urn:taro:utexas.law.00029 Guide to the James W. McClendon Papers at the Tarlton Law Library Tarlton Law Library The University of Texas at Austin2007 Processed by Megan Mummey, Laurel Rozema, Bijal Patel and Simon Staats. Arrangement and finding aid edited by Jennifer Cummings. 2007 Finding aid written in English. James W. McClendon Papers Tarlton Law Library The University of Texas at Austin 2007 Collection Summary (Overall) McClendon, James W. James W. McClendon Papers 1910-1967 Correspondence, minutes and agenda, legal documents, newspaper clippings, financial documents, reports, maps, and other materials illustrate James W. McClendon's involvement in local, state, and national legal organizations and associations. 10.5 linear feet (21 boxes) Rare Books & Special Collections, Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin
727 E. Dean Keeton St., Austin, TX 78705-3224, (512) 471-7263
 Historical Background

Born in West Point, Georgia, on November 1, 1873, to James Wooten and Annie Eliza (Thompson) McClendon, James Wooten McClendon (1873-1972) was a lawyer, judge, and chief justice of the Texas Court of Civil Appeals in Austin.

After receiving his B.A. degree from the University of Texas in 1895, and graduating from the first class of the University of Texas law school in 1897, McClendon began a law practice in Austin. He was active with the University of Texas Law Association and, in 1916-1917, was Secretary on the Association's Joint Committee on Legal Reform. On October 7, 1919, he was named associate justice on the Texas Supreme Court Commission of Appeals, serving until December 1923. That year, Governor Pat Neff appointed McClendon chief justice of the Court of Civil Appeals for the 3rd Judicial District (Austin), a position he held until retirement in 1949.

McClendon was a committed proponent of judicial reform and court reorganization for the state of Texas, and corresponded with several national organizations, state judicial councils and members of the judiciary to learn more about and advocate these issues. In 1929, McClendon was instrumental in the creation of the Texas Civil Judicial Council (TCJC), and was an esteemed member of that organization beyond his retirement. He served on various TCJC committees, most notably the Committee on Court Reorganization. Additionally, he was the Chairman of the Texas State Bar Association Committee on Administration and Remedial Reform and a member of the Texas State Bar Association Special Committee on the Revision of the Constitution and By-laws. In 1940, the Texas Supreme Court appointed McClendon to an advisory committee to revise the rules of civil procedure and a sub-committee on appellate procedure. Additionally, in 1945, McClendon served on the State Bar Committee on the Improvement of the Administration of Justice.

McClendon also belonged to the American Judicature Society and the American Law Institute, but was most active as a member of the National Conference of Judicial Councils (NCJC) and the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Judicial Administration. In 1937, McClendon served as Chairman of the Committee on Coordination for the ABA Section of Judicial Administration, the National Conference of Judicial Councils, and the American Judicature Society. In 1939 and 1940, McClendon served as Chairman of the NCJC and Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the ABA Section of Judicial Administration. As chairman of the NCJC, McClendon oversaw the first publications of the Judicial Administration Series.

In 1948, McClendon presided over the landmark case Sweatt v. Painter, in which Heman M. Sweatt, a black postal employee, argued that he was denied entry to the UT law school due to his race. McClendon's decision ruled in favor of the state's "separate but equal" standard for state schools, and was overruled in 1950 by the United States Supreme Court.

McClendon was also a director and a member of the board of editors of the Texas Law Review, a member of the Philosophical Society of Texas (1939), a Mason, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas (1930), and a member of Town and Gown. He married Anne Hale Watt on December 14, 1904; they had two children. McClendon died in Austin on January 9, 1972, and was buried in the State Cemetery.

 Contents of the Collection

Correspondence, minutes and agenda, legal documents, newspaper clippings, financial documents, reports, maps, and other materials (1910-1967, 10.5 linear feet) illustrate James W. McClendon's involvement in local, state, and national legal organizations and associations. Arranged in three subgroups comprised of Texan Legal Organizations, National Legal Organizations, and Assorted Professional Material, the papers document McClendon's work as chief justice of the Texas Court of Civil Appeals, 3rd District in Austin, as chairman of the National Conference of Judicial Councils, and as a member on committees and sub-committees for the American Bar Association, Texas Civil Judicial Council, American Judicature Society, and other organizations. McClendon sorted his files by organization, and some overlap occurs among the material due to the interaction between different organizations.

