Francis E. Rivers (died July 28, 1975) was an American lawyer and judge who served in the New York State Assembly. His father, David Foote Rivers, was a state representative in Tennessee. He was a Republican.[1]

He was the first African American to serve on the City Court of New York City (now the New York City Civil Court).[2] In 1932, W. E. B. Du Bois wrote to Rivers seeking information about Dr. Hinton of Boston who Du Bois wanted to nominate for a Spingarn Medal.[3] In 1966 he presented an award to Thurgood Marshall.[4]

Several prominent members of the American Bar Association threatened to quit when Rivers was denied membership in the organization, which did not have any African American members.[5][6] He defeated incumbent Abraham Grenthal in the 1929 election for state Assembly[7] and served in the 153rd New York State Legislature in 1930.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "REPUBLICANS: How He Did It". Time. July 5, 1948. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  2. ↑ Fowle, Farnsworth (July 29, 1975). "Francis E. Rivers Dies; Black City Judge Was 82 (Published 1975)". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ "Letter from Francis e. Rivers to W. E. B. Du Bois, January 28, 1932".
  4. ↑ "Convocation Dinner to honor Thurgood Marshall | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News". WNYC.
  5. ↑ "QUIT BAR ASSOCIATION, CHARGING RACE BIAS; Judge Goldstein and A.G. Hays Protest Exclusion of Negro (Published 1943)". The New York Times. April 9, 1943.
  6. ↑ "Judge Jonah Goldstein Quits Bar Association Because It Bars Negro from Membership". April 11, 1943.
  7. ↑ "GRENTHAL DEFEATED IN ASSEMBLY RACE; Loses to F.E. Rivers in Contest in Harlem for Republican Nomination. BRODERICK IS LEADING W.W. Wemple Jr. Beats W.M. Nicol in Schenectady--Dry. Loses in Rochester". The New York Times. 18 September 1929.


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