Harris L. Kimball papers, circa 1973-2003.
Collection Number: 7823

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Harris L. Kimball papers, circa 1973-2003.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
7823
Abstract:
Records of the landmark cases in which Mr. Kimball represented various clients and other files and ephemera about Kimball.
Creator:
Kimball, Harris L.
Quanitities:
4 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Harris L. Kimball was the first openly gay attorney in the US. In 1955, while working as a civil rights lawyer in Florida, he was arrested for "lewd and lascivious conduct" with another man. He was disbarred on September 6, 1957. On July 3, 1973, the New York Court of Appeals found Kimball to be of good character and qualified to practice law in New York State. In "Sexuality and the Law: An Encyclopedia of Major Legal Cases" (Garland, 1993), Arthur S. Leonard highlights the significant role this decision by the NY Court of Appeals played "in the gradual recognition that lesbian and gay people were entitled to full citizenship rights in a diverse society."

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Records of the landmark cases in which Mr. Kimball represented various clients and other files and ephemera about Kimball.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:

Harris L. Kimball papers, #7823. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
NOTES

Collecting program: Human Sexuality Collection.


SUBJECTS

Places:
New York (State)
United States
Subjects:
Homosexuality
Civil rights.
Procedural law.
Actions and defenses.
Litigation.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Florida Bar Disbarment Court Case Related Materials
1956-1983
Box 1 Folder 1
State of Florida/Florida Bar v. Kimball Documents
Expression
Scope and Contents
Miscellaneous loose documents and a fragmentary bound document
Box 1 Folder 2
Florida Bar v. Kimball
1957
Scope and Contents
Report of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial Circuit regarding the Florida Bar v. Harris Kimball (photocopy)
Box 1 Folder 3
Kimball v. Florida Bar et al. - Case No. 74-688-Civ-NCR(WM) Court Documents
1974
Scope and Contents
Assorted documents from both the plaintiff, Harris Kimball, and the defendents, The Florida Bar, et al., including a notice of appeal to the Fifth Circuit court.
Box 1 Folder 4
Kimball v. Florida Bar et al. - Case No. 75-1005 (Fifth Circuit) Court Documents
1975-1976
Scope and Contents
Assorted documents from both the appellant Harris Kimball, and the appellees, The Florida Bar, et al., including a copy of the Appellant's Appendix and photocopies from Law Journals on the case's outcome
Box 1 Folder 5
Kimball v. Florida Bar et al. - Case No. 74-668-Civ-NCR Court Documents
1977-1979
Scope and Contents
Assorted documents from both the plaintiff, Harris Kimball, and the defendents, The Florida Bar, et al.; also included are photocopies of the verdict from the Federal Case Reporter 'Federal Supplement'
Box 1 Folder 6
Kimball v. Florida Bar et al. - Case No. 79-1781 Court Documents
1979-1981
Scope and Contents
Assorted documents from both the appellant Harris Kimball, and the appellees, The Florida Bar, et al., including a transcript from the court and an excerpt of records
Box 1 Folder 7
Kimball v. Florida Bar - Case No. CRE82001(60,831)
1981-1982
Scope and Contents
Documents from Kimball's petition for reinstatement to the Florida Bar
Box 1 Folder 8
Kimball v. Florida Bar - Case No. CRE82001(60,831)
1982-1983
Scope and Contents
A petition for review opened by Kimball against the Florida Bar
Box 1 Folder 9
Kimball v. Florida Bar Correspondence
1974-1976
Scope and Contents
Mostly between Harris Kimball and his attorneys, Louis Jepeway and Jeremiah Gutman, regarding Kimball's case against the Florida Bar over his disbarrment and petition for reinstatement.
Box 1 Folder 10
Kimball v. Florida Bar Correspondence
1977-1979
Scope and Contents
Mostly between Harris Kimball and his attorneys, Louis Jepeway and Jeremiah Gutman, regarding Kimball's case against the Florida Bar over his disbarrment and petition for reinstatement.
Box 1 Folder 11
Kimball v. Florida Bar Correspondence
1980-1982
Scope and Contents
Mostly between Harris Kimball and his attorneys, Louis Jepeway and Jeremiah Gutman, regarding Kimball's case against the Florida Bar over his disbarrment and petition for reinstatement.
