Whitney North Seymour papers 1930-1983 1950-1980

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Whitney North Seymour papers 1930-1983 1950-1980

http://archives.nypl.org/mss/2730

Whitney North Seymour (1901-1983) was a New York City trial lawyer who was active in numerous legal, civic, political, and social organizations. After receiving his law degree from Columbia University in 1923, Seymour joined the law firm of Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett. He became a partner in 1929 and was associated with the firm for the rest of his life. Seymour was active in legal groups and frequently served in official capacities. Among these were the American Bar Association (president 1960-1961), the American Bar Foundation (president 1960-1964), and the Legal Aid Society (president 1945-1950). Seymour was particularly noted for his activities on behalf of civil liberties and civil rights, and this is reflected in his participation in the American Civil Liberties Union (board member 1938-1953), the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and the Special Committee on Individual Rights as Affected by National Security. Among the civic groups in which Seymour was active were the New York Community Trust, the Council on Library Resources, and Freedom House. Collection consists of Seymour's personal correspondence, 1930-1983; his desk diaries, 1951, 1959-1971; and subject files, 1932-1983, on organizations and individuals with which he was associated. Personal correspondence contains family letters, letters of recommendation, and correspondence with friends and associates concerning personal and professional matters. Subject files make up over 90% of the collection. Greatest bulk of the subject files relates to legal associations but there are civic, political, religious and neighborhood groups represented as well. Files for the American Bar Association, 1944-1980, which comprise nearly one-quarter of the collection, consist of Seymour's presidential papers, files on the Board of Governors and House of Delegates, and many ABA committees. Other major legal organizational records concern the American Bar Foundation, 1953-1980, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 1947-1983, the Legal Aid Society, 1949-1982, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, 1966-1983, and the New York State Temporary Commission on the Courts, 1953-1959. Prominent civic associations include the Council on Library Resources, 1958-1983, Freedom House, 1951-1983, the New World Foundation, 1957-1974, and the New York Community Trust, 1946-1981. In all, there are over 225 individuals and organizations represented in the subject files.

166 linear feet (181 boxes)

New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6312777

New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division

Related Entities

There are 12 Entities related to this resource.

Seymour, Whitney North, 1901-1984

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68k91x3 (person)

Whitney North Seymour (1901-1983) was a New York City trial lawyer who was active in numerous legal, civic, political, and social organizations. After receiving his law degree from Columbia University in 1923, Seymour joined the law firm of Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett. He became a partner in 1929 and was associated with the firm for the rest of his life. Seymour was active in legal groups and frequently served in official capacities. Among these were the American Bar Association (president 1...

New World Foundation

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6w433mq (corporateBody)

New York Community Trust

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gr1cs0 (corporateBody)

Freedom House (U.S.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6w71dw9 (corporateBody)

Freedom House was established in 1941 as a non-profit, non-partisan democratic challenge to the Braunhaus in Munich, a center for Nazi propaganda. It physically merged several anti-isolationism organizations, including Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies and Fight for Freedom, while allowing them to remain administratively autonomous. Acting from its headquarters in the Willkie Memorial Building, Freedom House functioned as a clearinghouse, coordinator, radi...

Association of the Bar of the City of New York

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6r823k1 (corporateBody)

American bar association

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qr91mt (corporateBody)

BIOGHIST REQUIRED In 1971 the American Bar Association formed a committee to prepare a study "...on the respective powers under the Constitution of the President and of the Congress to enter into and conduct war." The committee was chaired by Lyman M. Tondel, Jr. and the project was funded by the Association's Fund for Public Education which in turn contracted with Columbia University to carry out the study. The staff included Abraham D. Sofaer, Project Director and Adjunct Professor of Law at C...

American bar foundation

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6b620jx (corporateBody)

Legal Aid Society (New York, N.Y.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61s0vds (corporateBody)

New York (State). Temporary Commission on the Courts

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64j5w5g (corporateBody)

American arbitration association

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6p31mnd (corporateBody)

In January 1949 when the parties could not agree upon the terms of a new contract the union struck. When the strike was settled, it was agreed to submit to arbitration the following issues which the parties could not agree upon: payment of a 12% wage increase, retroactive to January 1, 1949; in lieu of overtime charges, a flat sum of $28 per month on non-propelled barges; when required to go on dock or aboard to make hose connections, a $2 payment per voyage made on self propelled vessels; and t...

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights under Law

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67t339p (corporateBody)

Council on Library Resources

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68w7396 (corporateBody)