Shirlington in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Edmund Douglas Campbell

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 28, 2026

1. Edmund Douglas Campbell Marker

Inscription.

Edmund Douglas Campbell. . Campbell Avenue is named in honor of Edmund D. and Elizabeth P. Campbell, whose accomplishments and civic activism set a high standard for all to follow.. Edmund Douglas Campbell was born March 12, 1899, in Lexington, Virginia, the son of the dean of Washington and Lee University (W&L). He graduated as the valedictorian from W&L in 1918. By 1922, he had received a Master's degree in economics from Harvard and graduated from the W&L School of Law., Edmund Campbell moved Northern Virginia, where he achieved success as a lawyer and civic activist. In June 1936, Edmund Campbell wed Elizabeth Pfohl. Together they would raise four children. He served as chairman of Arlington County's first public utilities commission and as a member of the Arlington County Board (1940-1946). He was chairman of the county board in 1942 and 1946. In 1955, he helped found Arlingtonians for a Better County, a nonpartisan group that became a powerful political force in the county., During the mid- to late-1950s, Edmund Campbell and his wife Elizabeth were instrumental in forming the Save Our Schools Committee, organized to fight Virginia's policy of "massive resistance" to the U.S. Supreme Court desegregation decisions. In 1958, he argued the case in Federal court which resulted in Virginia's massive resistance laws being declared unconstitutional. This case, together with a similar case before the Supreme Court of Virginia, resulted in the reopening of public schools in several Virginia localities and the desegregation of Virginia's public schools. On February 2, 1959, Arlington's Stratford Junior High School (known now as Dorothy Hamm Middle School) became the first desegregated public school in Virginia., In 1962, Edmund Campbell successfully argued to the United States Supreme Court that Northern Virginia localities, including Arlington and Fairfax, were illegally underrepresented in the Virginia General Assembly. This case, along with others, resulted in the Court's landmark "one man, one vote" decision that established equality of representation in state legislatures nationwide., Edmund Campbell was president of the Washington, D.C. Bar Association (1961-1962), a member of the American Bar Association's House of Delegates (1964-1970), and a member of the American Bar Association's Board of Governors (1972-1975)., Edmund D. Campbell died on December 7, 1995, in Arlington. Following his death, The Washington Post stated: "In life, as in court, Ed Campbell fought injustice with a passion, insisting that freedom be accorded citizens without regard to color or belief."

Campbell Avenue is named in honor of Edmund D. and Elizabeth P. Campbell, whose accomplishments and civic activism set a high standard for all to follow.
Edmund Douglas Campbell was born March 12, 1899, in Lexington, Virginia, the son of the dean of Washington and Lee University (W&L). He graduated as the valedictorian from W&L in 1918. By 1922, he had received a Master's degree in economics from Harvard and graduated from the W&L School of Law.

Edmund Campbell moved Northern Virginia, where he achieved success as a lawyer and civic activist. In June 1936, Edmund Campbell wed Elizabeth Pfohl. Together they would raise four children. He served as chairman of Arlington County's first public utilities commission and as a member of the Arlington County Board (1940-1946). He was chairman of the county board in 1942 and 1946. In 1955, he helped found Arlingtonians for a Better County, a nonpartisan group that became a powerful political force in the county.

During the mid- to late-1950s, Edmund Campbell and his wife Elizabeth were instrumental in forming the Save Our Schools Committee, organized to fight Virginia's policy of "massive resistance" to the U.S. Supreme Court desegregation decisions. In 1958, he argued the case in Federal court which resulted in Virginia's massive resistance

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laws being declared unconstitutional. This case, together with a similar case before the Supreme Court of Virginia, resulted in the reopening of public schools in several Virginia localities and the desegregation of Virginia's public schools. On February 2, 1959, Arlington's Stratford Junior High School (known now as Dorothy Hamm Middle School) became the first desegregated public school in Virginia.

In 1962, Edmund Campbell successfully argued to the United States Supreme Court that Northern Virginia localities, including Arlington and Fairfax, were illegally underrepresented in the Virginia General Assembly. This case, along with others, resulted in the Court's landmark "one man, one vote" decision that established equality of representation in state legislatures nationwide.

Edmund Campbell was president of the Washington, D.C. Bar Association (1961-1962), a member of the American Bar Association's House of Delegates (1964-1970), and a member of the American Bar Association's Board of Governors (1972-1975).

Edmund D. Campbell died on December 7, 1995, in Arlington. Following his death, The Washington Post stated: "In life, as in court, Ed Campbell fought injustice with a passion, insisting that freedom be accorded citizens without regard to color or belief."

Erected 2023 by Arlington County, Virginia

Historical markers for Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell and Edmund Douglas Campbell image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 28, 2026

2. Historical markers for Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell and Edmund Douglas Campbell

.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Education • Government & Politics. A significant historical date for this entry is February 2, 1959.

Location. 38° 50.455′ N, 77° 5.397′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Shirlington. It is on Campbell Avenue south of South 28th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4200 Campbell Ave, Arlington VA 22206, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell (here, next to this marker); Welcome to Jennie Dean Park (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Margaret Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Welcome to Jennie Dean Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Welcome to Jennie Dean Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Welcome to Jennie Dean Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wheelhouse, 2021 (approx. ¼ mile away); Jennie Dean Park (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.

Other markers no longer nearby. Edmund Douglas Campbell (has been replaced with this marker); a different marker also named Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell

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(was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 39 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 28, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.