urn:taro:utexas.cah.00354 A Guide to the John Edward Hickman Papers, 1887-1974 9/27/04Encoded in XMetal 2 by Jessica Tucker according to instructions in TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions. 7/27/06 Edited in XMetal 2 by Courtney Chartier. Descriptive Summary Hickman, John Edward John Edward Hickman Papers 1887-1974Materials are written in English. 80-2 5 ft. 4in. Center for American History,The University of Texas at Austin Correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographes, speeches, and printed materials document the career of Texas Supreme Court Justice John Edward Hickman. Biographical Note

John Edward Hickman was born on March 28, 1883 on a farm in Liberty Hill, Williamson County, Texas, the son of Nathaniel Franklin Hickman and Mary J. (Porterfield) Hickman. He was one of seven children. His father died at young age, and "John Ed", as he was often called went to work to help support the family. After graduating from a small local college, Liberty Hill Normal and Business College, Hickman taught school first at Hog Mountain in Bell County and then in Lampasas, where he served as the principal of the high school for two years. Hickman graduated from the Law Department of the University of Texas at Austin in 1910, and acted as Quizmaster from 1910-1911. Thereafter, he attended the 1911 class reunions regularly.

On June 22, 1910, Hickman married Ethel Markward. In the same year, Hickman was admitted to the Bar. He practiced law for 16 years, first in Dublin, Texas and later in Breckenridge. Ethel (Markward) Hickman died in January 1921. Two years later, Hickman married Lena Petitt and moved to Breckenridge, Texas. He was elected as an Associate Justice of the Eastland Court of Civil Appeals in 1926, and delivered his first opinion the following year. Hickman continued to serve on that court until 1935 when he was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court to succeed Judge Richard Critz. He became an Associate Judge in 1945 following a constitutional amendment increasing the number of justices to nine. Upon the death of Judge James P. Alexander, Governor Beauford Jester appointed Hickman Chief Justice. Hickman was reelected in 1948 and 1954 without major opposition. From 1952 to 1953 he served as the Chairman of the Conference of Chief Justices. He retired from the Texas Supreme Court in 1960.

Hickman joined the Methodist Church early in life and became a teacher of a popular men's Sunday school class at the University Methodist Church in Austin, which he organized and taught for over thirty years. Hickman also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Southern Methodist University from 1921 until his death.

John Hickman died of a heart attack on April 25, 1962 at the age of 79. He was survived by his sister Lina Owen and his second wife, Lena Hickman.

 Scope and Contents

Correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, speeches, and printed materials document the career of Texas Supreme Court Justice John Edward Hickman. The papers span from 1887 through 1974, with the bulk of the material from 1935-1962. A large amount of professional correspondence and printed materials relate to Hickman's election campaigns. There is also a small quantity of personal correspondence, most of which focuses on Hickman's work as a Sunday school teacher in the Methodist Church and congratulations on his appointment as Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court in 1948. Lena (Petitt) Hickman, Judge Hickman's second wife, wrote editorial comments on correspondence she felt was indicative of her husband's character.

 Access Restrictions

Unrestricted access.

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 Preferred Citation

John Edward Hickman Papers, 1887-1974, Center for American History, the University of Texas at Austin

