American Committee for the Guidance of Professional Personnel records

1938-1945

The American Committee for the Guidance of Professional Personnel was formed in December, 1938, as a result of a meeting in Chicago of the Association of American Law Schools. Its purpose was to provide fellowships in the United States for refugee lawyers, many of Jewish origin, who sought retraining in American law schools. A selection committee was created to screen applicants. David Riesman of the University of Buffalo Law School and later Harvard was its secretary. Other members included Edmund M. Morgan, chairman; Arthur A. Ballantine, treasurer; Carl J. Friedrich; and Philip W. Amram. Records consist of correspondence of David Riesman, mainly with refugee lawyers, deans of American law schools, legal scholars, and practicing attorneys relative to the organization and funding of the Committee, and the provision of fellowships to refugee lawyers seeking retraining in American law schools. Included are a few fellowship applications and photographs submitted by applicants, budget working papers, and reports. Correspondents include Philip W. Amram, Arthur A. Ballantine, Ernst Fraenkel, Peter Goswyn Franck, Carl J. Friedrich, Rudolph M. Littauer, Walter Mendelsohn, and Edmund M. Morgan.