Hand, Learned, 1872-1961

Attorney and Federal judge. Practiced law, Albany, N.Y., and N.Y.C., 1897-1909; U.S. District judge, Southern District N.Y., 1909-1924; Judge, U.S. Ct. of Appeals, 2d Circuit, 1924-1961; Senior Circuit Judge, 1939-1951. Member and co-founder, American Law Institute. 15 LL.D.'s including Harvard U. 1939, Cambridge (England) 1952. Author of numerous legal and non-legal articles, memorials, etc.; Holmes lecturer, Harvard Law School, 1958.

From the description of Papers of Learned Hand, 1840-1961 (inclusive), 1892-1961 (bulk). (Harvard Law School Library). WorldCat record id: 122411954

Judge.

From the description of Reminiscences of Learned Hand : oral history, 1957. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 309737638

Jurist.

From the description of Papers of Learned Hand, 1909-1924. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81776757

Biographical Note

• 1872, Jan. 27: Born, Albany, N.Y.
• 1893: Graduated Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass.
• 1896: Graduated Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Mass.
• 1896 - 1909 : Practiced law in Albany, N.Y. and New York, N.Y.
• 1902: Married Frances Fincke
• 1909 - 1924 : Judge, United States District Court, Southern District of New York
• 1913: Unsuccessful Progressive Party candidate for chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals
• 1924: Appointed to United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• 1939 - 1951 : Senior circuit judge (later retitled chief judge), United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• 1952: Published The Spirit of Liberty. New York: Alfred A. Knopf
• 1961, Aug. 18: Died, New York, N.Y.

From the guide to the Learned Hand Trial Summaries, 1909-1924, (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

b. Albany, NY, 27 January, 1872

s. Samuel and Lydia Coit (Learned) Hand

A.B., Harvard, 1893.

A.M., Harvard, 1894.

LL.B., Harvard, 1896.

LL.D.: Columbia, 1930; Yale, 1931; University of Pennsylvania, 1933; Amherst College, 1938; Dartmouth, 1938; Harvard, 1939; Princeton, 1947; New School of Social Research, 1950; New York University, 1951; Cambridge (England), 1952; State University of New York, 1952; Chicago, 1952; Yeshiva University, 1953; Washington University, 1953; Wesleyan University, 1957.

m. Frances Amelia Fincke, December 6, 1902.

Children: Mary Deshon, Frances Lydia, Constance.

Admitted to New York bar, 1897.

With Marcus T. Hun, Albany, as clerk, 1897-1899.

Member, firm of Hun, Johnston, & Hand, Albany, 1899-1902.

Managing clerk, Zabriskie, Burrill & Murray, New York, 1902-1904.

Member, firm of Gould & Wilkie, New York, 1904-1909.

U.S. District Judge, Southern District of New York, 1909-1924; appointed by President Taft.

Judge, U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, 1924-1961; appointed by President Coolidge.

Senior Circuit Judge, 1939-1951.

Semi-retired, 1951-1961.

Member and co-founder of the American Law Institute.

Clubs: Association of the Bar of the City of New York, American Bar Association Clubs, Century, Harvard.

d. 18 August, 1961.

From the guide to the Papers, 1840-1961., (Harvard Law School Library, Harvard University)