Harris, Patricia, 1924-1985

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1924-05-31
Death 1985-03-23
English

Biographical notes:

Lawyer, educator, diplomat, and cabinet officer; born Patricia Roberts.

From the description of Patricia Harris papers, 1950-1983 (bulk 1977-1980). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70983070

Patricia Roberts Harris was born Patricia Roberts on May 31, 1924, in Mattoon, Illinois. On September 1, 1955, she married Attorney William Harris. She graduated summa cum laude from Howard University in 1945 and received a doctorate in jurisprudence from George Washington University Law School in 1960. In the same year, she was admitted to the District of Columbia bar and admitted to practice before the U.S. State Supreme Court. After serving as a trial attorney at the Department of Justice, she became associate dean of students and lecturer in law at Howard University. During the administration of President John F. Kennedy, she served as co-chairman of the National Women's Committee on Civil Rights. In 1964, she became the first black, woman ambassador when President Lyndon Johnson named her ambassador to Luxembourg. She was dean of Howard University Law School in 1969, and served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from January 23, 1977 to 1979. She served as Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and was the first Secretary of Health and Human Services, serving from August 3, 1979 to January 20, 1981. In 1982, she became a professor at the George Washington National Law Center, a position she held until her death from breast cancer on March 23, 1985. She was named woman of the Year by the Ladies Home Journal and received the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award.

From the description of Harris, Patricia, 1924-1985 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10582307

Lawyer, educator, diplomat, and cabinet officer; b. Patricia Roberts.

From the description of Papers, 1950-1983 (bulk 1977-1980). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 28416017

Biographical Note

1924, May 31 Born, Mattoon, Ill. 1945 B.A., Howard University, Washington, D.C. 1946 1949 Program director, Young Women's Christian Association 1949 1953 Assistant director, American Council on Human Rights 1953 1959 Executive director, Delta Sigma Theta 1955 Married William Beasley Harris 1959 1960 Research associate, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 1960 J.D., George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 1960 1961 Trial attorney, Criminal Division, Justice Department 1961 1963 Associate dean of students and lecturer in law, Howard University, Washington, D.C. 1963 Cochair, National Women's Committee for Civil Rights 1963 1965 Law professor, Howard University, Washington, D.C. 1964 1966 Member, United States-Puerto Rico Commission on the Status of Puerto Rico 1965 1967 United States ambassador, Luxembourg 1967 1969 Law professor, Howard University, Washington, D.C.; dean of School of Law in 1969 1967 1977 Member, board of directors, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund 1968 1969 Member, National Committee on the Causes and Prevention of Violence 1970 1977 Partner, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Kampelman, Washington, D.C. 1977 1979 Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development 1979 1981 Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (formerly Department of Health, Education, and Welfare until May 1980) 1982 Candidate, mayor of Washington, D.C. 1985, Mar. 23 Died, Washington, D.C.

From the guide to the Patricia Harris Papers, 1924-1983, (bulk 1977-1980), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

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Subjects:

  • Abortion
  • Advertising, political
  • Alcoholism
  • Anti-inflationary policies
  • Civil rights
  • Civil rights
  • Community development, Urban
  • Consumer protection
  • Consumer protection
  • Diplomatic and consular service, American
  • Diplomatic and consular service, American
  • Disarmament
  • Discrimination
  • Discrimination in employment
  • Discrimination in housing
  • Drug abuse
  • Elections
  • Emigration and immigration
  • Energy policy
  • Environmental policy
  • Governmental investigations
  • Hospitals
  • Hospitals
  • Housing policy
  • Inflation (Finance)
  • Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981
  • Mayors
  • Medical policy
  • Medicine, Preventive
  • Mental health policy
  • National health services
  • Nuclear disarmament
  • Nuclear energy
  • Presidents
  • Public health
  • Public welfare
  • Radiation
  • Radioactive pollution
  • Refugees
  • Social security
  • Television advertising
  • Urban policy
  • Violence
  • Voluntarism
  • Women
  • Civil rights
  • Consumer protection
  • Diplomatic and consular service, American
  • Hospitals

Occupations:

  • Cabinet officers
  • Diplomats
  • Educators
  • Lawyers

Places:

  • Iran (as recorded)
  • Iran (as recorded)
  • Washington (D.C.) (as recorded)
  • Washington (D.C.) (as recorded)
  • Washington (D.C.) (as recorded)
  • Luxembourg (as recorded)
  • Luxembourg (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Luxembourg (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Iran (as recorded)
  • Washington (D.C.) (as recorded)
  • Washington (D.C.) (as recorded)
  • Luxembourg (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Iran (as recorded)

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