Francis E. Rivers
Francis E. Rivers (died July 28, 1975) was an American lawyer and judge who served in the New York State Assembly. His father, David Foote Rivers, was a state representative in Tennessee.
He was the first African American to serve on a City Court in New York City.[1] In 1932, W. E. B. Du Bois wrote to Rivers seeking information about Dr. Hinton of Boston who Du Bois wanted to nominate for a Springarn Medal.[2] In 1966 he presented an award to Thurgood Marshall.[3]
Several prominent members of the American Bar Association threatened to quit when Rivers was denied membership in organization which did not have any African American members.[4][5] He defeated incumbent Abraham Grenthal in the 1929 election[6] and served in the 153rd New York State Legislature in 1930.
See also[]
- List of African-American jurists
- List of first minority male lawyers and judges in New York
- African-American officeholders during and following the Reconstruction era
References[]
- ^ Fowle, Farnsworth (July 29, 1975). "Francis E. Rivers Dies; Black City Judge Was 82 (Published 1975)". The New York Times.
- ^ "Letter from Francis e. Rivers to W. E. B. Du Bois, January 28, 1932".
- ^ "Convocation Dinner to honor Thurgood Marshall | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News". WNYC.
- ^ "QUIT BAR ASSOCIATION, CHARGING RACE BIAS; Judge Goldstein and A.G. Hays Protest Exclusion of Negro (Published 1943)". The New York Times. April 9, 1943.
- ^ "Judge Jonah Goldstein Quits Bar Association Because It Bars Negro from Membership". April 11, 1943.
- ^ "GRENTHAL DEFEATED IN ASSEMBLY RACE; Loses to F.E. Rivers in Contest in Harlem for Republican Nomination. BRODERICK IS LEADING W.W. Wemple Jr. Beats W.M. Nicol in Schenectady--Dry. Loses in Rochester". The New York Times. 18 September 1929.
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- 1975 deaths
- African-American judges
- African-American state legislators in New York (state)
- 20th-century American politicians
- New York (state) state court judges
- 20th-century American judges
- Municipal judges in the United States
- New York (state) Republicans
- Members of the New York State Assembly