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Harriett Taylor papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS2289

Scope and Contents

This collection contains legal documents, notes, correspondence, note cards, clippings, awards, and photographs documenting Harriett Taylor's legal and political work from 1952 to 1997. This includes case files from Taylor's work as a labor lawyer with the law firm of Rauh and Silard in the 1960s, as well as index card files of Taylor's orders and opinions as a judge of the District of Columbia Superior Court in the 1980s. In addition, the collection contains correspondence and clippings from Taylor's Democratic National Committee campaign, as well as manuscripts, obituaries, photographs, personal correspondence, awards, certificates, and a memorial book.

Dates

  • 1952-1997

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

The Honorable Harriett Rosen Taylor (1932-1997) was a Senior Judge of the District of Columbia Superior Court remembered most notably for decisions that benefited poor and homeless residents of the District.

Taylor graduated from Brooklyn College and Columbia University Law School. She practiced labor law in the office of prominent labor and civil rights lawyers Joseph Rauh and John Silard in Washington, D.C., before becoming the District's first administrative law judge in 1976, working in the newly formed Office of Consumer Protection. President Jimmy Carter named her to a 15-year term on the Superior Court bench in 1979, to which she was reappointed in 1994.

In 1975, Taylor ran a campaign for Democratic National Committee member from the District of Columbia, but was unsuccessful in the bid. As a judge, she achieved prominence for two decisions in particular: in 1982, ordering Mayor Marion Barry to provide heat and hot water in four city housing projects; and in 1989, ordering improvements and expansions in District homeless shelters.

Judge Taylor was married to civil rights attorney William L. Taylor, whose papers are also held by the Special Collections Research Center.

Extent

9 Linear Feet (14 document boxes, 2 flat boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Honorable Harriett Rosen Taylor (1932-1997) was a Senior Judge of the District of Columbia Superior Court. After graduating from Columbia Law School, she practiced labor law in the office of prominent labor and civil rights lawyers Joseph Rauh and John Silard in Washington, D.C., before becoming the District's first administrative law judge in 1976. This collection contains legal documents, notes, correspondence, note cards, clippings, awards, and photographs documenting Harriett Taylor's legal and political work from 1952 to 1997. This includes case files from Taylor's work as a labor lawyer, as well as index card files of Taylor's orders and opinions as a judge of the District of Columbia Superior Court in the 1980s.

Arrangement

Collection: Organized into five series: Litigation, Politics and personal history, Photographs, Correspondence, and D.C. Superior Court.

Physical Location

Materials may be stored off-site, and may require additional retrieval time. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of the family of Harriett Taylor, 2011 [2011.002]

Source

Title
Guide to the Harriett Taylor papers, 1952-1997
Status
Completed
Author
Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
Date
2012
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository

Contact:
2130 H Street NW
Washington 20052 United States of America