Marcus Wayland Beck Diaries


Descriptive Summary
Title: Marcus Wayland Beck Diaries
Creator: Beck, Marcus Wayland, 1860-1943
Inclusive Dates: 1899-1934
Language(s): English
Extent: 1 box(es) (.25 linear feet)
Collection Number: RBRL150MWB
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: Marcus Wayland Beck was born in Harris County, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1881. He passed the bar in 1883 and began practicing law in Jackson County. He served as a Georgia state senator, Solicitor General of the Flint Circuit and judge for the same circuit. After fighting in the Spanish American War, he returned to Georgia and was appointed as associate justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. He was eventually appointed as the presiding judge, a position he maintained until he retired in 1937. The Marcus W. Beck Diaries reflect his day to day personal and judicial activities as Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court (1905-1937) and as Presiding Justice (1917-1937).

Collection Description

Biographical Note

Marcus Wayland Beck was born April 28, 1860 in Harris County, Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated in 1881 with an A.B. and in 1882 received an LL.D. degree. After being admitted to the bar in 1883, Beck began practicing law in Jackson County.

Beck became active in Democratic politics and served as a Georgia state senator from 1889 to 1890. After leaving the Senate, he became Solicitor General of the Flint Circuit in 1892 and in 1894 served as judge for that same circuit. In 1898, Beck resigned this position in order to join the Spanish-American War. He became a major in the 3d Georgia Infantry and served in the army of occupation in Cuba.

After the war, Beck moved to Griffin until 1905 when Governor Terrell appointed him as associate justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. On October 1, 1917, he became the presiding judge, a position he maintained until illness forced him to retire in 1937. It is in this role that Beck is most well known for his judicial opinions. He was also appointed as the first member of an advisory appellate council that consulted with both the courts and the Attorney General concerning judicial questions. During his career, Beck was also on the Board of Consulting Editors of the American and English Encyclopedia of Law and Practice.

On December 13, 1888, Beck married Caroline R. Ellis in Marietta, Georgia and the couple had four children. He died in Milledgeville, Georgia on January 21, 1943.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of two bound diaries handwritten by Marcus W. Beck from 1899-1921 (1934).The two bound diaries reflect Beck's day-to-day personal and judiciary activities as Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court (1905-1937) and as Presiding Justice (1917-1937).

Organization and Arrangement

The diaries are arranged in chronological order.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Marcus Wayland Beck Diaries, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

User Restrictions

Library acts as "fair use" reproduction agent.

Copyright Information

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