Box 1 Folder 12
Kimball v. Florida Bar Correspondence
1982-1983
Scope and Contents
Mostly between Harris Kimball and his attorneys, Louis Jepeway and Jeremiah Gutman, regarding Kimball's case against the Florida Bar over his disbarrment and petition for reinstatement.
Box 1 Folder 13
Reference statutes and cases - Reinstatement Petition of Harris Kimball
1969-1971
Scope and Contents
Includes a respondent brief from The Florida Bar v. Ronald Kay (Case No. 38,694); an amicus curiae from Joseph Acanfora v. Board of Education of Montgomery County, et al.; and documents from Case No. 59,238 (Florida Board of Bar Examiners: in re N.R.S)
Box 1 Folder 14
The Florida Bar Reinstatement Manual - March 1981
1981-03
New York State Bar Related Materials
1957-1988
Box 2 Folder 1
New York State Bar Admission Petition Court Documents
1972
Scope and Contents
Documents from Kimball's application to the New York Bar; includes the stenographer's minutes from May 31, 1972.
Box 2 Folder 2-3
New York State Bar Admission Petition Court Documents
1973
Box 2 Folder 4
New York State Bar Application - Appendix (Original)
1973
Scope and Contents
A fragmentary bound edition of the appendix from Kimball's petition to the New York State Bar
Box 2 Folder 5
New York State Bar Application - Appendix (Photocopy)
1973
Box 2 Folder 6
New York State Bar Admission Petition Court Documents
1974
Scope and Contents
Includes documents from 1974 and undated items associated with Kimball's petition for admission to the New York State Bar
Box 2 Folder 7
New York State Bar Admission Petition Correspondence and Documents
1971-1973
Scope and Contents
Contains copies of Kimball's various verdicts regarding his admission to the New York State Bar as seen in the Appellate Division Reports, 2d Series; the New York Reports, 2d Series; and the New York State Law Digest
Box 2 Folder 8
Reference statutes and cases - New York State Bar Admission Petitiom
1957-1965
Box 5
Certificate from the New York State Eastern District Court
1974-04-05
Scope and Contents
Issued by the Eastern District of New York State, signed by Lewis Orgel on April 5, 1974, to Harris Kimball; verifies that Kimball was admitted and qualified as an Attorney and Counselor to the Eastern District of New York State
Box 5
Certificate from the New York State Southern District Court
1974-04-05
Scope and Contents
Issued by the Southern District of New York State, signed by Raymond Burghardt on April 04, 1974, to Harris Kimball; verifies that Kimball was admitted and qualified as an Attorney and Counselor to the Southern District of New York State
Box 5
Westchester County Bar Association 1987-1988 Pictorial Directory
1987-1988
Scope and Contents
Harris Kimball is listed on page 68 and 118
Assorted Court Case Materials
1954-1994
Box 3 Folder 2
Gregory Clark and William Bolt Transcript - Jan. 18, 1980 (Copy 1)
1980
Box 3 Folder 3
Gregory Clark and William Bolt Transcript - Jan. 18, 1980 (Copy 2)
1980
Box 3 Folder 4
Gregory Clark and William Bolt Transcript - Jan. 18, 1980 (Copy 3)
1980
Box 3 Folder 5
Gregory Clark and William Bolt Transcript - Feb. 13, 1980 (Copy 1)
1980
Box 3 Folder 6
Gregory Clark and William Bolt Transcript - Feb. 13, 1980 (Copy 2)
1980
Box 3 Folder 7
Gregory Clark and William Bolt Transcript - April 21, 1980 (Copy 1)
1980
Box 3 Folder 8
Gregory Clark and William Bolt Transcript - April 21, 1980 (Copy 2)
1980
Box 3 Folder 9
Gregory Clark and William Bolt Court Documents
1978-1982
Scope and Contents
Assorted legal documents associated with the case against Clark and Bolt
Box 3 Folder 10
Gregory Clark Miscellaneous Documents and Correspondence
1979-1982
Scope and Contents
Documents and correspondence regarding Clark's individual case against the state of New York
Box 3 Folder 11
John Spinelli and Bruno Stra Court Documents
