DACS

cravenjamesbraxton Inventory of the James Braxton Craven Papers, 1961-1977 Processed by: David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library staff; machine-readable finding aid created by: Ted Holt and Paula Jeannet Mangiafico David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, N.C., USA

Aleph Number: 002367334

Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: March 2008Minimally processed and cataloged by Rubenstein Library staff, January 1981; finding aid encoded by Ted Holt and Paula Jeannet Mangiafico, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, March 2008 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS and local Style Guide Inventory of the James Braxton Craven Papers, 1961-1977 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185 USA

Descriptive Summary David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University Craven, James Braxton James Braxton Craven Papers, 1961-1977 Material in English 224.0 Linear Feet 168,210 Items For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. North Carolina lawyer and federal judge. The legal and judicial papers of U.S. Circuit Court Judge James Braxton Craven span the years 1961-1977. Files of correspondence, memoranda, and legal motions and orders concern a multitude of cases in which Craven was involved. Cases include civil suits; criminal cases, including many prisoners' petitions for Writs of Habeas Corpus, particularly since Gideon v. Wainwright; and appeals from administrative boards and commissions, including the FCC, SEC, NLRB, and others. After 1970, Craven served on "three-judge" district court sessions, special courts which usually relate to civil suits raising questions of governmental policy and of constitutional law, and the files document these as well. There are also files dating from 1964-1973 which concern school integration cases. The correspondence between judges is particularly significant, revealing the intersection of personal belief and the carrying out of judicial processes in the lower and higher courts. The collection also includes a précis outlining the legal philosophy and the highlights of Craven's career, but contains very little personal material. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.

Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], James Braxton Craven Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Provenance

The James Braxton Craven Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a purchase in 1978.

Processing Information

Minimally processed and catalogued by Rubenstein Library staff, 1981.

Encoded by Ted Holt and Paula Jeannet Mangiafico, March 2008.

Accession 1-12-1978 is described in this finding aid.

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Biographical Note Chronology 1918 April 3 James Braxton Craven born in Lenoir County, N.C., son of a Methodist minister 1939 A.B., Duke University 1942 LL.B., Harvard University 1942-1946 Served in U.S. Navy 1946 Admitted to North Carolina Bar Solicitor of the Burke County Criminal Court 1948-1952 Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina 1956 Appointed North Carolina Superior Judge 1959-1960 Vice President of the North Carolina Bar Association 1961 Appointed Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District in North Carolina 1963 Elected a member of the Institute of Judicial Administration 1966-1977 U.S. Circuit Judge, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals 1967 Visiting professor in constitutional law at the University of North Carolina Law School 1968 Visiting professor in federal courts at the University of Texas Law School 1970 Visiting professor in constitutional law at the University of North Carolina Law School 1972-1973 Duke University Board of Trustees member 1977 May 3 Death of James Braxton Craven at age 59 Collection Overview

The legal and judicial papers of U.S. Circuit Court Judge James Braxton Craven span the years 1961-1977. Files of correspondence, memoranda, and legal motions and orders concern a multitude of cases in which Craven was involved. Cases include civil suits; criminal cases, including many prisoners' petitions for Writs of Habeas Corpus, particularly since Gideon v. Wainwright; and appeals from administrative boards and commissions, including the FCC, SEC, NLRB, and others. After 1970, Craven served on "three-judge" district court sessions, special courts which usually relate to civil suits raising questions of governmental policy and of constitutional law, and the files document these as well. There are also files dating from 1964-1973 which concern school integration cases. The correspondence between judges is particularly significant, revealing the intersection of personal belief and the carrying out of judicial processes in the lower and higher courts. The collection also includes a précis outlining the legal philosophy and the highlights of Craven's career, but contains very little personal material. Arrangement is in one large alphabetical file, prefaced by a file of biographical information.

Subject Headings

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.

Craven, James Braxton. Appellate courts--North Carolina. Appellate courts--United States. Civil rights--Education--United States. Courts--United States--History. Criminal courts--United States. Criminal justice, Administration of--United States. Criminal Justice Act--United States. Federal Magistrates Act--United States. Judges--North Carolina. Judges--United States--Correspondence. Law--United States--History--20th century. Prisoners--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States. School desegregation. North Carolina--Politics and government--20th century. United States. Court of Appeals (Fourth Circuit)--History. Contents of Collection Alphabetical Series, 1961-1977 (267 boxes)

The bulk of the series is taken up by many boxes of files from U.S. Court of Appeals cases. Each box contains approximately .5 linear feet of material. Other smaller sections contain files on U.S. District Court cases, files on the Criminal Justice and the Federal Magistrates acts, correspondence between judges, school civil rights cases, administrative files, and judicial conferences.

1Biographical information; inventory of collection 1Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts: Reports, 1970-1976 2Appellate Judges Seminar and Planning Committee, 1974-1976 3Appellate Justice Noational Conference, San Diego, Ca., 1975 4Clare Plan (re: standards for admission to practice in the federal courts), 1975-1977 Correspondence: "Crackpot Letters," 1962-1977 5Correspondence with eleven judges, 1961-1977 6Criminal Justice Act, 1964-1966 Federal Magistrates Act, 1969-1970 7School Civil Rights Cases, 1964-1973 U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit Cases: 8-668,790 to 15,713, 1968-1970 67-22271-1001 to 77-1681, 1971-1977 223-226Misc. 500 to Misc. 989, 1968-1973 227-239Misc. 72-8002 to Misc. 77-8080, 1972-1977 240Unnumbered, 1966-1973 241-243Circuit Executive, 1974-1977 244-245Clerk's Office, 1974-1977 Court Administration, 246Agenda and Minutes of Meetings, Judicial Council, 1968-1977 247-249Judicial Council Matters, 1974-1977 250-251Court Calendars and Case Notes, 1972-1977 252Judicial Conferences, 1970-1977 253Paper Shuffling File, 1968 Rules, 1966-1975 U.S. District Court Cases: 254Maryland, 1973-1975 N.C. Western District, 1964-1967 Prisoners, Habeas Corpus Cases, 1961-1966 and 1970-1971 255N.C. Wilmington District, 1966-1977 Pennsylvania, 1975 256-267Three-Judge, 1965 and 1970-1977