Texan Legal Organizations (1910-1964, 5.5 linear ft.) contains five series: I. Texas Civil Judicial Council (1922-1964, 3 linear ft.); II. Texas Court of Civil Appeals (1919-1961, 1 linear ft.); III. Texas State Bar Association (1914-1953, 1 linear ft.); IV. Texas Supreme Court (1918-1951, 0.25 linear ft.) , and; V. University of Texas (1910-1964, 0.25 linear ft.). Series I reveals Judge McClendon’s involvement in the Texas Civil Judicial Council, including its formation, participation in state legal issues such as court reorganization, as well as communication with other states’ judicial councils. The series contains correspondence about the court reorganization and judicial reform movements in Texas, and throughout the United States, along with several drafts of legislation amending Article V of the state constitution. Series II contains case administration from the 3rd judicial district Court of Civil Appeals as well as Appellate Judges Association material that illuminates the operations of the state’s civil appeals courts. Series III documents the State Bar’s activities in regards to judicial salaries and retirement as well as its recommendations for state legislation. Series IV contains Texas Supreme Court material documenting McClendon 's involvement with its Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure, case administration materials from the Commission of Appeals, and correspondence regarding McClendon's potential appointment to the Supreme Court. Series V contains correspondence with the University of Texas as well as printed material, creative works, and clippings about legal issues, the Law Association, and the Law Review.

National Legal Organizations (1918-1967, 4 linear ft.), contains five series: VI. American Bar Association (1918-1966, 2 linear ft.); VII. American Judicature Society (1928-1967, 0.5 linear ft.); VIII. American Law Institute (1925-1951, 0.25 linear ft.); IX. Institute of Judicial Administration (1954-1967, 0.01 linear ft.), and; X. National Conference of Judicial Councils (1929-1954, 1.5 linear ft.). Series VI contains material documenting McClendon's participation in the American Bar Association (ABA), primarily via the Section of Judicial Administration. Series VII documents McClendon's involvement in the American Judicature Society. Series VIII concerns the American Law Institute. Series IX contains correspondence from the Institute of Judicial Administration regarding meetings, conferences, and administrative matters. Series X illustrates McClendon's involvement with the National Conference of Judicial Councils.

Assorted Professional Material (1926-1966, 1 linear ft.), contains four series: XI. Vanderbilt, Arthur T. (1937-1954, 0.25 linear ft.); XII. Philosophical Society of Texas (1939-1954, 0.15 linear ft.); XIII. Freemasonry (1938-1953, 0.1 linear ft.), and; XIV. Assorted (1926-1966, 0.5 linear ft.). Series XI contains correspondence with, and publications by, Judge Arthur T. Vanderbilt on various legal organizations and professional issues. Series XII contains correspondence and printed material regarding McClendon's involvement with the Philosophical Society of Texas. Series XIII documents McClendon's admittance to and participation with the Masons, including the Scottish Rite and the Grand Lodge of Texas. Series XIV includes correspondence, printed material, handwritten notes, and newspaper clippings about legal issues or McClendon himself.

 Access Restrictions

None.

 Administrative Information Cite As

James W. McClendon Papers, Tarlton Law Library, University of Texas at Austin.

 Acquisition Information

Donated ca. 1959-1960.

 Processing History

Processed by Megan Mummey, Laurel Rozema, Bijal Patel and Simon Staats, Fall 2007. Arrangement and finding aid edited by Jennifer Cummings, 2009.

