Beals, Walter B.

Walter B. Beals was born in St. Paul, MN in 1876. He moved to the Washington Territory with his family that same year. He graduated from the University of Washington's School of Law in 1901. After graduation, he went into private practice in Seattle, Wash. Mr. Beals served in the United States Army in World War I. After the War, he served as a King County judge, Washington State Supreme Court judge and Chief Justice of the Court 1933-34 and 1945-46. In October 1946, he took a leave of absence to serve as a judge in the U.S. Nuremburg Military Tribunals. Judge Beals was the Presiding Judge over the American military tribunal's criminal proceedings at the International Military Tribunal I, from 1946-47. He retired in 1951. He passed away in 1960.

From the description of Walter B. Beals' papers, 1932. (Washington State Library, Office of Secretary of State). WorldCat record id: 212221907

Walter Burges Beals (1876-1960) had a distinguished career as an attorney, army officer, and judge, but he also become one of the most prominent private collectors of manuscripts and rare books in the Pacific Northwest. He practiced law in Seattle, Washington, served in the military during the First World War, as a King County judge, Washington State Supreme Court judge and Chief Justice of the Court. Judge Beals was the Presiding Judge at the International Military Tribunal I, 1946-1947. He retired in 1951.

From the description of Walter B. Beals papers, 1400-1951 (bulk 1916-1951) (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 123949160

From the description of Walter B. Beals scrapbooks, 1902-1948. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 465478879

Prominent judge and collector, Walter Burges Beals, was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1876, but his family traveled west in 1897, settling in the Pacific Northwest. Beals enrolled in the University of Washington Law School; he and his future wife, Othilia Carroll, were members of the first graduating class of the school in 1901. Beals served as a military officer in France during World War I and afterwards helped to organize and found the American Legion. During the 1920s, his legal career flourished. In 1926, Beals accepted a position as judge of the Superior Court of King County and became a member of the Washington State Supreme Court in 1928, a position he held until his retirement in 1950. As a jurist, Beals is perhaps best known for his work as Presiding Judge at the International Military Tribunal in Nuremburg (1946-1947). He also was an avid collector of books, manuscripts, and autographs. Beals frequently bound these materials into albums. In his time, Beals was considered the greatest private collector of manuscripts and books in the Pacific Northwest.

From the description of Walter B. Beals album on Roald Amundsen, 1906-1929 [graphic]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 310385153

Samuel J. R. McMillan was a Chief Justice of Minnesota and a United States Senator from Minnesota.

From the description of Descendants of Samuel J. R., and Harriet E. Butler, McMillan, 1930 April 14. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 313866536

Walter Burges Beals was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1876. Beals's family traveled west in 1897, and Beals enrolled in the newly founded University of Washington Law School; he and his future wife Othilia Carroll were members of the first graduating class of the school in 1901.

Beals served as a military officer in France during World War I and afterwards helped organize and found the American Legion. His legal career flourished in the 1920s, and in 1926, he accepted a position as judge of the Superior Court of King County. Beals became a member of the Washington State Supreme Court in 1928, a position he held until his retirement in 1950, twice holding the position of Chief Justice. Beals is perhaps best known for his work, in 1946-1947, as Presiding Judge at the International Military Tribunal in Nuremburg, the Nazi war trial known as the "Doctors' Trial."

Walter Beals was an avid collector of books, manuscripts, such as liturgical and religious manuscripts, and signatures, particularly those of European royalty. Beals also began creating albums as a young man, a hobby he continued throughout his life, collecting and soliciting signatures, manuscripts and other materials which he would mount on paper or vellum and bind into albums, often with leather covers. In his time, Beals was considered the greatest private collector of manuscripts and books in the Pacific Northwest.

From the guide to the Walter B. Beals album on Roald Amundsen, 1906-1929, (University of Washington Libraries Special Collections)