ODU Community Collections
3000 Perry Library4427 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23529
Business Number: 757-683-5350
libspecialcollections@odu.edu
URL: https://www.odu.edu/library/special-collections
James F. Walsh
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restrictions.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Source of Acquisition
Mary McPhillips Reilly
Method of Acquisition
Gift. Accession #76-22
Biographical or Historical Information
Thomas Joseph (Tom) Reilly (1915-1976) was a political reporter for the Ledger-Star (Norfolk, Va.) and the Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch for twenty-six years. He graduated in 1933 from Maury High School in Norfolk and became a part-time copy boy on the Ledger-Dispatch a year later. In 1935 he began to work full-time for the newspaper and the following year he was assigned to cover the police and fire departments. He also wrote on sports and he was subsequently assigned to courts. In 1939 he was assigned to cover the military and waterfront beat. Soon after reporting the departure of the first contingent of draftees sent to Army camps from the Norfolk Union Station, Reilly joined the military himself. His first assignment was to start a public information office with the Army Air Corps at Goodfellow Field, Texas. He received his commission in 1942 and was sent to Casablanca during the North African invasion to assist in building an airfield for the 52nd Fighter Group. He remained with this outfit for thirty-two months through the campaigns of North Africa, Sicily, Corsica, and Italy. Reilly left the service with the rank of captain. He returned to the Ledger-Dispatch as a general assignment reporter and was soon appointed assistant city editor, a position that he held for four years. He began to cover the General Assembly in 1948 on a part-time basis and two years later he covered the entire session. His reporting of the General Assembly and state and local politics over the next generation was distinguished for its accuracy, clarity, and balance. He expressed his philosophy of political reporting in the following words:"It takes time to get to know them [public figures] and they're understandably very sensitive. If they feel they're getting a fair shake, that's really all they expect and want . . . I don't concern myself if a story is going to be favorable or unfavorable to any particular candidate. It's going to be written on the basis of fact, not opinion . . . "
Note written by James F. Walsh
Scope and Contents
Reilly's papers, dating from 1925-1976, include newspaper columns from the Ledger-Star (Norfolk, Va.) dealing with state and local politics, especially the sessions of the Virginia General Assembly. The collection also contains some clippings of columns from other newspapers regarding General Assembly sessions and small amounts of background material used in preparing certain of these columns. State Publications contained in the collection include: Election Results (1924-1973); Manuals of the Senate and the House of Delegates (1950-1974); Miscellaneous publications re: General Assembly (1942-1976).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Journalists--United States
- Ledger-star
- Norfolk (Va.)--Politics and government--20th century
- Virginia--Politics and government
- Virginia--Politics and government--1865-1950
- Virginia. General Assembly
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Norfolk (Va.)--Politics and government--20th century
- Virginia--Politics and government
Container List
- Mixed Materials box: 1 Box 1
Box 1
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 1 Folder 1
Folder 1: General Correspondence1974Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 1, General Correspondence, 1974, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2 Folder 2
Folder 2: Newspaper Clippings about Reilly1961-1975Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 2, Newspaper Clippings about Reilly, 1961-1975, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 3 Folder 3
Folder 3: Memorabilia: Telephone Directory, 1968 Republican Convention1968Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 3, Memorabilia: Telephone Directory, 1968 Republican Convention, 1968, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 4 Folder 4
Folder 4: Pictorial Records: Miscellaneous PhotographsundatedPreferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 4, Pictorial Records: Miscellaneous Photographs, undated, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 1 Folder 1
- Mixed Materials box: 1 Box 1
Box 1
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 5 Folder 5
Folder 5: Miscellaneous1972Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 5, Miscellaneous, 1972, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 6 Folder 6
Folder 6: Miscellaneous1973Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 6, Miscellaneous, 1973, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 7 Folder 7
Folder 7: Miscellaneous1974Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 7, Miscellaneous, 1974, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 8 Folder 8
Folder 8: Miscellaneous1975Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 8, Miscellaneous, 1975, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 9 Folder 9
Folder 9: Miscellaneous1975Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 9, Miscellaneous, 1975, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 10 Folder 10
Folder 10: General Assembely Session1975Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 10, General Assembely Session, 1975, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 11 Folder 11
Folder 11: General Assembely Session1976Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 11, General Assembely Session, 1976, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 5 Folder 5
- Mixed Materials box: 2 Box 2
Box 2
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 1 Folder 1
Folder 1: Material for Ledger-Star "Sidelights" Column: 1976 General Assembly Session-1971-19761971-1976Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 1, Material for Ledger-Star "Sidelights" Column: 1976 General Assembly Session-1971-1976, 1971-1976, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 2 Folder 2
Folder 2: Ledger-Star Year-end Wrap-ups1966-1969Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 2, Ledger-Star Year-end Wrap-ups, 1966-1969, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 3 Folder 3
Folder 3: Ledger-Star Year-end Wrap-ups1970-1973Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 3, Ledger-Star Year-end Wrap-ups, 1970-1973, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 4 Folder 4
Folder 4: Miscellaneous Material for Year-end Wrap-ups1971-1973Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 4, Miscellaneous Material for Year-end Wrap-ups, 1971-1973, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 5 Folder 5
Folder 5: Interview with Porter Hardy, Jr. for Column; Miscellaneous Material re. Hardy1944-1972Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 5, Interview with Porter Hardy, Jr. for Column; Miscellaneous Material re. Hardy, 1944-1972, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 6 Folder 6
Folder 6: Material for Entry in Slover Contest1975Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 6, Material for Entry in Slover Contest, 1975, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 7 Folder 7
Folder 7: Miscellaneous Columnists: Wrap-Ups of 1975 General Assembly Session1975Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 7, Miscellaneous Columnists: Wrap-Ups of 1975 General Assembly Session, 1975, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 8 Folder 8
Folder 8: Richmond Columnists: 1976 General Assembely Session1976Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 8, Richmond Columnists: 1976 General Assembely Session, 1976, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 9 Folder 9
Folder 9: Virginian-Pilot Columnists: 1976 General Assembely Session1976Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 9, Virginian-Pilot Columnists: 1976 General Assembely Session, 1976, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 1 Folder 1
- Sub-Series A
Sub-Series A: Election Results1924-1973
- Mixed Materials box: 3 Box 3
Box 3
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 1 Folder 1
Folder 1: Election Results1924-1929Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 3, Folder 1, Election Results, 1924-1929, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 2 Folder 2
Folder 2: Election Results1930-1938Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 3, Folder 2, Election Results, 1930-1938, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 3 Folder 3
