On the last day of Black History Month we’re celebrating James Campbell Matthews, the first African American to graduate from Albany Law School!
- Originally from New Haven, CT, he moved to Albany and graduated from Albany Academy (1864), then from Albany Law School (1870).
- He worked as a clerk then a bookkeeper at the Congress Hotel, under Adam Blake, Jr.’s guidance (check out our Adam Blake, Jr. post).
- In 1872, he won his first major lawsuit arguing against the City of Albany’s School Board and forcing the city to desegregate its public schools.
- In 1895, he was elected Judge of Albany’s Recorder’s Court, becoming the first black judge in New York State.
- In 2018, Albany Law School established the James Campbell Matthews Black History Month Lecture, in his honor.
In solidarity,
Kayla Miller
Technical Assistant
Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
k.miller1@hvcc.edu
Published: Mon, 28 Feb 2022 12:52:03 +0000 by k.miller1