Repository: ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title: Thomas M. Kerr Papers
Creator: Kerr, Thomas M.
Collection Number: AIS.2004.17
Extent: 10 Linear Feet (8 boxes)
Date: 1945-2004
Abstract: The papers of Thomas M. Kerr contain correspondence and subject files primarily related to his local leadership of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) from 1962 to 1984. The files cover an extensive variety of subjects, including material on women's rights, civil rights, criminal justice, civil liberties, conscientious objection to selective service, Democratic Party politics, academic freedom, separation of church and state, and students' and teachers' rights.
Language: English .
Author: Ben Blake
Publisher: ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address: University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Biography

Thomas M. Kerr (1919-2006) was born in Hackensack, New Jersey. He received his A.B. from Lafayette College in 1940 and his J.D. from George Washington University in 1950. After serving as an attorney for the anti-trust division of the U.S. Justice Department, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to work for Westinghouse Electric Company in 1956. Kerr subsequently entered private practice and became chair of the Pittsburgh chapter of the ACLU from 1962 to 1964, and president of the ACLU of Pennsylvania from 1964 to 1984. During this period, he also served on the national board of directors of the ACLU and was active nationally in Americans for Democratic Action. Locally, Kerr provided legal counsel to the anti-war, civil rights, and women's movements. He was also engaged in a wide variety of cases involving criminal justice, civil liberties, and academic freedom. Kerr died on February 25, 2006, in Pittsburgh.

Scope and Content Notes

The papers of Thomas Kerr contain correspondence and subject files primarily related to his role as chair of the Pittsburgh chapter and president of the Pennsylvania ACLU from 1962 to 1984. The files cover an extensive variety of subjects, including women's rights, civil rights, criminal justice, civil liberties, conscientious objection to selective service, Democratic Party politics, academic freedom, de-criminalization of drugs, separation of church and state, and students' and teachers' rights. Also scattered among the correspondence are news clippings and releases; newsletters; letters to the editor; texts of speeches; meeting minutes; financial reports; and election results.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Previous Citation

Thomas M. Kerr Papers, 1945-2004, AIS.2004.17, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

Thomas M. Kerr Papers, 1945-2004, AIS.2004.17, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Ben Blake in 2006. An addition to the collection was processed by Zachary Brodt in December 2007.

Copyright

The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Thomas M. Kerr in July 2004.

Related Material

American Civil Liberties Union, Pittsburgh Chapter Records, AIS.1997.16, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into four series:

Series I. American Civil Liberties Union, Pittsburgh Chapter Correspondence, 1962-1967

Series II. American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania Correspondence, 1967-1978

Series III. General Correspondence, 1956-1971

Series IV. Subject Files, 1945-2004

Subjects

Corporate Names

American Civil Liberties Union. Pittsburgh Chapter -- Records and correspondence
Democratic Party (Pa.)
American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania -- Records and correspondence

Personal Names

Kerr, Thomas M. -- Records and correspondence

Geographic Names

Pittsburgh (Pa.)
Pennsylvania

Genres

Correspondence

Other Subjects

Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Protest movements -- Pennsylvania
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Academic freedom -- Pennsylvania
Church and state -- Pennsylvania
Criminal justice, Administration of -- Pennsylvania
Civil rights -- Pennsylvania
Draft resisters -- Pennsylvania
Drug legalization -- Pennsylvania
Pro-choice movement -- Pennsylvania
Race discrimination -- Pennsylvania
Segregation -- Pennsylvania
Selective conscientious objection -- Pennsylvania
Social action
Sex discrimination against women -- Pennsylvania
Students -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Pennsylvania
Feminism -- Pennsylvania
Lawyers -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh

Container List

Series I. American Civil Liberties Union, Pittsburgh Chapter Correspondence, 1962-1967

Scope and Content Notes

This series contains internal organizational correspondence primarily related to Kerr's service as chair of the Pittsburgh chapter of the ACLU. It encompasses a broad range of topics, including fair housing, public school de-segregation, capital punishment, rights of the accused, employee loyalty oaths, censorship, academic freedom, student rights, school prayer, freedom of speech, and the abolition of the U.S. House Committee on Un-American Activities. Also scattered among the correspondence are news clippings, newsletters, financial reports, and meeting minutes.

Correspondence, 1962-1967

Containers: box 1, folder 1-24

Series II. American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania Correspondence, 1967-1978

Scope and Content Notes

This series contains internal organizational correspondence primarily related to Kerr's tenure as president of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. It covers an extensive variety of topics including, women's rights (the Equal Rights Amendment, sex discrimination and abortion rights), civil rights (fair housing, public school de-segregation, racial discrimination in employment), criminal justice (capital punishment, rights of the accused and the right to a fair trial), civil liberties (employee loyalty oaths, censorship and FBI surveillance), conscientious objection to selective service, and academic freedom. Also scattered among the correspondence are news clippings, press releases, meeting minutes, budgets, and election results.

