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Archives and Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library, Virginia Union University
L. Douglas Wilder Library© 2002 By Virginia Union University. All rights reserved.
Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by: Suzanne K. Durham
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Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert III Papers, MS-0009, Archives and Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library, Virginia Union University
Donated to the department by Sen. Lambert.
Born in Henrico County on January 29, 1937, Benjamin Lambert III has been a Virginia state legislator since 1978. He graduated from Virginia Randolph High School in 1955 and Virginia Union University in 1959 with a BA in math. According to the 1959 VUU yearbook, Lambert was class president and a member of the yearbook staff, Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, the Math Club, band, the Panhellenic Council and Omega PSI PHI fraternity.
Lambert is an optometrist by profession, having graduated from the Massachusetts College of Optometry and attended the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He belongs to the Virginia Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association, the National Optometric Association and the Richmond Medical Society.
He is married to Carolyn Morris Lambert and they have four children. Lambert is a member of the Westwood Baptist Church.
Lambert was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1978-1985. He has been a senator representing the 9th district since 1986. During his senator career, he has served on numerous committees, including chairing the Subcommittee on Higher Education.
Throughout his career, Lambert has led a very active civic life with service to a number of organizations such as the NAACP, the Richmond Crusade for Voters, the Jackson Ward Civic Association, the Richmond Jaycees and the North Richmond YMCA. As of the year 2000, Lambert was serving on the boards of Consolidated Bank and Trust, Dominion Resources Inc., USA Education Inc., Virginia Union University, VCU Health Systems Authority, Virginia College Fund, Virginia Randolph Foundation, the Black History Museum and the Barksdale Theatre.
This collection consists primarily of Sen. Lambert's Correspondence from constituents and lobby groups during the years 1991-2000. Included with much of the correspondence are fact sheets and reports compiled specifically for consideration by the legislators during the legislative sessions. It provides a window on the issues of the times. In some cases, this correspondence portrays the tragic stories of those "less fortunate" as they provide hearbreaking detail of tragedy and misfortune which the writers hope the passage or voting down of a new piece of legislation will correct.
There is a smaller segment of correspondence from Lambert to his constituents. The collection will continue to grow as Lambert transfers these materials each year to VUU Special Collections from his senate offices.
Collection is arranged by series and chronological therein.
Organization Series 1. Correspondence Series 2. Legislative Reports Series 3. Constituent Ballots Series 4. Fact Sheets Series 5. Miscellaneous Certificates, Awards, Etc Series 6. SchedulesThe correspondence files contain primarily letters from constituents and lobbyists to Sen. Lambert seeking his support for certain legislation or asking him to vote down legislation that would harm their interests.
These are reports and agendas published by various special interest groups, lobbies and public agencies specifically for the legislators' consideration during a particular session.
These ballots were submitted on a standardized form with the constituent's name and address, the issue, their position favoring or opposing, and any message.
These are simple, usually one-page documents summarizing the position of a particular group, agency or lobby in regards to an issue before the Legislature.