Finding Aid to the Invitation to H.E. Steptoe, 2 December 1932

Text

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
INVITATION TO H.E. STEPTOE, 2 DECEMBER 1932
Lady Nancy Astor invites her cousin, Hampden E. Steptoe, and wife, to a reception on 10
December 1932, at Oakwood Country Club in Lynchburg, Virginia, for her aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth
Dabney Langhorne Lewis, in honor of Mrs. Lewis’ 81st birthday.

ASTOR, NANCY WITCHER LANGHORNE ASTOR, VISCOUNTESS, 1879-1964
Nancy Witcher Langhorne was born in Danville, Virginia, 19 May 1879, the daughter of
Chiswell Dabney Langhorne and Nancy Witcher Keene. She was the niece of Elizabeth Dabney
Langhorne Lewis. She became the wife of Waldorf Astor and was the first woman seated in the
British Parliament. In Parliament, she championed temperance, women’s rights and benefits for
children. During World War II, she worked with her husband to boost public morale. She
retired from office in 1945.
Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor died on 2 May 1964 and is buried at Cliveden on the
Thames.
HAMPDEN EARLY STEPTOE, 1885-1963
Hampden Early Steptoe, son of John Marshall Steptoe and Lucy Landonia Cobbs, was
born in Bedford County in 1885. He attended Piedmont Business College in Lynchburg,
Virginia. He left Lynchburg to run a commissary in the coal fields of Logan County, West
Virginia. In 1912, he married Mary Lowe of Logan County.
Steptoe returned to Lynchburg in 1910 and became associated with the real estate firm of
Armstead and Steptoe. In 1911 he formed a partnership with Charles P. Patteson and the firm
was incorporated as Steptoe and Patteson. He served as president of the Lynchburg Real Estate
Board and in 1930 was elected president of the Virginia Real Estate Association. He helped
form the city-manager plan for Lynchburg and worked for its adoption. He served as vice
chairman of the City Planning Commission for ten years and was a director of the Lynchburg
Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the board of the Family Welfare Society and was a
director of Lynchburg Associated Charities.
Steptoe was the first to propose and obtain approval for night illumination of the Court
House and Monument Terrace.
A member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Hampden Early Steptoe died 3 April 1963 in
Lynchburg and is buried in Presbyterian Cemetery.
(Continued)
MS1081

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
INVITATION TO H.E. STEPTOE, 2 DECEMBER 1932, Cont’d.
ELIZABETH DABNEY LANGHORNE LEWIS 1851-1946
Elizabeth Dabney Langhorne, daughter of John Scarsbrooke Langhorne and Sarah
Elizabeth Dabney, was born 9 December 1851, in Botetourt County, Virginia. She was educated
in Lynchburg schools and by private instruction. She married John H. Lewis (1841-1907) on 13
August 1873. Elizabeth was a teacher in public and private schools. She wrote about women’s
suffrage in local newspapers. She was president of the Lynchburg Woman’s Club, the
Schelmann Music Club of Lynchburg. She was also president of the Equal Suffrage Club of
Lynchburg and a member of the Legislative Committee of the Virginia State Equal Suffrage
League. In 1912 she spoke before the Virginia Legislature on behalf of equal suffrage.
A member of the Unitarian Church, Mrs. Elizabeth Dabney Langhorne Lewis died 30 December
1946 and is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Lynchburg.

MS1081

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
INVITATION TO H.E. STEPTOE, 2 DECEMBER 1932

Lady Nancy Astor invites her cousin, Hampden E. Steptoe, and wife, to a reception on 10
December 1932, at Oakwood Country Club in Lynchburg, Virginia, for her aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth
Dabney Langhorne Lewis, in honor of Mrs. Lewis’ 81st birthday.
[Detailed finding guide available with the collection.]

MS1081

Dublin Core

Title

Finding Aid to the Invitation to H.E. Steptoe, 2 December 1932

Subject

Finding aids
Invitations
Steptoe, Hampden Early (1885-1963)
Astor, Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor, Viscountess, 1879-1964

Description

Finding Aid to the Invitation to H.E. Steptoe, 2 December 1932 held at Jones Memorial Library

Creator

George M. Jones Memorial Library

Publisher

George M. Jones Memorial Library

Date

2023

Rights

George M. Jones Memorial Library

Format

PDF file

Language

English

Identifier

MS1081FA

Citation

George M. Jones Memorial Library, “Finding Aid to the Invitation to H.E. Steptoe, 2 December 1932,” Digital Collections, accessed March 29, 2024, https://digitaljones.omeka.net/items/show/95.