J. Kenneth Lee Papers Inventory (#4782)
Manuscripts Department, Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Contact Information:
- Manuscripts Department
- CB#3926, Wilson Library
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890
- Phone: 919/962-1345
- Fax: 919/962-3594
- Email: mss@email.unc.edu
- URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/
- Processed by:
- Tim Pyatt
- Date Completed:
- December 1995
- Encoded by:
- Lynn Pritcher
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Descriptive Summary Including Abstract
- Title
- J. Kenneth Lee Papers 1949-1994
- Creator
- Lee, J. Kenneth (John Kenneth), 1923- .
- Extent
-
- About 120 items (1.5 linear feet).
- Repository
- Southern Historical Collection
- Abstract
- J. Kenneth Lee, lawyer of Greensboro, N.C., who became one of the first two African Americans to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lee received his Juris Doctoris degree in 1952 and was subsequently involved in over 1,700 civil rights lawsuits during his 38 years of legal practice. Papers relate primarily to J. Kenneth Lee's lawsuit to attend the University of North at Chapel Hill's School of Law, where, in June 1951, he and Harvey Beech became the first African Americans to enroll after a lengthy lawsuit and appeal against the University. Included are copies of court papers, photographs of Beech and Lee registering and attending class, and copies of newspaper clippings describing the court battle and the University's reaction. Also included are some materials pertaining to the Law School at the North Carolina College at Durham (formerly the North Carolina College for Negroes and currently North Carolina Central University).
Administrative Information
- Usage Restrictions
- Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers,or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Online Catalog Terms
- Afro-American lawyers--North Carolina--History--20th century.
- Afro-American universities and colleges--North Carolina.
- Afro-Americans--Civil rights--North Carolina.
- Afro-Americans--Education (Higher)--North Carolina.
- Beech, Harvey E.
- Civil rights--North Carolina--History--20th century.
- College integration--North Carolina.
- Education, Higher--North Carolina--History--20th century.
- Law--Study and teaching--North Carolina--History--20th century.
- Lawyers--North Carolina--History--20th century.
- Lee, J. Kenneth (John Kenneth), 1923- .
- North Carolina College at Durham. School of Law--History.
- North Carolina--Race relations--20th century.
- Segregation in higher education--North Carolina--History--20th century.
- University of North Carolina (1793-1962). School of Law --History.
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill--History--20th century.
Biographical Note
J. Kenneth Lee was born in Charlotte, N.C., on 1 November 1923, the thirteenth of fourteen children. Lee was graduated from Capital Highway High School in Hamlet, N.C., in 1941 with highest honors. He was graduated from North Carolina A & T with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1945. He also served as electrician's mate, second class, in the Navy during World War II.
Lee became one of the first two African Americans to attend the University of North at Chapel Hill when he and Harvey Beech were admitted in June 1951 after a lengthy lawsuit and appeal against the University. They also were the first African American graduates from UNC when they received their Juris Doctoris degrees (formerly LL.B.) in 1952.
Lee was involved in over 1,700 civil rights lawsuits during his 38 years of legal practice. He was also founder, president, and chairman of American Federal Savings & Loan, the second African American-owned thrift in the state. Lee has served on the Barber Scotia College Board of Trustees and as a member of the North Carolina Banking Commission, the Minority Business Enterprise Advisory Board, the Commission on Human Relations (Greensboro, N.C.), and the National Bar Association Hall of Fame, among other public service and honorary positions.
Back to TopCollection Overview
Papers relating primarily to J. Kenneth Lee's lawsuit to attend the University of North at Chapel Hill's School of Law. Included in Series 1 are copies of court papers and copies of newspaper clippings describing the court battle and the University's reaction. Also included are some materials pertaining to the Law School at the North Carolina College at Durham (formerly the North Carolina College for Negroes and currently North Carolina Central University). Series 2 contains biographical information. Photographs of Beech and Lee registering and attending class are located in Series 3.
Back to TopOrganization of Collection
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1. UNC-CH Law School Legal Action
1.1. North Carolina College at Durham School of Law
1.2. Court Documents
1.3. UNC-CH Law School
2. Biographical Information & Related Papers
3. Pictures
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Series Descriptions
1. UNC-CH Law School Legal Action, 1949-1994.
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2. Biographical Information and Related Papers, 1950-1994.
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3. Pictures, 1951-1974 and undated.
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