About

JAMES HUBERT PRICE was born at Organ Cave in Greenbriar County, West Virginia. He moved with his family to Staunton, Virginia, where he attended and taught at the Dunsmore’s Business College. He was president of his class at Washington and Lee University Law School and went on to practice law in Richmond, Virginia. He was elected a member of the Richmond Democratic Committee, serving as its chairman for three years. During World I he acted as legal advisor to the Richmond local draft boards. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1916 to 1928 and as Lieutenant Governor from 1930 to 1938, until he won election to the governorship. During his administration, the merit system in public service was introduced and a state social security act was initiated. Provision was also made for construction of a state library, the Supreme Court building, and a new building to house the Medical College of Virginia. After leaving office, Price served as director of the Central National Bank of Richmond and the Jefferson Realty Company. Over the years, he was also Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, Grand Commander of the Knights Templar of Virginia, Imperial Recorder of the Imperial Council of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America, treasurer of the Masonic Foundation of Virginia, and secretary of the Board of Trustees of Shriners’ Hospitals for Crippled Children.

Source

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 4. Westport, CT: Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols

The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Vol. 34. New York: James T. White & Company.

James H. Price Papers, 1927-1943. Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library, 204 W. Washington St., Lexington, VA  24450.

Library of Virginia, Virginia Governor, Executive Papers (1938-1942: Price).  Accession 23344c.  Biographical/Historical Note. State Government Records Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA  23219.

Salmon, Emily and Edward D. C. Campbell, Jr.  Hornbook of Virginia History. 4th ed. Richmond: Library of Virginia, 1994.

Younger, Edward and Moore, James Tice, eds. The Governors of Virginia, 1860-1978. Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia, 1982.