"Through
Howard University Law School, we came to know these lawyers
who are legends today in African American legal history. They
include: Charles H. Houston, Thurgood Marshall, William H.
Hastie Jr., James Nabrit Jr., Spottswood Robinson III, George
E. C. Hayes…. They taught us that the Constitution was
our best hope; that equality would come through the law." -
The Honorable Damon J. Keith
The Damon J.
Keith Collection of African American Legal History at
Wayne State University Law School was created to meet the
need for a central repository for the nation's African American
legal history. The collection, initiated by Professor Emeritus
Edward J. Littlejohn, is dedicated to recording the history
of African American lawyers and judges. Upon the founding
contribution of papers and records by the Honorable Damon
J. Keith, senior judge of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the
Sixth Circuit, the Keith Collection was firmly established.
It has since taken a leading role in memorializing Judge Keith's
commitment to freedom and justice for all. The collection
is a partnership between the Walter Reuther Archives, a world
renown document repository, and the Wayne State Law School.
The collection has already been designated as the repository
for the papers and works of historical importance by many
distinguished persons. Including Kenneth Cockrel, Judge George
Crockett, and Steven Lighthill. The collection also compiled
the oral history of the legendary fighter for justice, attorney
Ernest Goodman.
The collection
intends to use its endowment, now exceeding $2.1 million
dollars to gather oral histories, support lectures and
research, provide educational teaching materials and traveling
exhibits, and generally assist in the preservation and
popularization of the lessons learned during the course
of the historic struggle of the African American people
for democracy in the United States. We intend to serve
as a first-class, readily accessible intellectual resource
for people interested in the fulfillment of even-handed
justice and equality.