Texas Legal Organizations, 1910-1965 Texas Civil Judicial Council, 1922-1964 General, 1933, 1950-1958 McClendon 1 1 General, 1933, 1950-1958 Formation, 1922-1933 McClendon 1 2 Texas Judicial Advisory Committee, 1929 McClendon 1 3 Correspondence, 1927-1931 McClendon 1 4 Legal Documents and Drafts, circa 1929 McClendon 1 5 Reports, circa 1922-1928 McClendon 1 6 Creative Works, circa 1929 McClendon 1 7 Clippings, 1927-1933 Court Reorganization, 1930-1962 McClendon 1 Correspondence,[2 Folders] McClendon 1 8 1933-1948 McClendon 1 9 1933-1948 McClendon 1 10 Constitutional Amendments to Article V, circa 1931-1946 McClendon 2 1 Legal Documents and Drafts, 1941 McClendon 2 2 Reports, 1941-1948 McClendon 2 3 Clippings, 1933-1936, 1944-1948 McClendon 2 4 Printed Material, 1930-circa 1936, 1943-1947, 1962 McClendon 2 Non-Texan Printed Material,[2 Folders] McClendon 2 5 1939-1954 McClendon 2 6 1939-1954 Meetings, 1930-1959 McClendon 2 Correspondence,[2 Folders] McClendon 2 7 1930-1934 McClendon 3 1 1937-1954 McClendon 3 Minutes and Agenda,[3 Folders] McClendon 3 2 1930-1948 McClendon 3 3 1951-1959 McClendon 3 4 1960-1964 McClendon 3 5 Clippings, 1932-1943 Committees, 1930-1963 McClendon 3 Correspondence,[2 Folders] McClendon 3 6 1931-1954 McClendon 3 7 1931-1954 McClendon 4 1 Reports, 1941 McClendon 4 2 Financial Documents, 1930-1934, 1940-1947, 1955-1963 McClendon 4 3 Administrative Information, 1947-1948, 1963 McClendon 4 4 Clippings, Undated Arbitration Bills and Statutes, 1944-1948 McClendon 4 5 Correspondence, 1944-1948 McClendon 4 6 Legal Documents and Drafts, 1946-1947 McClendon 4 7 Clippings, 1946 Adminstrative Procedure Act, 1939-1947 McClendon 4 8 Correspondence, 1945-1947 McClendon 4 9 Reports, 1946 McClendon 4 10 Legal Documents and Drafts, 1942, 1944 McClendon 4 11 Printed Material, 1939-1946 Legislative Bills, Resolutions, and Statutes, 1929-1959 McClendon 5 1 General, Undated McClendon 5 Correspondence,[3 Folders] McClendon 5 2 1929-1939 McClendon 5 3 1929-1939 McClendon 5 4 1940-1952 McClendon 5 5 Legal Documents and Drafts, 1931-1935, 1942, 1950-1959 McClendon 5 6 Clippings, 1930-1943 Council Membership, 1929-1960 McClendon 6 1 Appointments, 1929-1951 McClendon 6 2 Administrative Information, 1929-1948, 1960 McClendon 6 3 Clippings, 1933-1949 Annual Reports, 1930-1951 McClendon 6 Correspondence,[2 Folders] McClendon 6 4 1930-1939 McClendon 6 5 1940-1951 McClendon 6 6 Reports, 1941 McClendon 6 7 Clippings, 1932-1940 Study of Court Redistricting and Court Administrator, 1948-1963 McClendon 6 8 Reports, 1948-1963 Non-Texas Judicial Councils, 1930-1948 McClendon 6 9 Correspondence, 1930-1948 Assorted, 1930-1964 McClendon 6 10 Correspondence, 1930-1959 McClendon 6 11 Printed Material, 1931, 1941-1950 McClendon 6 12 Clippings, 1933-1964 McClendon 7 1 Notes, Undated Texas Court of Civil Appeals, 1919-1961 General, 1932-1961 McClendon 7 2 Correspondence, 1932-1941 McClendon 7 3 Creative Works, 1961 McClendon 7 4 Printed Material, 1944, 1948 McClendon 7 5 Clippings, 1948 Appellate Judges Association, 1925-1947 McClendon 7 Correspondence,[3 Folders] McClendon 7 6 1925-1927 McClendon 7 7 1927 McClendon 7 8 1928-1930, 1947 McClendon 7 9 Meeting Minutes and Agenda, 1925-1931 McClendon 8 1 Reports, 1926 McClendon 8 2 Legal Documents and Drafts, 1926-1927

One oversized document removed. Seperation sheet included in folder.

