Richmond Bar Association

• September 1885: 107 Richmond lawyers signed a circular declaring their intent to unite in forming a professional bar association
• October 29, 1885: First organizational meeting held in the Circuit Courtroom at 1007 East Main Street over Owens & Minor Drug Store
• October 29, 1885: Constitution and bylaws adopted to maintain the honor and dignity of the legal profession
• October 29, 1885: Judge Edward H. Fitzhugh elected as the first president
• 1885: Standing committees established: Library, Amendment of Law, Judiciary, and Grievances
• 1885: Membership limited to lawyers residing in Richmond; judges excluded to prevent conflicts of interest
• January 16, 1886: Virginia General Assembly officially incorporated the Bar Association of the City of Richmond
• Early 1886: RBA leased its first headquarters in the Merchants National Bank Building at 1101 East Main Street
• February 8, 1886: First annual meeting concluded with a "sumptuous banquet," marking the beginning of the Annual Dinner tradition that continued for over 100 years

In 1932, Elizabeth N. Tompkins became the first woman elected to membership in the Association. She had been licensed to practice in 1922. Women were permitted to practice law in Virginia by Statute in 1920, the same year in whch they were granted the right to vote.

On October 10, 1940, more than a year before Pearl Harbor, the Executive Committee agreed that dues would not be required from members in active military service.

Early in 1942, the Association's war effort committee formed a speakers bureau, which sponsored presentations to military units situated in Richmond.

By 1944, the secretary's report to the Association reflected that 75 of the 308 members of the Association were in active military service.

Ernest H. Dervishan, a member of the Association, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery on the Italian front.

From the minutes of the November 30, 1965 Executive Committee meeting:

"Now, Therefore, BE IT RESOLVED that the Executive Committee of the Bar Association of the City of Richmond unanimously expresses itself to be of the view that such application should be considered by the Committee on Admissions in exactly the same way as are other applications received by the committee."

At a meeting of the Association on January 6, 1966, the slate of applicants, including Mr. Benn, were approved unanimously without debate or comment.

• Week-long celebration with special events
• Publication of comprehensive history book
• Creation of centennial scholarship fund
• Record attendance at anniversary gala