Norman E. Justice collection
Overview
The papers of Norman E. Justice document the African American legislator's political career as a nine-term member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 34th district, and cover the issues that engaged him during four decades of public service.
Dates
- Creation: 1944 - 2006
Creator
- Justice, Norman E., 1925-2003 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
No access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.
Biography of Norman E. Justice
Norman Justice was born November 1, 1925 in Kansas City, Kansas. He married Kathryn Flanagan in 1954, with whom he had a daughter, Patricia. He graduated from Sumner High School in 1947 after serving in the Navy during World War II. He then attended North Carolina State Teachers College in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Justice's first career was in law enforcement with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, where he attained the rank of Sergeant. After serving as Deputy Sheriff of Wyandotte County in 1951, Justice entered the field of labor relations. As a union official, he held the offices of President and field representative of the Construction and General Laborer's Local 1290 for the AFL-CIO. He was a delegate to the Laborer's District Council of western Missouri and Kansas, and a trustee of the Laborers' Welfare and Pension funds of Kansas City.
In 1973, Justice was appointed to succeed James P. Davis as state representative from the 34th district. He served nine terms in the Kansas legislature before resigning in June 1989. During his tenure, Justice was appointed to the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Committee and to the Kansas Commission on Civil Rights (KCCR).
Justice was active in numerous civic organizations including the Wyandotte County United Fund, Greater Kansas City Urban League, Comprehensive Employment and Training Act and Private Industry Council, Friends of Yates, and the Model Cities Program Priorities Committee. He was a life-long member of Trinity A.M.E. Church. For his dedication to public service, Representative Justice received numerous awards and honors, which include the first Kansas City, Kansas, Citizen of the Year Award; National Black Caucus of State Legislature President's Award; A. Phillip Randolph Institute of Kansas Award; and Black Man of Distinction Award presented by the Friends of Yates. Norman Justice died September 25, 2003.
Extent
3.25 Linear Feet (2 boxes + 2 document cases + 2 oversize boxes + 1 map folder)
Language of Materials
English
Scope and Contents
The Norman E. Justice Collection consists of papers and photographs related to Justice's political career. Although the collection dates from 1944-2006, most of the papers pertain to his interests and activities during the 1970s and 1980s, when he served in the Kansas House of Representatives.
Included are correspondence, hand written papers, legislation, pamphlets, newsletters, newspaper articles, black and white and color photographs, badges collected from national conventions, and objects related to his time in the House of Representives. The papers, located at RH MS 618, are arranged alphabetically by subject then chronologically. Oversize materials, located at RH MS Q352, RH MS R385, and RH MS S42, are arranged at the end of each series or sub-series alphabetically by subject then chronologically. Two scrapbooks are located at RH MS E180. Photographs from the collection, located at RH MS-P 618, are arranged by subject then chronologically.
Series List
The Norman E. Justice Collection is arranged in five series: Constituent Services, Legislative Papers, Personal/Political Papers, Press/Publicity, and Photographs.
- Constituent Services, 1986-1987
- This series contains correspondence pertaining to constituent concerns and requests for assistance.
- Legislative Papers, 1982-1988
- This series consists of legislation, letters, minutes, reports, research, and testimony regarding state and federal legislation.
- Personal/Political Papers, 1944-2006
- This series contains biographical material, citations, correspondence, newsletters, pamphlets, programs, reports, and copies of news articles pertaining to political party and campaign matters, government affairs, public issues, meetings, events, and personal appearances. Two oversived scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings and miscellaneous material highlighting Representative Justice's personal and political accomplishments.
- Press/Publicity, 1979-1998
- This series consists almost entirely of newspaper articles, reporting on current events and the legislator's activities. All folders contain clippings from various newspapers including the Kansas City Voice, Kansas City Labor Beacon, the Call, the Kansan, and the Kansas City Star unless otherwise noted. The topic of South African apartheid and divestment is covered extensively.
- Photographs, 1945-1987
- This series contains photographs depicting the legislator's personal and political activities.
Physical Location
RH MS 618
Physical Location
RH MS-P 618
Physical Location
RH MS E180
Physical Location
RH MS Q352
Physical Location
RH MS R385
Physical Location
RH MS S42
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, Norman Justice, 1986, 1987, 2000, 2015
Gift, Patricia Pierson, 2011
Processing Information
Some material formerly located at RH MS 1254 and RH MS-P 1254 has been integrated into RH MS 618 and RH MS-P 618.
Subject
- Justice, Norman E., 1925-2003 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Norman E. Justice Collection
- Subtitle
- Norman E. Justice collection
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by hhh, 2005; revised by, cl 2010; revised by skt, 2010; revised by mbw, 2012; revised by het, 2016.
- Date
- 2005
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in English
- Sponsor
- Support for the processing of this Collection was provided by the Dana and Sue Anderson African American Collecting Program Endowment Fund.
- Finding aid permalink
- http://hdl.handle.net/10407/6006825973
- Preferred citation
-
Norman E. Justice collection, Kansas Collection, RH MS 618, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Libraries
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository