Lee, J. Kenneth (John Kenneth), 1923-2018

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J. Kenneth Lee, lawyer of Greensboro, N.C., who became one of the first two African Americans to attend the University of North Carolina. Lee received his Juris Doctoris degree in 1952 and was subsequently involved in over 1,700 civil rights lawsuits during his 38 years of legal practice.

From the description of J. Kenneth Lee papers, 1949-1994 [manuscript]. WorldCat record id: 34075012

J. Kenneth Lee was born in Charlotte, N.C., on 1 November 1923, the thirteenth of fourteen children. Lee was graduated from Capital Highway High School in Hamlet, N.C., in 1941 with highest honors. He was graduated from North Carolina A & T with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1945. He also served as electrician's mate, second class, in the Navy during World War II.

Lee became one of the first two African Americans to attend the University of North at Chapel Hill when he and Harvey Beech were admitted in June 1951 after a lengthy lawsuit and appeal against the University. They also were the first African American graduates from UNC when they received their Juris Doctoris degrees (formerly LL.B.) in 1952.

Lee was involved in over 1,700 civil rights lawsuits during his 38 years of legal practice. He was also founder, president, and chairman of American Federal Savings & Loan, the second African American-owned thrift in the state. Lee has served on the Barber Scotia College Board of Trustees and as a member of the North Carolina Banking Commission, the Minority Business Enterprise Advisory Board, the Commission on Human Relations (Greensboro, N.C.), and the National Bar Association Hall of Fame, among other public service and honorary positions.

From the guide to the J. Kenneth Lee Papers, 1949-1994, (Southern Historical Collection)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
contributorOf Lee Family of Caswell County, N.C., Papers, 1920s-2015 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn J. Kenneth Lee Papers, 1949-1994 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Federal Savings & Loan. corporateBody
associatedWith Beech, Harvey E., 1923- person
sibling of Fletcher, Winona L. person
associatedWith Harold Thomas Epps person
associatedWith Horace Kornegay person
associatedWith North Carolina Central University corporateBody
associatedWith North Carolina Central University Law School corporateBody
associatedWith North Carolina College at Durham corporateBody
associatedWith North Carolina College at Durham Law School corporateBody
associatedWith North Carolina College at Durham. School of Law corporateBody
associatedWith North Carolina College for Negroes corporateBody
associatedWith North Carolina Minority Business Development Agency corporateBody
associatedWith Robert David Glass person
associatedWith School of Law at the North Carolina College at Durham corporateBody
associatedWith Theodore R. Bryant person
associatedWith University of North Carolina (1793-1962). School of Law corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill corporateBody
associatedWith William Donald Carmichael, Jr person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Charlotte NC US
Greensboro NC US
Chapel Hill NC US
Subject
African American universities and colleges
African American lawyers
African Americans
African Americans
Civil rights
College integration
Education, Higher
Law
Lawyers
Segregation in higher education
Occupation
African American lawyers
Civil Rights Lawyer
Lawyers
Activity

Person

Birth 1923-11-01

Death 2018-07-22

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