Correspondence, 1967-1970

Containers: box 1, folder 25-36

Correspondence, 1970-1978

Containers: box 2, folder 1-24

Series III. General Correspondence, 1956-1971

Scope and Content Notes

This series contains personal correspondence primarily related to Kerr's law practice and political activities. It covers a wide variety of topics including the 1960 Kennedy presidential campaign, censorship, conscientious objection to selective service, civil rights, criminal justice, fair housing, affirmative action in the construction trades, school integration, students' rights, and FBI surveillance of political activists. Included in this correspondence are copies of sixteen letters to the editor from 1966 to 1970 and texts of nine speeches from 1966 to 1968.

Correspondence, 1956-1965

Containers: box 2, folder 25-40

Correspondence, 1966-1971

Containers: box 3, folder 1-23

Series IV. Subject Files, 1945-2004

Scope and Content Notes

This series contains subject research files primarily related to Kerr's law practice and public speaking engagements. It spans a broad range of topics, including school integration, abortion rights, affirmative action in the construction trades, capital punishment, censorship, rights of mentally ill, selective service, fair housing, rights of the accused, de-criminalization of drugs, separation of church and state, and the rights of students and teachers. Also included are some files on Kerr's academic work at Carnegie Mellon University and Point Park College.

Abortion, 1966-1974

Containers: box 3, folder 24-25

Academic Freedom in Secondary Schools, 1967

Containers: box 3, folder 26

Americans for Democratic Action, 1970-1974

Containers: box 3, folder 27

Black Community, 1969

Containers: box 3, folder 28

Black Construction Coalition, 1969

Containers: box 3, folder 29

Brown v. Board of Education, 1970-1972

Containers: box 3, folder 30

Campisi, Carmello Case File

Containers: box 3, folder 31

Capital Punishment, 1965-1985

Containers: box 3, folder 32-33

Carnegie Mellon University, 1972-1979

Containers: box 3, folder 34

Carnegie Mellon University, Program for Executives, 1971-1973

Containers: box 3, folder 35-36

Censorship, 1960-1969

Containers: box 3, folder 37-38

Centerville Clinics, Incorporated, Mental Health and Mental Retardation Program, Fredericktown, PA, 1975

Containers: box 3, folder 39

Circle Program, Pittsburgh Public Schools, 1973-1974

Containers: box 3, folder 40

Civil Commitment of the Mentally IL, 1969

Containers: box 3, folder 41

Civil Liberties and the American Civil Liberties Union, 1967-1975

Containers: box 3, folder 42

Corporal Punishment, 1965-1977

Containers: box 4, folder 1-2

Draft Deferment Case Letters, 1972

Containers: box 4, folder 3

Drugs, 1967-1972

Containers: box 4, folder 4

Dwelling House Building and Loan Association, 1968-1976

Containers: box 4, folder 5

Dwelling House Savings and Loan Association, 1973-1976

Containers: box 4, folder 6

Federal Crime Insurance Program, U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 1971-1976

Containers: box 4, folder 7

Home Rule Charter for the People of Pittsburgh, Discussion Draft, September 1973

Containers: box 4, folder 8

Law Enforcement and the Rights of the Accused, 1963-1967

Containers: box 4, folder 9

Lowenstein, Al, U.S. Senate Campaign, 1973-1974

Containers: box 4, folder 10

Malone, Thomas Case File, August 20, 1975

Containers: box 4, folder 11

Non-Heartbeating Organ Donors, 1991-1993

Containers: box 4, folder 12

Non-Profit Bail Bonding Corporation, 1969-1972

Containers: box 4, folder 13-14

Oskoui, M. Case File, 1972-1976

Containers: box 4, folder 15

Pennsylvania Program for Women and Girl Offenders, Inc., 1971

Containers: box 4, folder 16

Point Park College, 1964-1975

Containers: box 4, folder 17-18

Prayer and Bible Reading in the Public Schools, 1958-1965, 1982, 1991

Containers: box 4, folder 19-20

Pre-trial Justice Project, American Friends Service Committee, 1968-1971

Containers: box 4, folder 21

Retention Committee, Retreat State Hospital, Hunlock Creek, PA, 1977

Containers: box 4, folder 22

Rights of Children, 1971-1975

Containers: box 4, folder 23

Rights of Students in Private Institutions, 1961-1966, 1969-1981

Containers: box 4, folder 24-26

Rights of Teachers and Students in Secondary Schools, 1969-1972

Containers: box 4, folder 27

Selective Service, 1968-1972, 1982

Containers: box 4, folder 28-29

Senate Bill 1, 1976

Containers: box 4, folder 30

Singer, Nathan Case File, 1945-1976

Containers: box 4, folder 31-39

Students' Rights, 1963-1969

Containers: box 4, folder 40-42

Unitarian Church, 1971-1973

Containers: box 5, folder 1

Wage-Price Freeze, August 1971 - January 1972

Containers: box 5, folder 2-3

Watergate, 1974

Containers: box 5, folder 4

Welfare Rights, 1965-1969

Containers: box 5, folder 5-6

Civil and Labor Rights Articles

Containers: box 6, folder 1

Elaine Mittleman, 1987

Containers: box 6, folder 2

Personal Correspondence

Containers: box 6, folder 3

Allegheny Bar Association Memorial Service for Marjorie Hanson Matson, Esq. Eulogy by Kerr, 1980

