Harriett Taylor papers
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]
- Homelessness -- Washington (D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Homelessness Law and legislation -- Washington (D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Labor unions Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Law Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Shelters for the homeless Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Washington (D.C.) Politics and government Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Source
- Taylor, Harriett R. (Collector, Person)
- 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