1978;1980
Box 3 Folder 12
Joseph P.' and 'Donald B.' Documents and Correspondence
1979-1981
Box 3 Folder 13
Assorted Spinelli and Stra Documents and Correspondence
1978-1983
Box 3 Folder 14
White Plains Railroad Station Arrests Documents and Correspondence
1977-1981
Box 3 Folder 15
Peter Sidone Court Documents and Assorted Correspondence
1980-1981
Scope and Contents
Miscellaneous items associated with the case against Peter Sidone in Port Chester, NY
Box 3 Folder 16
The People of NYS v. Michael Garr Documents
1975; 1978
Box 3 Folder 17-19
Michael Garr v. State of New York Court Documents
1977; 1979-1980
Box 3 Folder 20
Assorted Michael Garr Documents
1975-1980
Scope and Contents
Includes a copy of the Last Will and Testement of Michael Garr and various correspondence regarding Michael Garr v. State
Box 3 Folder 1
Ardsley Service Area Assorted
1978-1984
Scope and Contents
Miscellaneous photographs, newspaper articles, and transcriptions of telephone conversations regarding the Ardsley Service Area arrests and trials
Box 4 Folder 1
Gay Activists Alliance Court Documents and Correspondence
1972-1978
Scope and Contents
Includes court documents regarding the GAA picketing a private residence, newspaper clippings, various correspondence, and the documents' original folder with notes.
Box 4 Folder 2
Thomas Kingman Miscellaneous Documents and Correspondence
1976-1978
Scope and Contents
Includes a copy of the interview with Thomas Kingman from August 21, 1978, newspaper clippings, and correspondence.
Box 4 Folder 3
Gretchen Grant v. John Doyle et al. Court Documents
1972; 1974; 1977-1978
Box 4 Folder 4
Assorted Cases
1980-1981; 1983-1985; 1994
Scope and Contents
Includes documents and/or correspondence from "The People of the State of New York State v. Wei Chen", "Joseph Harmon v. James Reap", "The People of the State of New York v. John Colern", "The People of the State of New York v. Evelyn Gutherie", "The People of the State of New York v. Peter Cannizzaro", "The People of the State of New York v. Stuart Heller and Donald Paschall", and a letter from Danny Mauariky(?),
Box 4 Folder 5-7
Reference Cases and Statutes
1954-1985
Assorted Correspondence and Writing
1953-2012
Box 1 Folder 15
Miscellaneous Notes
1953-1983
Scope and Contents
Handwritten notes spanning Kimball's career on assorted topics; most are undated
Box 1 Folder 16
Sodomy and the Constitution (c.1975)
1987
Scope and Contents
An excerpt of Sodomy and the Constitution by Walter Barnett prepared by Kimball in 1987, which is missing page 46
Box 1 Folder 17
Sodomy and the Constitution Footnotes
1987
Scope and Contents
The footnotes for the excerpt of Sodomy and the Constitution by Walter Barnett; also included is a section of a Memorandum of Law on homosexuals, which Kimball derived from Sodomy and the Constitution
Box 1 Folder 18
"The Emerging Gay Lawyer" Correspondendce and Drafts
1954; 1961-1965; 1969-1985
Box 2 Folder 9
Assorted newspaper and magazine articles
1970-1974
Scope and Contents
Articles either relating to Harris Kimball, his cases and clients, or to homosexuality (in the workplace, the perception of, etc.).
Box 2 Folder 10
Assorted newspaper and magazine articles
1975-1979
Scope and Contents
Articles either relating to Harris Kimball, his cases and clients, or to homosexuality (in the workplace, the perception of, etc.).
Box 2 Folder 11
Assorted newspaper and magazine articles
1980-1984
Scope and Contents
Articles either relating to Harris Kimball, his cases and clients, or to homosexuality (in the workplace, the perception of, etc.).
Box 2 Folder 12
Assorted newspaper and magazine articles
1985-1989
Scope and Contents
Articles either relating to Harris Kimball, his cases and clients, or to homosexuality (in the workplace, the perception of, etc.).
