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Hamilton Lokey Papers

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.MSS349

Scope and Content

This collection includes the professional papers of Hamilton Lokey which document his career as an attorney. Personal papers include correspondence, speeches and addresses given during his career in the Georgia General Assembly, as well as a copy of his autobiography The Low Key Life of Ham Lokey and several poems he wrote. The majority of the collection includes court records compiled as a result of litigation against the proprietors of the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta.

Dates

  • 1893, 1944-1979, undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. All requests to publish, quote, or reproduce must be submitted through the Kenan Research Center.

Administrative/Biographical History

Hamilton Lokey (1910-1996) was an Atlanta attorney and politician. Born in Atlanta, Georgia to parents Hugh (1876-1957) and Rebecca (1879-?), he had three siblings, Hugh Jr. (1970-1975), his sister Boyce (1909-?), and younger brother Charles (1914-2008). Lokey graduated from the University of Georgia and was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1933. He established the Atlanta law firm of Lokey and Bowden with Henry Bowden in 1939. Lokey enlisted in the United States Navy and served from 1942-1945 and from 1950-1951. In 1944 he married Muriel Mattson and had five children: Hamilton, Jr. (1945- ), William (1947- ), Fletcher (1949- ), Ann (1952- ), and Rebecca. After World War II he returned to his law practice and represented the insurance company for the Winecoff Hotel against litigants suing for damages as a result of a disastrous fire in 1946. Lokey was elected to the Georgia General Assembly from Fulton County and served from 1953-1956. In 1958, Lokey and his wife Muriel were among the founders of H.O.P.E., Inc. (Help Our Public Education) a nonprofit, largely-volunteer organization whose objective was to prevent the closing of public schools under any circumstances during the school desegregation crisis. Lokey continued his law career and gave dozens of speeches on the issues of school desegregation and the legal profession.

Extent

4.5 linear ft.

Language

English

System of Arrangement

Arranged in two series: (1) Personal Papers, and (2) Winecoff Hotel Fire Litigation Records. Each series is organized alphabetically according to titles supplied by staff.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Hamilton Lokey, 1976 (1976.211, 1976.186, 1976.265) and 1981 (1981.215)

Related Materials

Hamilton Lokey photographs, VIS 175, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center

General Physical Description note

Extent: 4.5 linear ft. (11 document cases)

Description Control

Collection reprocessed in 2009

Title
Hamilton Lokey Papers ahc.MSS 349
Subtitle
An Inventory of His Papers at the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center
Author
Inventory prepared by Paul Crater
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

Contact:
130 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30305
404-814-4040