys Convention, 1952
2
23
Proceedings
2
24
Proceedings
2
25
Proceedings
2
26
Proceedings
2
27
Clippings
2
28
Photographs
Photographs
3
29
Sam Rayburn Reception,
November 1949
3
30
Combs and Ralph Yarbrough; Combs and partners with check from largest settlement; Portraits of Combs and Ethel Combs Roeller
3
31
Lyndon B. Johnson, Edmund Muskie, Melvin Belli, others
3
32
Mary J. Conners, personal injury case; Property at Scott and McGregor,
1947; Office snapshots
Clippings
3
33
Sam Rayburn Reception, Democratic County Chairmen Convention,
1949; Profile of Combs
3
34
Miscellaneous
Combs' Business and Legal Papers
4
35
W. A. Combs: Records and papers relating to investment properties
4
36
Combs, Brown and Brock: Incoming Correspondence,
1949-1954
4
37
Combs, Brown and Brock: Outgoing Correspondence,
1949-1954
4
38
Combs, Brown and Brock: Financial records
4
39
Combs, Brown and Brock: Case lists
4
40
Combs, Brown and Brock: Dockets; Claims not in suit; Pooled cases; Settlements
4
41
Combs, Brown and Brock: Advances on cases; List of appealed compensation cases
4
42
Combs, Brown and Brock: Office rules; Office incentory; Firm dissolution
4
43
Combs, Brock, Forney and Mitchell: Correspondence,
1955-1956; Account with Dr. Martin A. Zionts
4
44
Miscellaneous legal papers
Addenda: Materials donated by Mr. Combs after processing
5
45
Incoming correspondence: Personal and family business,
1935-1940
5
46
Incoming correspondence: Personal and family business,
1940-1948
5
47
Outgoing correspondence: Personal and family business,
1935-1940
5
48
Outgoing correspondence: Personal and family business,
1941-1949
5
49
Materials relating to estate of Philip Ford Combs
5
50
Miscellaneous materials regarding stock and real estate
5
51
Miscellaneous family legal documents
5
52
Deeds; indentures; Plat of Brazos Coast Investment Co.
5
53
W. A. Combs: Transcribed Speeches
5
54
W. A. Combs: Transcribed Speeches
5
55
W. A. Combs: Transcribed Speeches
5
56
W. A. Combs: "Maritime Personal Injuries," Houston Bar Association Institute,
1965
5
57
W. A. Combs: Published articles