Graven earned his law degree at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. He worked in private practice in Greene, Iowa from 1921-1937 and served as an Iowa district court judge in Iowa's 12th Judicial District from 1937-1944. In 1944 President Roosevelt appointed him a federal judge for the Northern District of the U.S. District Court of Iowa. Graven retained senior status with this court after his retirement in 1961.
The U.S. District Court of Iowa was established by an act of Congress on March 3, 1845. The first session of the court was held in Burlington, Iowa on October 15. 1849. In 1853 the U.S. District Court for Iowa was separated into three divisions -- Northern, Central and Southern -- by an act of Congress.
From the description of Letter from Henry P. Chandler to Henry N. Graven, 1948 December 19. (State Historical Society of Iowa, Library). WorldCat record id: 663779590