McClendon 8 3 Creative Works, 1925-1939 McClendon 8 4 Membership, Undated McClendon 8 5 Clippings, 1926-1929 Case Administration, 1919-1949 McClendon 8 Third Judicial District Dockets,[3 Folders] McClendon 8 6 1923-1949 McClendon 8 7 1932-1945 McClendon 8 8 1932-1940 McClendon 8 9 Statewide Case Transfer Files, 1919-1947

One oversized document removed. Seperation sheet included in folder.

Texas State Bar Association, 1914-1965 Committee on Administration and Remedial Reform, 1933-1965 McClendon 8 10 Correspondence, 1933-1937, 1946 McClendon 9 1 Reports, 1933 McClendon 9 2 Legal Documents and Drafts, 1964-1965 McClendon 9 3 Reports, 1933 Special Committee on the Revision of the Constitution and By-Laws, 1930-1934 McClendon 9 3 Correspondence, 1930-1933 McClendon 9 4 Reports, Undated McClendon 9 5 Legal Documents and Drafts, 1931 McClendon 9 6 Printed Material, 1931-1934 Judicial Section, 1936-1963 General, 1937-1949 McClendon 9 7 Correspondence, 1937-1949 Judicial Salaries, 1936-1946 McClendon 9 8 Correspondence, 1936-1947 McClendon 9 9 Reports, 1937 McClendon 9 10 Printed Material, 1943-1946 Judicial Retirement, 1947-1963 McClendon 9 11 Correspondence, 1947-1948 McClendon 9 12 Articles, 1947-1948 McClendon 9 13 Bills and Resolutions, 1947, 1963 Meetings, 1926-1947 McClendon 9 14 Correspondence, 1928-1940 McClendon 9 15 Programs, 1926-1947 State Bar Act, 1933-1939 McClendon 9 16 Correspondence, 1934-1939 McClendon 10 1 Legal Documents and Drafts, Undated McClendon 10 2 Clippings, 1933-1937 McClendon 10 3 Reports, Undated McClendon 10 4 Printed Material, 1931-1937 Rule-Making Bill, 1933-1937 McClendon 10 5 Correspondence, 1933-1937 McClendon 10 6 Committee Reports, Undated McClendon 10 7 Legal Documents and Drafts, Undated Bar Association Representative Government and Organization, 1928-1929 McClendon 10 8 Correspondence, 1928-1929 McClendon 10 9 Resolution, Undated Committees, 1914-1942 McClendon 10 10 Correspondence, 1914, 1926, 1936-1942 McClendon 10 11 Reports, 1930 Assorted, 1926-1962 McClendon 10 12 Correspondence, 1926-1948 McClendon 10 13 Printed Material, 1929-1953, 1962 McClendon 10 14 Clippings, 1926-1939 McClendon 10 15 Notes, Undated Texas Supreme Court, 1918-1965 Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, 1939-1965 McClendon 10 Correspondence,[3 Folders] McClendon 10 16 1939-1945 McClendon 10 17 1945-1949 McClendon 10 18 1956-1965 McClendon 11 1 Committeee Report, 1940 McClendon 11 2 Legal Documents, 1948-1949 McClendon 11 3 Printed Material, 1939-1951 Commission of Appeals, 1918-1923 McClendon 11 4 Case Administration, 1918-1923 Appointment to the Texas Supreme Court, 1929 McClendon 11 5 Correspondence, 1929 University of Texas, 1910-1964 General, 1917-1945 McClendon 11 6 Printed Material, 1917-1945 McClendon 11 7 Creative Works, 1945 McClendon 11 8 Clippings, Undated McClendon 11 9 Correspondence, 1939 Board of Regents, 1910-1911 McClendon 11 10 Meeting Minutes, 1910-1911 UT Law Association Judicial Reform Joint Committee, 1916-1918 McClendon 11 11 Correspondence, 1916-1918 McClendon 11 12 Minutes and Agenda, 1916 McClendon 11 13 Legal Documents and Drafts, 1916 McClendon 11 14 Printed Material, 1917 McClendon 11 15 Assorted, 1916-1917 UT Law Review Board of Directors, 1964 McClendon 11 16 Meeting Minutes, 1964 National Legal Organizations, 1914-1967 American Bar Association, 1914-1966 General, 1934-1941 McClendon 12 1 Correspondence, 1934-1941 House of Delegates, 1918-1941 McClendon 12 2 Correspondence, 1918, 1923, 1938-1941 Section of Judicial Administration, 1930-1947 General, 1941 McClendon 12 3 General, 1941 Meetings, 1930-1941 McClendon 12 4 Correspondence, 1930-1941 McClendon 12 5 Minutes and Agenda, 1937-1941 Administration, 1935-1941 McClendon 10 Correspondence,[3 Folders] McClendon 12 6 1935-1939 McClendon 12 7 1940 McClendon 12 8 1941 McClendon 13 1 Financial Documents, 1937-1941 Reports, 1938-1945 McClendon 13 2 Reports, 1938-1945 Committees, 1935-1947 McClendon 13 3 Correspondence, 1935-1947 Committee on Coordination, 1935-1944 McClendon 13 4 General, 1936 McClendon 13 5 Correspondence, 1935-1937 McClendon 13 6 Committee on Administrative Agencies and Tribunals Report, 1939 McClendon 13 7 Committee on Improvements in the Law of Evidence Report, 1938 McClendon 13 8 Reports, 1937-1944 Study Material, 1939-1940 McClendon 14 1 Correspondence, 1939-1940 McClendon 14 2 Surveys and Questionnaires, Undated Assorted, 1935-1963 McClendon 14 3 Correspondence, 1935-1946, 1963 McClendon 14 4 Outline for Handbook of Section Chairman, 1941 McClendon 14 5 Printed Material, 1936-1939 McClendon 14 6 Clippings, 1937-1938 McClendon 14 7 Notes, 1938 Conferences, 1929-1966 McClendon 14 8 Correspondence, 1930-1940, 1948, 1964-1966 McClendon 14 9 Minutes and Agenda, 1936, 1939 McClendon 14 10 Deep South Regional Meeting, 1955 McClendon 14 Registration Lists,[2 Folders] McClendon 14 11 1929-1936 McClendon 14 12 1937-1940 McClendon 14 Programs,[2 Folders] McClendon 14 13 1930-1937 McClendon 15 1 1937-1955 McClendon 15 2 Entertainment Programs, 1930-1940 McClendon 15 3 Menus and Seating Plans, 1929-1951 McClendon 15 4 Tickets, 1930-1939 McClendon 15 5 Maps, 1935-1936

