Robert Nelson Anderson, Jr. (d. April 27, 1976) was one of the founding members of the Arlington Historical Society and played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s legal and institutional foundation. Although less publicly known than some of his fellow founders, his contributions were essential to the Society’s long-term success.
Anderson was an attorney in Washington, D.C., with an accomplished career in law and public service. During his career, he served as:
- Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General.
- President of the Federal Bar Association (1942-1943).
- Chairman of the committee that organized the International Bar Association in 1947.
- Incorporator, director, and general counsel of the National Conference on Citizenship.
When Arlington residents organized the Arlington Historical Society in September 1956, Anderson was elected one of its first officers. He chaired the committee that drafted the Society’s constitution, creating the governing document that still underpins the organization today. His legal expertise helped establish the Society as a durable nonprofit dedicated to preserving Arlington’s history. He served as President of the Society from 1958-1959.
Anderson was also an active historian. He contributed several articles to the early volumes of the Arlington Historical Magazine, including:
- Arlington Adopts the County Manager Form of Government (1958)
- A History of Printing in Arlington (Alexandria) County (1959)
These articles remain valuable references for researchers studying Arlington’s governmental and cultural history.
Unlike some founders who focused on collecting artifacts or public programming, Anderson’s lasting contribution was organizational. By drafting the Society’s constitution and contributing scholarly research, he helped ensure that the Arlington Historical Society would be both legally sound and intellectually rigorous. His work laid the framework for nearly seventy years of historical preservation, publications, and public education.
