Frank W. Wilson Papers
The majority of this collection documents Wilson's service in the Jimmy Hoffa trial and Estes Kefauver's 1948 presidential bid (Wilson served as campaign manager). Other material includes opinions, speeches, minutes, and correspondence dating between 1940 and 1982.
Dates
- 1944-1982
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
25 Linear Feet (51 boxes)
Abstract
This collection documents Wilson’s service as presiding judge in the Jimmy Hoffa trial and Estes Kefauver’s 1948 presidential bid (Wilson served as campaign manager). Other material includes opinions, speeches, minutes, and correspondence dating between 1940 and 1982.
Biographical/Historical Note
Frank Wiley Wilson was born on June 21, 1917 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was educated at the University of Tennessee, earning his B.A. in 1939 and his LL.B. in 1941. He was admitted to the bar in 1941 and began practicing law with Poore, Cramer, & Cox. Wilson remained with this firm until May 1942, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. After being honorably discharged in 1946, he returned to Knoxville and founded a law practice with his lifelong friend Eugene Joyce. In addition to his work with Wilson & Joyce, Wilson also served as County Attorney for Anderson County (1948-1950) and City Attorney for Norris, Tennessee (1950-1961). Wilson ran for Congress in 1950, being defeated by Howard Baker Sr. for the second congressional district of Tennessee. Wilson left the practice of law in 1961 when he accepted the position of U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee. He was promoted to chief judge in 1969, and remained at this post until his death on September 29, 1982.
Wilson married Helen Elizabeth Warwick on April 6, 1942, and the couple had two sons: Frank Carl and William Randal.
Arrangement
The collection contains nine series:
Missing Title
- Series I: Court Transcripts, 1964-1967
- Series II: Daily Trial Notes, 1964-1982
- Series III: General File, 1933-1975
- Series IV: Jury System, 1969-1970
- Series V: Minutes, 1961-1982
- Series VI: Opinions, 1961-1982
- Series VII: Speech Books
- Series VIII: Speech Material, 1948-1982
- Series IX: Oversized
Previous Citation
This collection was previously listed as MS.1160
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository