FIFTY- FIRST ANNUAL CONVENTION THE AMERICAN TITLE ASSOCIATION HOTEL JOHN MARSHALL RICHMOND, VIRGINIA Sunday to Thursday (Noon) OCTOBER 13th to 17th, 1957 Your host Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation, Richmond, Virginia 'fhe 6_mericanTitle f!ssociation Foundod in 190'! OFI"ICI: 01" THE PRESIDENT JOHN 0 . BINKLEY CHI CAGO TtTl.C " T IU.IIT COWI" ... N Y Ill W . W"IHINOTON .Titl:llT CtHCAOO 2 , ILL.tNOII August 9, 1957 To the Members or the American TiUe Association: Dear Friends: A season and a setting or unusual beaut,y and historic interest • · •• A program that caref'ully balances practical business subjects with fellowship and social activity •••• A national meeting or our Association at a tiJne when major developnents in the country's econoii\Y are greatly affecting our in:iu.e:try • • • • These are juet a rev or the reasons that should prompt us all to attend the 51st Convention of the American Tille Association in Riehmond on October 14, 15, 16 and 17. I can write or this forthcoming meeting with pride, We will assemble in a cit,y and a state lihere a great part of the early history of our nation vas enacted, Our hosts have planned for us to see much of this colorful and inspiring region. At the same time, the important and serious purposes of our convention will be fulfilled by speakers and business sessions sessions tailored to have genuine value at a time when maey of us are encountering new problems and new opportunities brought by changing trends in the national economy. I urge that no one deprive himself of the pleasure and the profit that you will experience at this annual meeting in October, 2 kwyers litle Insurance C9rporation Richmond .\ 'irSi nia GEORG[; C. RAWLINGS August 1, 1957 TO MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN TITLE ASSOCIATION The 51st Annual Convention of the American Title Association will be a momentous occasion for all of us here in Richmond, and we extend a hearty invitation to all members and their families to join with us in celebr ating this occasion. The Business Program of the Convention arranged by President Binkley and Section Chairmen Loebbecke and Hughes is unusually interesting and informative. The subjects selected for discussion are timely and will be presented by outstanding title men. We are going to "put the little pot in the big pot" in an effort to make this Convention one that you will long remember. The various convention committees are working diligently to make sure that every need for your comfort, convenience and pleasure will be available and at your command. Historic Virginia is having hundreds of thousands of visitors this year from all over the world, but you may expect the "red carpe~ treatment. 11 ~~<Y General Convention Chairman GCR:j 3 CONVENTION HEADQUARTERS-RICHMOND, VIRGINIA· Historic Richmond, Capital of Vir­ F o u r h u n d red manufacturing ginia ince 1779, is a blend of the old plants now are busy turning out wide and the new South, where traditions varieties of products valued at ap­ and gracious living are combined with proximately $1 Billion dollars annual­ m o d e r n p r o g r e s s and modern ly. First of importance in the indus­ thought. tries in Richmond is the manufacture Yesterday, Richmond was the gath­ of cigarettes, cigars, smoking and ering place of Washington, of Lee, of plug tobacco, tobacco products and Patrick Henry, of John Marshall, and the handling of leaf tobacco. Huge scores of other statesmen whose fame plants turn out more than 110 Billion spread throughout the nation - in­ cigarettes a year. Second of impor­ deed, to the four corners of the world. tance in Richmond's diversified indus­ She was the Capital of the Old South, tries, based on employment rank, is the agricultural South, famed, even chemical products, including rayon then, for her history, her progress, and cellophane. Others are: food and her gracious hospitality. kindred products, metals and metal But the passing years have brought products, apparel and textile pro­ Richmond even more prominence. Al­ ducts, paper and paper products, though clinging tenaciously to the printing and publishing and furniture magnificent evidences of her brilliant and wood products. past, she has become a financial, in­ Richmond is also a wholesale and dustrial, commercial and educational retail market of national reputation. center of the New South. There are more than 800 wholesale Today, visitors can sit in the pew establishments in this city with an­ from which Patrick Henry made his nual sales of approximately $760 Mil­ immortal "Liberty or Death" oration. lion dollars. Here for the convenience They can almost feel the presence of of residents and visitors alike are to other patriots in the numerous state­ be found some of the country's out­ ly public buildings and private resi­ standing retail stores. dences that link the past with the pre­ Nearly 3,900 retail establishments sent. And, yet, the visitors can vir­ ring up sales amounting to $390 Mil­ tually step next door to some of the lion dollars a year. world's largest and most modern The Capital of the Old Dominion manufacturing plants, to up-to-date has long been the seat of the Fifth shopping centers, and to the last Federal Reserve D i s t r i c t , which word in beautiful new residential sec­ makes it the financial center of five tions. states. In addition to the Federal Re­ Richmond was last burned in 1865 serve Bank, there are 11 other banks when she was evacuated. Then came and trust companies, five savings and the trying years of Reconstruction­ loan companies and 32 home office dark years that brought everything insurance companies here. but utter despair. Richmond is an educational center Today those troublous times are - the home of the Medical College of only memories. The Capital of the Virginia, the University of Richmond, Old South has become a thriving City Union Theological Seminary, General with a metropolitan population of ap­ Assembly's Training School, Virginia proximately 375,000. Skyscrapers have Union University and the Richmond risen on the seven ancient hills; huge Professional Institute. The Richmond manufacturing plants line the banks Area University Center here coordi-­ of the historic James; railroads, nates the activities of colleges and ships, buses, trucks and airplanes universities in this section of Vir­ haul people and merchandise to and ginia. from every State in the nation, every Richmond is served by six trunk­ country in the world. line railroads, five air lines, seven 4 inter-city bus lines, and 50 motor In bold contrast to the Confederate freight carriers. There is water Museum are the new, modern build­ freight service on the James River ings of the Medical College of Vir­ which has a 25-foot channel from ginia which are in the same section Richmond's Deepwater Terminal to of the City. The M.C.V. is one of the Hampton Roads. oldest medical colleges in the South. Richmond has taken pains to retain A simple exterior hides the classic much of her charm of the Revolution dignity of the interior of the home of and of the War Between the States Chief Justice John Marshall, which as it has grown and p r o s p e r e d he himself designed. The residence, through the years. containing much of the original fur­ One of the outstanding show places niture, is now the property of the is beautiful Capital Square where Association for the Preservation of stands the magnificent Capital build­ Virginia Antiquities. ing, designed by Thomas Jefferson On Franklin Street in Richmond is after the Maison Carree at Nimes. a wooden building that is the oldest The cornerstone was laid in 1785 and Masonic Hall in continuous use in the the s t r u c t u r e completed in 1788. nation which was built originally for When more space was required, two masonic purposes. wings were added in 1904-06. This Not far from this landmark is the building is the meeting place of the oldest house in Richmond, erected old e s t representative law- making about 1686. It has been restored and body in America, and the oldest in the is now the Edgar Allan Poe Shrine, world establi-shed by a free people housing much Poe material and many under a written constitution. articles relating to his residence in In the rotunda of the Capitol is the the Southern capital. Houdon statue of Washington - the Only a few blocks away is the site only one in existence today designed of the Southern Literary Messenger from life. Jefferson engaged the fa­ Building, whe.re Poe edited that mag­ mous sculptor to make the statue at azine to enduring fame. the request of the Virginia General The residence of General Robert E. Assembly. Houdon came to America Lee is now the home of the Virginia and spent some time in Mount Ver­ Historical Society. non taking measurements. He re­ In the heart of Richmond's tobacco turned to Paris and comple~ed his district is the site of the Libby Pri­ work in time for it to be unveiled in son, most famous of all Confederate 1788. Washington himself viewed his prisons. The old warehouse bastille, marble likeness at its present loca­ where thousands of Federal prisoners tion and approved it. had been confined, was torn down and The Capital Square is the location taken to Chicago to be rebuilt for the of the equestrian statue of Washing­ World's Fair of 1893.