 Index Terms Subjects (Persons): Hickman, John Edward, 1883-1962--Archives. Hickman, Lena Petitt. Subjects (Organizations): Texas. Supreme Court. Subjects: Judges--Texas. Judges--Texas--Election. Political campaigns--Texas. Sunday school teachers--Texas. Detailed Description of the Papers Inventory 4zd108 Professional Papers 4zd108 Associates of J.E. Hickman 4zd108 Assorted historical materials and articles 4zd108 Candidate as associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court, 1946 4zd108 Ceremonies 4zd108 In the Supreme Court, December 21, 1960 4zd108 Memorial, 1949-1959 4zd108 On retirement of judges, 1952, 1957, 1958 4zd108 On induction of new judges, 1948-1959 4zd108 On induction of new lawyers, 1950-1960 4zd108 Correspondence 4zd108 Administration of oaths of office, 1952,1955 4zd108 Congratulatory, 1945 4zd108 Congratulatory, 1948 4zd109 Congratulatory, 1948 4zd109 Election, 1926 4zd109 Freedoms foundation, 1950-1960 4zd110 Letters of commendation, 1946-1958 4zd110 Supreme Court Building, 1959-1960 4zd110 Correspondence and assorted materials 4zd110 Elections, 1926-1954 4zd111 Following the death of J. E. Hickman, 1962-1974 4zd111 Conference of chief justices, 1949-1959 4zd111 Correspondence and speeches 4zd111 Campaign for reelection, 1948 4zd111 Dedication of State Bar Building, 1952-1957 4zd111 Dedication of Townes Hall and Tarlton Library, December 3-5,1953 4zd111 Financial documents, 1960-1961 4zd111 Lists of foreign lawyers 4zd111 Memorials, J. E. Hickman, 1962-1963 4zd114 Speeches 4zd114 Associates of J. E. Hickman 4zd114 J. E. Hickman 4zd114 Our challenge, delivered at annual dinner, Dallas Bar Association, January 29, 1943 4zd114 Remarks upon his induction into office of chief justice, January 7, 1948 4zd114 Education's army, delivered at commencement of University of Texas, Austin, March 31, 1948 4zd114 Remarks at convention of State Bar at Houston, July 3, 1948 4zd114 Our challenge, delivered before congregation of University Methodist Church, April 3,1949 4zd114 An intimate talk about our Supreme Court before State Junior Bar Meeting at Fort Worth, June 30, 1949 4zd114 Address at ceremonies honoring memory of Governor Beauford H. Jester, July 12, 1949 4zd114 A living endowment, delivered at Founders' Day ceremonies, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, March 24, 1950 4zd114 Remarks upon opening of court in tribute to chief deputy clerk Joe P. Byrne, March 22, 1950 4zd114 Remarks at last session of Supreme Court in which associate judge Hart participated as a member of the court, November 8, 1950 4zd114 Remarks on induction of Honorable Clyde E. Smith as associate justice, November 15, 1950 4zd114 Remarks at ceremony honoring memory of Judge C. S. Slatton, June 19, 1951 4zd114 Greetings from Supreme Court and intoducing Chancellor James P. Hart at annual dinner, State Bar, Dallas, July 7, 1951 4zd114 Greetings from conference of chief justices at judicial dinner, Waldorf-Astoria, New York, September 18, 1951 4zd114 Detached persons delivered before Men's Club, Highland Park Methodist Church, January 7, 1952 4zd114 Wallace Hawkins, The Friend, January 18, 1952 4zd114 Remarks at a ceremony in which oath of office was administered to Meade F. Griffin, January 2, 1951 4zd114 Response at Centennial of first sitting of Supreme Court with that of federal district court at Tyler, April 7, 1951 4zd114 Remarks at ceremony awarding Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously to Private Lieutenant/Colonel Whitt Moreland, August 4, 1952 4zd114 Greetings from conference of chief justices at National Legal Aid Association dinner in San Francisco, September 13, 1952 4zd114 Robert Gerald Storey, The Man, delivered at banquet in Dallas, October 2, 1952 4zd114 Yellowstone Park Conference, American Bar Regional Section, November 1952 4zd114 Remarks upon associate justice John H. Sharp, December 17, 1952 4zd114 Remarks before administering oath of office to Judge Frank P. Culver, Jr., January 2, 1953 4zd114 Some types of American lawyers, annual banquet, Virginia State Bar, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, August 8, 1953 4zd115 A message from the conference of chief justices, Boston, August 24, 1953 4zd115 Observations of J. E. Hickman on the Leonardo Da Vinci display in