Harold Arnoldus Stevens (October 19, 1907 – November 9, 1990) was a lawyer and judge who served on the New York Supreme Court and the New York Court of Appeals. The collection consists of two videos relating to Stevens's career, dating from 1985 and 1990.
Harold Arnoldus Stevens (October 19, 1907 – November 9, 1990) was a lawyer and judge who served on the New York Supreme Court and the New York Court of Appeals.
Born in Johns Island, South Carolina, Stevens became the first African American to earn a bachelor of laws degree in labor law from Boston College in 1936. In the 1940s, he was a counsel to the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and the Provisional Committee to Organize Colored Locomotive Firemen. From 1947 to 1950, he represented Albany's Thirteenth District in the New York State Assembly. In 1950, he was elected to the New York Court of General Sessions. He went on to be appointed a justice of the New York Supreme Court by Governor W. Averell Harriman in 1955. Subsequent appointments included associate justice of the Appellate Division (1958-1963), justice of the Appellate Division (1963-1969), and presiding justice (1969, 1975). He was the first African American to hold a seat on the New York Court of Appeals, appointed by Governor Malcolm Wilson in January 1974. Stevens retired in 1977. He died in New York City in 1990.
The collection consists of two videos relating to the career of Harold A. Stevens, dating from 1985 and 1990. They are organized chronologically. Videos include an oral history with Stevens, and a portrait unveiling ceremony honoring him at Boston College Law School.
Ella M. Stevens, 1997.
Collection inventoried by Nathan Evans. Collection processed and described by Lyric Evans-Hunter, archivist. Finding aid published in 2025.
See the Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books Division for the Harold A. Stevens papers, Sc MG 605.