A Guide to the Laura Burleson Negley Family Papers, 1880-1973 (bulk 1912-1947)

Biographical Note

Laura Burleson Negley was born into a politically prominent family in 1890 in Austin, Texas. Her great grandfather fought in the Texas Revolution, was Vice-President of the Republic of Texas and was a member of the Republic's congress and legislature. Laura's mother, Adele Lubbock Steiner Burleson (1863-1948), was a well-known author and playwright. Laura's father, Albert Sidney Burleson (1863-1937), represented Texas in the U.S. Congress from 1898-1912 and later was appointed Postmaster General by President Woodrow Wilson.

In her youth, Laura spent time in both Washington, D.C., and in Austin, Texas. She attended the University of Texas in Austin where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1911. Laura became active in Democratic Party politics and in suffrage work in the early 1910s. She gave her first public speech advocating women's suffrage in 1912 at one of the largest pro-suffrage rallies of the day in Washington, D.C. This speech was a precursor to the political stands she would take on behalf of equality for women.

In 1912, after a lengthy courtship, Laura married Richard Van Wyck Negley, Sr., and moved to San Antonio, Texas. Richard Negley, her equal in age, was an engineer who founded and operated Negley Paint Company. He later became director of Alamo National Bank in San Antonio. Together Laura and Richard had three children: Albert in 1913, William (Bill) in 1914 and Richard, Jr. (Dickie) in 1915. All three boys were schooled at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Haven, New Hampshire. Albert, the eldest son, attended Yale Law School and Richard, the youngest, graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1939. Tragically, the two brothers lost their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. Albert was taken a prisoner of war by the Japanese in 1943 during the Bataan Campaign. He died early in 1945 of illness while in captivity. Richard was a combat pilot and died in air action against the Japanese on Feb. 8, 1942. Both brothers were honored posthumously and designated bomber aces. William, the only son to survive, graduated from law school at the University of Texas and spent the war years in Caracas, Venezuela, working in an essential industry for Standard Oil Company. He married Carolyn Brown in 1942. Outside of his successful career, William became a world-class crossbow hunter.

In 1928, at the age of 38, Laura became the first woman from Bexar County elected to the Texas legislature. During her first year in office she served the committees on education, state affairs, and criminal jurisprudence. Laura worked on several measures and bills that were of vital importance to women. She successfully sponsored a bill making separate property of the husband and the wife part of the couple's community property. Under the previous law revenues from the husband's separate property remained his, while the wife's income became community property.

As a forceful proponent of solidarity in the Democratic Party, Laura co-piloted the Wirtz bill through the House. The bill gave state executive committees the power to decide voter and candidate qualifications in primaries. She also co-authored legislation that sought equitable taxation of the state's mineral wealth.

After her term in the legislature ended in 1931, Laura did not pursue further elected office. However, she did remain informed on political issues, and encouraged her children to inform themselves on issues and candidates. In honor of their father's political achievements, Laura and her sisters endowed the Albert Sidney Burleson professorship at the School of Law at the University of Texas. In addition, Richard and Laura endowed scholarships at Exeter Phillips Academy in honor of their sons Albert and Richard. Mrs. Negley passed away at the age of 83 after succumbing to sudden illness in 1973. Surviving her was her husband, Richard, and son, William.

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Scope and Content Note

The Laura Burleson Negley Family Papers span three generations of the Burleson and Negley families in Texas, but primarily consist of the correspondence of Laura Burleson Negley, her husband Richard Van Wyck Negley and their sons Albert, William and Richard.

The collection primarily consists of correspondence between Laura Burleson Negley and her immediate family members, but also includes speeches, memorabilia, clippings and photographs. Collectively these papers show the social and business ties that the family maintained in San Antonio, and illustrate the etiquette and social customs of the time. The papers also personalize the war experience and its impact on families in San Antonio. The collection is arranged into six series that largely reflect the family structure: Early Family History, Laura Burleson Negley, Richard Van Wyck Negley, Sr., Sons, Parents, and Photographs.

The bulk of the collection documents Laura Burleson Negley from her engagement in 1912 through the pain of the deaths of her two sons in the mid-1940s. Both personal and business correspondence provides insight into Mrs. Negley's political views, values, lifestyle and societal status. Personal correspondence traces the close relationships between Mrs. Negley, her husband and her children over time. The almost weekly correspondence with her sons documents the challenges and successes they faced throughout preparatory school, college and young adulthood. The sons' letters also reveal how Laura and Richard's status, values, and expectations influenced their children's lives. A significant number of letters written during World War II recount the sons' opinions of and experiences during the war. Correspondence also clearly shows an outpouring of community support for Richard and Laura as they grieved the loss of their eldest and youngest sons who died in service to their country. Laura's relationships with her parents and siblings are documented through personal correspondence as well.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Researchers are required to wear gloves provided by the Archives when reviewing photographic materials.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish from the Negley Papers must be obtained from the Archives and Special Collections, Library, University of Texas at San Antonio.

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Laura Burleson Negley Family Papers, 1880-1973 (bulk 1912-1947), MS 84, Archives and Special Collections, Library, University of Texas at San Antonio.

Acquisition Information

Materials were donated by Laura Negley Gill in 1999 (Acc. 1999-010).

Processing Information

Initial arrangement by Jill Jackson, processed by Toni Jeske, Processing Archivist, October, 2000.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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