Second President Supreme Court Historical Society 1980-1987
Linwood Holton served as the second President of the Society for seven years, from 1980 to 1987. At the time of his service, Holton had served as Governor of Virginia and as the founding Chairman of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. He was also highly respected in the Washington D.C. political and social world. Governor Holton had a warm and affable manner and was elected to succeed Elizabeth Hughes Gossett, the first President of the Society, and the youngest daughter of Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes.
Governor Holton had strong connections within the Washington area and attracted a strong cadre of new supporters into the Society. Under the leadership of Governor Holton, the Society had many outstanding achievements. The most significant was the purchase of the Society’s first headquarters building located on Second Street, NE immediately behind the Supreme Court Building. Within a short period, all loans pertaining to the purchase of the building were retired. Publications were perhaps the second greatest accomplishment of those seven years. During his tenure, the signature publications of the Society were produced. These included issues of the Yearbook of Supreme Court History (the predecessor of the current Journal of Supreme Court History,) and the Quarterly magazine. New publications included The Index to Opinions, the first volume of The Documentary History of the Supreme Court 1789-1810, the first Society-produced edition of Equal Justice under Law with an accompanying Teachers Guide, and the Illustrated History of the Supreme Court. Under his presidency, the Society also continued to acquire artifacts and furnishings of historic importance related to the history of the Court. Of perhaps equal significance to these accomplishments was a significant improvement in the financial standing of the Society, including a significant increase in membership income as well as a reduction of liabilities.
Following his service as President of the Society, Holton continued his association with the Society. The Society is pleased to pay tribute to Governor Holton, an early and outstanding leader whose accomplishments helped put the Society on sure footing.