Austin, Texas, November 8, 1953 4zd115 Some observations on the role of a law school, dedication ceremonies, Townes Hall and Tarlton Library, December 5, 1953 4zd115 All letters, greetings, and remarks regarding State Bar Building, Austin, January 22, 1954 4zd115 The lawyer of tomorrow, annual Lawyers Day Banquet, College of Law, the University of Ohio, Columbus, April 24, 1954 4zd115 Remarks upon opening of court in recognition of passing of Associate Justice Graham B. Smedley, June 23, 1954 4zd115 Remarks of J. E. Hickman at induction of Honorable Ruel C. Walker as associate justice of Supreme Court, October 19, 1954, 4zd115 How we meet ourselves, April 20, 1955 4zd115 Cooperation with laymen program, American Bar Association, Dallas, August 29, 1956 4zd115 Greetings to State Bar on celebration of 75th anniversary, May 27, 1957 4zd115 Remarks upon induction of Honorable Joe R. Greenhill as Associate Justice, October 1, 1957 4zd115 Remarks upon retirement of Associate Justice Few Brewster, October 2, 1957 4zd115 Cornerstone laying ceremonies, the Supreme Court Building, December 2, 1957 4zd115 Remarks honoring memory of Associate Justice Few Brewster, January 11, 1958 4zd115 Remarks on occasion of memorial services for Judge John H. Sharp, March 29, 1958 4zd115 Statement regarding Justice Garwood for the Texas Law Review, May 20, 1958 4zd115 Hamilton's induction proceedings, January 5, 1959 4zd115 Some types of American lawyers, reception, Dallas Bar Association, May 2, 1959 4zd115 Remarks on occasion of memorial services for Judge Richard Critz, September 21, 1959 4zd115 Remarks on occasion of memorial services for Judge W. M. Taylor, November 19, 1959 4zd115 Ceremony formally opening quarters of the Texas Supreme Court in the Texas Supreme Court Building, December 3, 1959 4zd115 Response by Judge Hickman, December 21, 1960 4zd115 Materials and data for speeches 4zd115 Miscellaneous materials 4zd115 Tributes and correspondence, retirement, 1958-1962 4zd108 Personal Papers 4zd108 1911 Law class reunions, University of Texas 4zd108 Articles, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and speeches 4zd109 Correspondence 4zd109 From men in the service, 1947, 1952 4zd109 General, 1926-1961 4zd110 Invitations, 1942-1959 4zd110 Personal, 1923-1961 4zd110 Southern Methodist University, 1926-1961 4zd111 Diplomas 4zd111 Honorary Doctor of Laws, Southwestern University, 1953 4zd111 Honorary High School, Eastland High School, 1957 4zd111 Methodist church 4zd111 Correspondence, brochures, articles, 1921-1962 2.116/OD1199 Diploma May 12, 1902 4zd112 Printed Materials 4zd112 Newspaper clippings, 1925-1962 and undated 4zd113 Broadsides 4zd113 Cards 4zd113 Certificates 4zd113 General 4zd113 Election, 1928, 1946, 1954, 1955 4zd113 Southern Methodist University, alumni association 4zd113 Ephemera 4zd113 Journals 4zd113 Assorted publications 4zd113 Texas Bar Journal 4zd114 Texas Bar Journal 4zd114 Texas Law Review 4zd114 Pamphlets 2.325/Lo3c Newspaper clippings, 1926-1974 and undated 2.325/Lo3c Printed material 2.325/Lo3c Certificates 2.116/OD1199 Poster, December 12, 1959 2W53b Photographs 2W53b 1911 Law Class Reunions 2W53b American Bar Association and Conferences of Chief Justices activities, 1948-1960 2W53b Assorted 2W53b Hi-Y Club, Breckenridge, Texas, [ca. 1925] 2W53b Hickman and classes, 1904-1908 2W53b Lampasas baseball team [Duplicate copy, restricted for conservation purposes] 1908 2W53b Hickman and family, 1887-1954 2W53b Hickman and Lena (Petitt) Hickman 2W53b Hickman making speeches, 1955-1957 2W53b Miscellaneous activities, 1940-1961 2W53b Sunday school classes 1918-[ca.1963] 2W53b Supreme Court, Swearing in ceremonies, 1948-1960 2W53b Texas Supreme Court, 1935-1961 3S203 Texas Supreme Court, September 21, 1945 2.116/OD1278 1911 Law Class Luncheon, Dallas, Texas [Restricted for conservation purposes] 2.116/OD1278 Panoramic photograph of general conference of Methodist Episcopal Church South, Chattanooga, Tennessee, July 2, 1924 2.116/OD1278 Conference of Chief Justices, "Visit to Virginia", September 1950 2.116/OD1278 Morning Tower Bible Class, Breckenridge, Texas, 1925 2.116/OD1278 Morning Tower Bible Class, Breckenridge, Texas, July 9, 1939 2.116/OD1278 Southern Methodist University board of trustees [Restricted for conservation purposes] [ca. 1930s]