Ransom, Leon A. (Leon Andrew), 1898-

African American lawyer, educator, and faculty member of the Howard University School of Law; d. 1954.

Gift of Mary Ransom Hunter, 1988.

From the description of Papers, 1936-1948. (Moorland-Spingarn Resource Center). WorldCat record id: 70941414

Leon Ransom (1900-1954), lawyer and educator, argued numerous cases, both in private practice and as a member of the N.A.A.C.P.'s legal staff. In 1931, after practicing law in Columbus, Ohio for four years, Ransom moved to Washington, DC. Among the subjects of Ransom's cases are educational and salary discrimination, jury exclusion, and race riots.

In addition to his work as a practicing attorney, Ransom served on the faculty of the Howard University School of Law. In 1941, after teaching for ten years, Ransom became Acting Dean of the School. He held this position until 1946, when the university appointed George Johnson to permanently assume the position.

• 1900: Born to Charles and Nora Ransom in Zanesville, Ohio
• 1917: Graduated from Zanesville High School, Zanesville, Ohio
• 1920: Received B.S. degree from Wilberforce University
• 1923: Married Willa Carter; two children, Mary and Leon Jr.
• 1927: Graduated from Ohio State University Law School; first black at OSU to be elected to the Order of Coif, an honor law society
• 1927 - 1931 : Practiced law in Columbus, Ohio
• 1931 - 1946 : Rose from Instructor to Professor at Howard University School of Law
• 1934 - 1935 : Recipient of a research fellowship from the Harvard University School of Law; received degree of Doctor of Juridical Science
• 1941 - 1946 : Served as Acting Dean of the H.U. School of Law
• 1946 - 1949 : Served as Chairman of the Committee for Racial Democracy in the Nation's Capital
• 1954 Aug. 25: Died

From the guide to the Leon Ransom Papers, 1936-1948, (Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University)