One oversized document removed. Seperation sheet included in folder.

Committees and Sections, 1914-1945 McClendon 15 6 Correspondence, 1935-1945 McClendon 15 Reports,[2 Folders] McClendon 15 7 1939-1945 McClendon 15 8 1914-1951 Campaigns for ABA President, 1936-1941 McClendon 16 1 Lawther, Harry, 1936 McClendon 16 2 Simmons, David, 1939-1941 Printed Material, 1916-1965 McClendon 16 3 Lawther, Harry, 1916-1965 American Judicature Society, 1928-1967 General, 1928-1931, 1962 McClendon 16 4 General, 1928-1931, 1962 Meetings, 1928-1967 McClendon 16 5 Correspondence, 1928-1967 McClendon 16 6 Minutes and Programs, 1928, 1937-1942 Questionnaire on Judicial Councils, 1939 McClendon 16 7 Reports, 1939 McClendon 16 8 Correspondence, 1939 McClendon 16 9 Notes, Undated Publications, 1929-1964 McClendon 16 10 Correspondence, 1929-1941 McClendon 16 11 Reports, 1940-1956 McClendon 16 12 Journal of the American Judicature Society, 1930-1931 McClendon 16 13 Oyez, 1962, 1964 Membership, 1929-1941 McClendon 17 1 Correspondence, 1929-1941 McClendon 17 2 Nominations, 1939 Texas Civil Judicial Council, 1929-1965 McClendon 17 3 Correspondence, 1929-1938, 1965 Assorted, 1931-1942 McClendon 17 4 Correspondence, 1931-1942 McClendon 17 5 Notes, Undated McClendon 17 6 Financial Documents, 1935 American Law Institute, 1925-1967 Membership, 1935-1950 McClendon 17 7 Correspondence, 1935-1950 McClendon 17 8 Proposal Forms, Undated Meetings, 1925-1951 McClendon 17 9 Correspondence, 1935-1950 McClendon 17 10 Programs and Agenda, 1925-1951 Assorted, 1926-1948 McClendon 17 11 Reports, 1931, 1948 McClendon 17 12 Correspondence, 1926-1948 McClendon 17 13 Printed Material, 1926, 1930, 1942 McClendon 17 14 Notes, Undated Institute of Judicial Administration, 1954-1967 McClendon 17 15 Correspondence, 1954-1967 McClendon 17 16 Publications, 1962-1963 National Conference of Judicial Councils, 1930-1954 General, 1929-1931 McClendon 17 17 General, 1931 McClendon 17 18 Formation Correspondence, 1929-1930 Conferences, 1930-1954 McClendon 18 Reports,[3 Folders] McClendon 18 1 Correspondence, 1930-1933 McClendon 18 2 Correspondence, 1934-1940 McClendon 18 3 Correspondence, 1940, 1954 McClendon 18 4 Minutes and Agenda, 1931-1939 McClendon 18 5 Speeches, 1930-1933 McClendon 18 6 Map, 1935-1936