Containers: box 6, folder 4

Correspondence with Carnegie Mellon University

Containers: box 6, folder 5

Correspondence

Containers: box 6, folder 6

Home Rule Charter Draft, 1973

Containers: box 6, folder 7

Research on Ethics in City Government

Containers: box 6, folder 8

Manuscript regarding Presidential Impeachment

Containers: box 6, folder 9

Carnegie Tech Ideas, Fall 1966

Containers: box 6, folder 10-11

Carnegie Tech, Fall 1965

Containers: box 6, folder 12

Carnegie Tech

Containers: box 6, folder 13

Zimbabwe 8

Containers: box 6, folder 14-15

Ingersoll-Rand and Flow International Corporation Merger, 1994

Containers: box 6, folder 16

City of Pittsburgh Personnel Appeals Board, 1989

Containers: box 6, folder 17

City of Pittsburgh Personnel Appeals Board, 1980-1985

Containers: box 6, folder 18

City of Pittsburgh Personnel Appeals Board

Containers: box 7, folder 1

Lawsuits against Cities as Employers

Containers: box 7, folder 2

Lillian Roberts and William Terrell v. City of Pittsburgh

Containers: box 7, folder 3

Ray Wolfgang Appeal, 1990

Containers: box 7, folder 4

David M. Stangl v. City of Pittsburgh, 1990

Containers: box 7, folder 5

City of Pittsburgh Personnel Appeals Board, 1984-1990

Containers: box 7, folder 6

Gloria Novak v. City of Pittsburgh

Containers: box 7, folder 7

City of Pittsburgh Personnel Appeals Board Correspondence, 1984-1989

Containers: box 7, folder 8

Kerr Interview Transcripts, 2004

Containers: box 7, folder 9-15

Kerr Obituaries and Articles

Containers: box 7, folder 16

City of Pittsburgh Personnel Appeals Board Cases

Containers: box 7, folder 17

Correspondence with Melanie Smith, November 19, 1984

Containers: box 8, folder 1

"The New People", Thomas Merton Center, May 1984

Containers: box 8, folder 2

"Mr. Civil Liberties" Dinner Honoring Kerr, October 25, 1995

Containers: box 8, folder 3

Atlantic City Casino Articles

Containers: box 8, folder 4

Correspondence, 1993

Containers: box 8, folder 5

Teaching Materials, 1984-1993

Containers: box 8, folder 6

Freedom of Speech and Expression

Containers: box 8, folder 7

Michael T. Newell v. City of Pittsburgh Civil Service Commission, 1991

Containers: box 8, folder 8

Contact Lists

Containers: box 8, folder 9

Personal Correspondence, 1990

Containers: box 8, folder 10

American Civil Liberties Union, Greater Pittsburgh Chapter, Inc. v. City of Pittsburgh

Containers: box 8, folder 11

Hate Speech

Containers: box 8, folder 12

Free Speech and Press, 1992

Containers: box 8, folder 13

Presidential Commemorative Print, 1995

Containers: box 8, folder 14

Clippings, 1992-1993

Containers: box 8, folder 15

Complaint of Judicial Misconduct, 1987

Containers: box 8, folder 16

Letter to Working Assets Funding Service, August 1988

Containers: box 8, folder 17

Correspondence, 1989-1994

Containers: box 8, folder 18

Clippings, Mid-Atlantic County, July 1994

Containers: box 8, folder 19

Thomas Paine

Containers: box 8, folder 20

ACLU Reports

Containers: box 8, folder 21

Mt. Lebanon Committee and Voting, 1964

Containers: box 8, folder 22

Allegheny County Democratic Committee

Containers: box 8, folder 23

Kerr Court Documents

Containers: box 8, folder 24

Americans for Democratic Action, 1984

Containers: box 8, folder 25

Baptist Homes, 1979

Containers: box 8, folder 26

Labor and Civil Liberties, 2003

Containers: box 8, folder 27

Grand Jury Abuse, 1978

Containers: box 8, folder 28

George Countz v. Children's Hospital and Servicemaster Industries, Inc., 1979

Containers: box 8, folder 29

American Civil Liberties Union, 1977-1978

Containers: box 8, folder 30

University Relations with Intelligence Agencies

Containers: box 8, folder 31

Correspondence, 1970s

Containers: box 8, folder 32

Freedom of the Press

Containers: box 8, folder 33

Guide to the Thomas M. Kerr Papers, 1945-2004 AIS.2004.17

Arrangement

Biography

Scope and Content Notes

Access Restrictions

Previous Citation

Preferred Citation

Processing Information

Copyright

Acquisition Information

Related Material

Arrangement

Subjects

Corporate Names

Personal Names

Geographic Names

Genres

Other Subjects

Container List

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes