Guide, Raymond Pace Alexander Papers (UPT 50 A374R)
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A Guide to the Raymond Pace Alexander Papers 1880-1975 117.0 Cubic feet UPT 50 A374R Prepared by Thomas G. Potterfield, Maureen B. Spectre, and Theresa R. Snyder, assisted by Susan M. Jenkins November 2015 The University Archives and Records Center 3401 Market Street, Suite 210 Philadelphia, PA 19104-3358 215.898.7024 Fax: 215.573.2036 www.archives.upenn.edu Mark Frazier Lloyd, Director Raymond Pace Alexander Papers UPT 50 A374R TABLE OF CONTENTS PROVENANCE...............................................................................................................................1 ARRANGEMENT...........................................................................................................................1 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE................................................................................................................1 SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE................................................................................................... 2 CONTROLLED ACCESS HEADINGS.........................................................................................6 INVENTORY.................................................................................................................................. 8 I. BIOGRAPHICAL AND AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL.............................................................. 8 II. PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE..................................................................................14 III. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.................................................................................. 17 IV. PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE........................................................................28 V. FINANCIAL RECORDS...................................................................................................30 VII. LAW PRACTICE AND RELATED PROFESSIONAL PAPERS.................................39 VI. EDUCATION....................................................................................................................45 VIII. LEGAL ISSUES AND ACTIONS................................................................................ 46 IX. CITY COUNCIL.............................................................................................................. 95 X. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS..................................................................................... 103 XI. OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE.............................................................................115 XII. LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS.........................................................................................117 XIII. CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS......................................................................................... 128 XIV. CLUBS AND SOCIAL GROUPS...............................................................................136 XV. WRITINGS, PUBLICATIONS AND SPEECHES...................................................... 142 XVI. CERTIFICATES, HONORS AND AWARDS........................................................... 159 XVII. MEMORABILIA AND REGALIA........................................................................... 164 Raymond Pace Alexander Papers UPT 50 A374R XVIII. AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIAL.................................................................................166 XIX. FAMILY AND GENEALOGY...................................................................................183 XX. BOOKS, JOURNALS, AND MAGAZINES................................................................185 Raymond Pace Alexander Papers UPT 50 A374R Guide to the Raymond Pace Alexander Papers 1880-1975 UPT 50 A374R 117.0 Cubic feet Prepared by Thomas G. Potterfield, Maureen B. Spectre, and Theresa R. Snyder, assisted by Susan M. Jenkins November 2015 Access is granted in accordance with the Protocols for the University Archives and Records Center. PROVENANCE Gift of the Alexander family, 1987. ARRANGEMENT The Raymond Pace Alexander Papers are organized into twenty series: BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE A native Philadelphian, he was born in 1897 into a large working class family. His mother died shortly after the birth of his youngest sibling, and Raymond was self-supporting from the age of twelve. He graduated from Central High School in 1917; entered the University of Pennsylvania in the fall of 1917; graduated from the Wharton School in 1920 and from Harvard Law School in June 1923. - 1 - Raymond Pace Alexander Papers UPT 50 A374R He was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar and entered practice in August 1923, specializing in criminal law. He began his career in the office of John R.K. Scott, a successful trial lawyer. In November, 1923, he married Sadie Tanner Mossell. Mrs. Alexander joined her husband's practice after she obtained her law degree in 1927. In the late 'twenties, Raymond established his own offices in rented quarters on Chestnut Street, remaining there until 1935, when he moved into the new building he had built at 1900 Chestnut Street in Center City. Between 1924 and 1950, he served as an advocate in a number of important civil cases involving issues of racial discrimination and segregation in public accommodations. He was also a defense attorney in numerous criminal cases, many of which involved a racial aspect or civil rights issue. Some of his cases were highly sensational and his success in litigation brought him a great deal of publicity. From 1949 to 1951, he was active in the Clark- Dilworth reform democratic movement, supporting the Home Rule Charter for Philadelphia. In 1951, he won election to City Council under the new charter. He was re-elected to Council in 1955. From 1952 to 1956, he chaired the Committee on Recreation, and from 1956 to 1959, the Committee on Public Property and Public Works. In January, 1959, he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Court of Common Pleas No. 4 by Governor George M. Leader. He was elected to a full ten-year term on the Court in the following November. After his term expired in 1970, he continued in the capacity of Senior Judge until his death in 1974. SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE RPA I: Biographical and Autobiographical. (5 cu. ft. and oversized items.) The first two subseries include a number of articles and resumes which review RPA's career, including important cases (see, in particular, "A Short Summary of the Life and Activities of Raymond Pace Alexander"[1966]). A third subseries provides documentation of RPA's international travels (1931- 1973). The bulk of the series (over 4 cu. ft.) consists of boxed clippings and other scrapbook material (bulk dates 1959, 1973-5). In addition, there are a number of oversized scrapbooks (1917-70 with gaps). RPA II: Personal Correspondence. (3 cu. ft.) Correspondence with STMA (mostly mid-1950s), other family members (1940s-60s), and J. Turner Layton, who was probably RPA's closest friend (1940-70), make up about 1 cu. ft. The remainder of the series is made up of miscellaneous and unsorted correspondence (1 cu. ft.; 1935-74) and greeting cards (1 cu. ft.; late 1930s- 74). - 2 - Raymond Pace Alexander Papers UPT 50 A374R RPA III: General Correspondence. (8 cu. ft.; 1935-74.) Primarily miscellaneous and unsorted correspondence. The series includes some correspondence with family members and papers pertaining to professional and civic activities; a preliminary cross-referencing of this material has been provided. The material is arranged in preliminary chronological order without subseries divisions. At the end of the series are several folders of condolences received by the family after RPA's death. RPA IV: Professional Correspondence. (2 cu. ft.; 1935-70.) Primarily material pertaining to RPA's management of his professional and political career, including his early efforts to secure a judicial appointment (1937 and 1949-52) and his campaigns for City Council (1951) and the Court of Common Pleas (1959), and his retirement from the bench and continuation as Senior Judge (1969-70). The series also contains papers pertaining to clerkships and masterships in the law and various other activities related to the legal profession but not directly related to RPA's practice, his position on the bench, or his membership in professional organizations. RPA V: Financial Records. (6 cu. ft.; 1926-76.) Primarily material pertaining to personal finances as opposed to those of the law practice, which are housed in RPA VII.C and D. Miscellaneous records (brokerage statements, mixed receipts, bank statements and canceled checks, tax returns, insurance, and expenditures for the children), together with a number of general ledgers, account for a little over 3 cu. ft. The years between about 1940 and 1974 appear to be covered fairly well, with some records going back as early as 1926. The series also contains records pertaining to Skywater Farm, the Alexanders' country home near Coatesville (1944-1962; approx. 2/3 cu. ft.); 1900 Chestnut Street, the building built by RPA which his office were located after 1935, when it was completed (1934-1972; 1/2 cu. ft.); miscellaneous real estate, mostly mortgages and investment property (1926-59; 1/2 cu. ft.); and wills, estate, and trust (1960-1983, bulk dates 1974-76; 1/2 cu. ft.) RPA VI: Education. (1/2 cu. ft.; 1917-74.) Material pertaining to Central High School, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard Law School. The bulk of the series pertains to Harvard Law School. A few items date from RPA's years as a student; the bulk of the series pertains to RPA's activities as an alumnus, in particular, to contributions, fundraising, and reunions. The series also includes a number of