Box 2 Folder 13
Assorted newspaper and magazine articles
1990-2004
Scope and Contents
Articles either relating to Harris Kimball, his cases and clients, or to homosexuality (in the workplace, the perception of, etc.); some are undated.
Box 2 Folder 14
WBAI Radio Documents and Correspondence
1990-1997;2001;2004
Scope and Contents
Folio editions from November 1984, December 1984, January 1985 (x2), March 1985, April 1985, March 1986, September 1986, and April 1986.
Box 2 Folder 15
WBAI Folioand other articles on WBAI Radio
1984-1985
Box 2 Folder 16
"Harris L. Kimball: America's 'First' Gay Lawyer" drafts
1991
Creator: Conkey, Kathleen
Box 2 Folder 17
"An American Original." Harris Kimball (Short Excerpts)
1974
Scope and Contents
Contains three excerpts from "An American Original" with Kimball's brief intro and copies of his correspondence with a Wall Street Journal Editor
Box 2 Folder 18-19
Excerpt from "An American Original"
1974
Box 2 Folder 20
"The Abominable and Detestable Crime"
Undated
Scope and Contents
A draft copy of the article with both editor notation and author notes for future edits
Box 2 Folder 21
Harris Kimball Memoir
2001-2007
Scope and Contents
Email correspondence between Harris Kimball and Robert Herrig(?) regarding Kimball's memoir and some mention of Kimball's will; working drafts for the memoir; research articles on memoir writing
Box 4 Folder 8
Miscellaneous Correspondence
2001;2006-2007
Box 4 Folder 9
Miscellaneous Correspondence
1975-1977
Box 4 Folder 10
Miscellaneous Correspondence
1978-1979
Box 4 Folder 11
Miscellaneous Correspondence
1980-1984
Box 4 Folder 12
Miscellaneous Correspondence and Documents
1985-1987
Box 4 Folder 13
Miscellaneous Correspondence and Documents
1990-1994
Box 4 Folder 14
Miscellaneous Correspondence and Documents
1994-1999
Box 4 Folder 15
Miscellaneous Correspondence and Documents
2000-2012
Box 4 Folder 16
Undated Correspondence and Assorted Documents
Undated
Box 4 Folder 17
"Of a Homosexual Teacher" from the Texas Southern Law Review
1981
Box 4 Folder 18
New York State Department of Health: AIDS Institute
1985
Box 4 Folder 19
"Sociomedical Research Priorities in AIDS (Draft)"
1985
Creator: Martin, John
Box 5
"This Project of New York Gay Law Students: Panel Discussion" presented by Rutgers S.B.A.
Undated
Box 5
"Homosexuals in revolt" article
1971-12-31
Creator: Durham, Michael
Scope and Contents
From LIFE: 12/31/1971; Pulled from 2-9
Assorted Materials
1944, 1968, 1975
Box 5
Tabula 1944, Oak Park and River Forest Township Highschool yearbook
1944
Scope and Contents
Harris Kimball's highschool yearbook from his senior year, including a 'Program of Special Services for Class of 1944';
Box 5
Portrait of Harris Kimball
Undated
Scope and Contents
Possibly his senior portrait, taken at Toloff Studios in Evanston/Oak Park, Illinois
Box 5
Diploma from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign awarded to Harris Kimball
1968-02-01
Scope and Contents
Awarding the degree of Juris Doctor on February 1, 1968; issued to replace an LL.B. degree awarded August 20, 1951
Box 5
Certificate from the United States Tax Court awarded to Harris Kimball
1975-11-06
Scope and Contents
Issued by Howard Dawson, Jr granting permission for Harris Kimball to practice in the United States Tax Court
Box 5
Legal Observer armband
Undated
Scope and Contents
Armband with 'LEGAL OBSERVER' written with patches, with lambda-esque patches to the right and left of 'LEGAL"; the item itself is made of demin and black felt; the article appears handstitched
Box 5
T-Shirt with iron-on transfer of a news article
Undated
Scope and Contents
The article is from the New York Times: June 27, 2003, " Justices, 6-3, Legalizes Gay Sexual Conduct in Sweeping Reversal of Court's '86 Ruling"