HLS Library Historical & Special Collections acquires new William H. Hastie collection

This spring, Harvard Law School Library’s Historical & Special Collections purchased a collection of personal papers related to the career of William H. Hastie (1904-1976). The collection, titled “William H. Hastie collection of photographs and personal papers,” marks a significant addition to the library’s materials related to Hastie and the careers of African American jurists. This collection builds upon HSC’s existing collections of the William Hastie papers and the William Hastie photographs, and provides a more comprehensive picture of Hastie’s career and professional service activities.   

About William H. Hastie  

Born in Knoxville, Tenn., in 1904, Hastie had a remarkable career in academia and public service. Hastie was the first Black Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, federal judge, and federal appellate judge. He graduated from Harvard Law School with an LL.B. in 1930 and an S.J.D. three years later. In 1931, he was admitted to the Bar of the District of Columbia, joined the law firm of Houston & Houston, and began teaching as a faculty member at the Howard University School of Law. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Hastie to the Federal District Court of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Two years later, Hastie returned to Howard, where he served as Dean of the School of Law from 1939-1946.  

During World War II, Hastie worked as a civilian aide to the Secretary of War Henry Stimson. He was a strong advocate for the equal treatment of African American military personnel and resigned in protest over racial segregation in the armed forces in 1943. Hastie then returned to the Virgin Islands from 1946-1949 as Governor before his nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He began his judicial service on the Third Circuit in 1950 and served as Chief Judge from 1968-1971.   

About the William H. Hastie collection of photographs and personal papers  

This collection primarily reflects his professional activities while serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. While the collection spans the years 1948-2007, the bulk of the material ranges from 1951 to 1975.  

The collection is divided into four main series: Speeches, Correspondence, Press Coverage, and Photographs. A significant portion of the collection is copies of Hastie’s speeches for university commencements, bar association meetings, conferences, and other events. These speeches include annotated drafts and handwritten notes, which offer insight into Hastie’s editing process. This collection also includes a small selection of Hastie’s incoming and outgoing correspondence. His letters are predominantly related to various speaking engagements and awards, including the Philadelphia Award, which honored his commitment to civil rights and contributions to the Philadelphia region. Hastie also corresponded with several notable public figures, including former President Harry S. Truman and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, as well as fellow jurists on the Third Circuit. In addition, this collection contains a significant amount of news clippings, newspapers, and photocopied news articles related to Hastie, his career, and his areas of interest.   

Finally, the collection includes approximately 60 primarily black and white photographs and prints, ranging from formal posed judicial portraits to event photos taken at commencements and conferences. A portion of the photographs in this collection were taken by Bachrach Photographers, a studio known for their famous subjects and status as one of the oldest continuously operated portrait studios in the world. Eight photos in this collection arrived inside their original Bachrach boxes and embossed folders.  

The collection is currently closed for digitization. The fully digitized collection will be available to view in the coming months. In the meantime, the William H. Hastie collection of photographs and personal papers finding aid is available to view through HOLLIS for Archival Discovery.