One oversized document removed. Seperation sheet included in folder.

McClendon 18 7 Notes, 1930 Membership, 1933-1940 McClendon 19 1 Correspondence, 1933-1940 McClendon 19 2 Member Lists, Undated Handbook, 1932-1947 McClendon 19 3 Correspondence, 1932-1947 Questionnaire, 1932, 1939, 1948-1949 McClendon 19 4 Questionnaire, 1932, 1939, 1948-1949 Judicial Administration Series, 1938-1954 McClendon 19 5 Correspondence, 1938-1940, 1954 McClendon 19 6 Seal Design, 1939 McClendon 19 7 Contract, 1939 McClendon 19 8 Criminal Appeals in America by Lester B. Orfield- Correspondence, 1938-1940 McClendon 19 Organization of Courts by Roscoe Pound,[2 Folders] McClendon 19 9 Correspondence, 1939-1940 McClendon 19 10 Manuscripts, Undated McClendon 19 11 Civil Appellate Procedure by Roscoe Pound- Correspondence, 1940 Traffic Court Study, 1938-1940 McClendon 19 12 Correspondence, 1938-1939 McClendon 19 13 Printed Material, 1940 Judicial Statistics, 1932 McClendon 19 14 Correspondence, 1932 McClendon 19 15 Articles, Undated Assorted, 1931-1949 McClendon 19 16 Financial Documents, 1939-1940 McClendon 20 1 Correspondence, 1933-1940 McClendon 20 2 Printed Material, 1931-1949 Assorted Professional Material, 1926-1966 Vanderbilt, Arthur T., 1945-1953 General, 1945-1953 McClendon 20 3 Correspondence, 1945-1953 Institute of Judicial Administration, 1945-1953 McClendon 20 4 Correspondence, 1945-1953 McClendon 20 Printed Material,[3 Folders] McClendon 20 5 1952-1953 McClendon 20 6 1937-1951 McClendon 20 7 1951-1954 Philosophical Society of Texas, 1939-1954 McClendon 20 8 Correspondence, 1939-1953 McClendon 21 Printed Material,[2 Folders] McClendon 21 1 1949-1954 McClendon 21 2 1942-1954 Masonic Material, 1938-1953 McClendon 21 3 Correspondence, 1938, 1941 McClendon 21 4 Printed Material, 1943-1953 McClendon 21 5 Financial Documents, 1941 Assorted, 1926-1966 McClendon 21 6 Correspondence, 1928, 1938-1941, 1948 McClendon 21 Printed Material,[3 Folders] McClendon 21 7 1926-1955 McClendon 21 8 1926-1955 McClendon 21 9 1926-1958 McClendon 21 10 Ephemera, 1936-1966 McClendon 21 11 Notes, Undated McClendon 21 12 Clippings, 1931-1945, 1957