Folder 3: Election Results1940-1949Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 3, Folder 3, Election Results, 1940-1949, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 4 Folder 4
Folder 4: Election Results1950-1952Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 3, Folder 4, Election Results, 1950-1952, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 5 Folder 5
Folder 5: Election Results1953-1955Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 3, Folder 5, Election Results, 1953-1955, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 6 Folder 6
Folder 6: Election Results1956-1957Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 3, Folder 6, Election Results, 1956-1957, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 7 Folder 7
Folder 7: Election Results1958-1959Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 3, Folder 7, Election Results, 1958-1959, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 8 Folder 8
Folder 8: Election Results1960-1963Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 3, Folder 8, Election Results, 1960-1963, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 9 Folder 9
Folder 9: Election Results1964-1965Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 3, Folder 9, Election Results, 1964-1965, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 10 Folder 10
Folder 10: Election Results1966-1969Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 3, Folder 10, Election Results, 1966-1969, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 11 Folder 11
Folder 11: Election Results1970-1973Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 3, Folder 11, Election Results, 1970-1973, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 1 Folder 1
- Mixed Materials box: 3 Box 3
- Sub-Series B
Sub-Series B: Bound Manuals of the Senate and House of Delegates of Virginia1950-1974
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Box 4
Box 4
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 1
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1950Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1950, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 2
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1952Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1952, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 3
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1954Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1954, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 4
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1954Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1954, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 5
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1956Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1956, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 6
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1958Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1958, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 7
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1958Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1958, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 8
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1960Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1960, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 9
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1962Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1962, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 10
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1964Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1964, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 11
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1964Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1964, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 12
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1966Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1966, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 13
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1968Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1968, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 14
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1968Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1968, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 15
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1970Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1970, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 16
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1970Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1970, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 17
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1972Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1972, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 18
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1972Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1972, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 19
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1972Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1972, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 20
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1974Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1974, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 21
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates1974Preferred Citation
Manual of the Senate and House of Delegates, 1974, Box 4, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 1
- Mixed Materials box: 4 Box 4
- Sub-Series C
Sub-Series C: Miscellaneous State Publications1942-1976, undated
- Mixed Materials box: 5 Box 5
Box 5
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 1 Folder 1
Folder 1: Reference Book: Virginia House of Delegates1942Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 1, Reference Book: Virginia House of Delegates, 1942, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 2 Folder 2
Folder 2: Acts of the General Assembely, Extra Session1969Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 2, Acts of the General Assembely, Extra Session, 1969, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 3 Folder 3
Folder 3: Constitution of Virginia1971Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 3, Constitution of Virginia, 1971, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 4 Folder 4
Folder 4: Biographies of Members of the Senate and the House of Delegates1974Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 4, Biographies of Members of the Senate and the House of Delegates, 1974, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 5 Folder 5
Folder 5: Virginia Senate: Procedures ManualundatedPreferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 5, Virginia Senate: Procedures Manual, undated, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 6 Folder 6
Folder 6: Senate: Rules1976Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 6, Senate: Rules, 1976, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 7 Folder 7
Folder 7: Lists of Members and Districts of General Assembely1976Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 7, Lists of Members and Districts of General Assembely, 1976, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 8 Folder 8
Folder 8: General Assembely Committee Assignments1974Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 8, General Assembely Committee Assignments, 1974, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 9 Folder 9
Folder 9: General Assembely Committee Assignments1976Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 9, General Assembely Committee Assignments, 1976, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 10 Folder 10
Folder 10: Addresses, Phone Numbers of General Assembly Members1974, 1976Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 10, Addresses, Phone Numbers of General Assembly Members, 1974, 1976, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 11 Folder 11
Folder 11: Campbell Commission Report of Suffrage Laws1946Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 11, Campbell Commission Report of Suffrage Laws, 1946, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 12 Folder 12
Folder 12: Virginia Election Laws1974 April 5Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 12, Virginia Election Laws, 1974 April 5, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 13 Folder 13
Folder 13: Virginia Election Laws1975 July 1Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 13, Virginia Election Laws, 1975 July 1, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 14 Folder 14
Folder 14: The Virginia State Capitol1974Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 14, The Virginia State Capitol, 1974, Thomas Joseph Reilly Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 1 Folder 1
- Mixed Materials box: 5 Box 5