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Central Law School, 1890-1941In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the first African Americans to receive a legal education were Nathaniel R. Harper, who commenced the study of law in 1860 under the instruction of George H. Penniman, a legal preceptor (defined as a specialist who provides practical training), and George A Griffiths, who studied law while employed as a storekeeper in Daviess County, Kentucky. Harper and Griffiths were the first African Americans to be admitted to the bar in the Commonwealth of Kentucky in Louisville, Kentucky on November 23, 1871. Shortly after being admitted to the bar Nathaniel Harper established the Harper Law School, which was housed in his law office. The Harper Law School flourished for several years until 1890 when the school was absorbed into the Central Law School which began as part of State University which subsequently became Simmons University. Nathaniel Harper became Kentucky's first African American judge in 1895. George A. Griffiths, who owned substantial amounts of land in Daviess County, was an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Storekeeper in Daviess County. He was a speaker for the Republican party in Owensboro, Henderson and Madisonville, Kentucky. It is likely that the first African American woman admitted
to the Kentucky bar was Sally J. Seals White, an instructor at the Central
Law School, who held a law degree, (State University annual catalogue,
1892-93) and also a bachelor's degree from Fisk University. She was
married to Albert S. White, Dean of the Central Law School (1896-1911). 2) to provide a conduit for the African American professional
wishing to serve the African American community. The first graduates from Central Law School were: John P. Jetton, of Louisville, Kentucky; Isaac W. Thomas, of Hemphill, Texas; Charles W. Mason, of Evansville, Indiana; and W. H. Perry, of Louisville, Kentucky. Central Law School held its first commencement on May 10, 1892 at the Masonic Temple Theater in Louisville, Kentucky. Central Law School was an academic unit at both State University and Simmons University. In 1918-1919, Central Law School was operated by eight proprietors. These proprietors included C.H. Parrish Sr. and W. H. Perry Sr. Central Law school existed from 1891 through 1941, with its last graduate being Coleman C. Moore in 1940. Cental Law School continued to exist from 1931 to 1940
with the opening of Louisville Municipal College in 1931. It is not
apparent where Central Law School was located, what was its organizational
structure nor with what institution it was affiliated; possibilities
include Simmons University and/or Louisville Municipal College. Central
Law School's last Dean, W. C. Brown, was legal counsel for Mammoth Life
Insurance company and Central Law School may have been housed at Mammoth
Life. From its inception, Central Law School provided legal
education for both African American men and women. Central Law School
utilized both African American men and women as law professors in the
preparation of its students for the legal profession. For the decade
that followed the close of Central Law School in 1940, there were no
law schools in the Commonwealth of Kentucky which would accept African
American men and women.
Hortense Young was the first African American female admitted to the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. She attended the law school from 1951 to 1953; with 1951 being her freshman year and 1953 being her senior year. Hortense Young did not graduate. In a conversation with her son, Dr. Milton Young; he indicated that reason given by his mother for not completing her law degree was "due to 'good ole boy' attitudes regarding women and Blacks". She went on to have a prosperous career as a entrepreneur. It appears that James Muir Jr. only attended the UofL School of Law for one academic year, 1951-1952.
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