W. E. Pope Papers

Collection

Identifier: Coll-15

Staff Only

This collection contains information on the history of Corpus Christi and the surrounding region, along with Mr. Pope’s contributions to the development of South Texas. The papers comprise real estate and business files, including office files from the Corpus Christi law firm of Scott, Boone & Pope, along with legislative and other correspondence from Pope’s tenure in the Texas House of Representatives. The majority of the documents were created between 1850-1944; a few biographical items circa 1960s-1980s are included.

Dates

Majority of material found within 1850-1944
1831-1987

Creator

Pope, Walter Elmer, 1879-1944 (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

This material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to taking precautions against infringement of copyright and respecting the publication rights of reproduced materials. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Any materials used should be fully credited with their source according to the example given in the Preferred Citation note. Requests for assistance with citations and images of publication quality should be directed to specialcollections@tamucc.edu

Extent

70 Linear Feet

Abstract

Walter Elmer Pope was a Corpus Christi attorney, real estate developer, civic leader, and state representative from South Texas. The collection includes 70 linear feet of papers from Pope’s legal practice and business office, as well as his correspondence as a state legislator. The majority of the documents were created between 1850-1944; a few biographical items circa 1960s-1980s are included.

Biographical / Historical

Walter Elmer Pope (1879-1944) was an attorney, real estate developer, and state representative. Pope was born on February 9, 1879, in Leon County, Texas. He attended public school in Leona, graduated from Burnetta College with a bachelor’s degree in literature, attended Fort Worth University, and graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1902. That same year, Mr. Pope began his law career in Madisonville, Texas. He was elected district attorney for the 12th Judicial District which included the counties of Leon, Madison, Grimes, Walker and Trinity. He resigned from that position in 1908 to move to Corpus Christi. There he formed a law partnership with G.R. Scott, a prominent attorney and land agent. Gordon Boone, a future mayor of Corpus Christi, joined the firm in 1911. Mr. Pope was elected City Attorney and married Lucille Scott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G.R. Scott, in 1912.

Mr. Pope was elected to the Texas legislature in 1916. In 1924, he resigned from the legislature to launch an unsuccessful bid for governor. He was re-elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1928 and held that position until 1940. An influential member of the legislature, Mr. Pope was affectionately called "Uncle Elmer" by family, friends, and colleagues. During his 22 years in the Texas House, Mr. Pope was credited with having introduced more bills than any other representative or senator of his time. In 1917, he sponsored a bill calling for remission of ad valorem taxes to help finance the building of the seawall for Corpus Christi. In 1919, he sponsored a similar bill to help finance the construction of the Port of Corpus Christi, in addition to donating land where the first turning basin was dug. Mr. Pope introduced bills which provided for the construction of a highway to the Rio Grande Valley, and the purchase of 90,000 acres of land on Padre Island for use as public parks.

In 1917, Mr. Pope purchased the Corpus Christi Democrat and changed the paper's name to the Corpus Christi Times. He sold the Times in 1928 to finance the construction of the ten story Medical Professional Building, a sign of modern architecture for Corpus Christi. As a land agent, he was involved in numerous land development projects throughout the city. He was instrumental in the establishment of Texas A&I University in Kingsville. Mr. Pope likewise worked on the building of a causeway to Padre Island, along with various bayfront improvement projects in Corpus Christi.

The Popes did not have children. Walter Elmer Pope died on November 2, 1944, from a cerebral hemorrhage and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Corpus Christi. His list of accomplishments for Corpus Christi are evinced in the documents he generated during a lifetime of service to his city and region.

Arrangement

Many of the files have not been organized into series. However, part of the collection has been arranged in the following order: (1) Office files of the Corpus Christi law firm of Scott, Boone, & Pope (2) Legislative and other correspondence of W.E. Pope during his tenure in the Texas House of Representatives (3) W.E. Pope's real estate and other business office files (4) W.E. Pope’s personal and biographical materials

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The W.E. Pope Papers were donated to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Library in 1991 by Judge Jack Pope, retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas.