Francis E. Rivers Explained

Francis E. Rivers (died July 28, 1975) was an American lawyer and judge who served in the New York State Assembly. He was a Republican.^[1] His father, David Foote Rivers, was a state representative in Tennessee.

He was the first African American to serve on the City Court of New York City (now the New York City Civil Court).^[2] In 1932, W. E. B. Du Bois wrote to Rivers seeking information about Dr. Hinton of Boston who Du Bois wanted to nominate for a Spingarn Medal.^[3] In 1966 he presented an award to Thurgood Marshall.^[4]

Several prominent members of the American Bar Association threatened to quit when Rivers was denied membership in the organization, which did not have any African American members.^{[5] [6]} He defeated incumbent Abraham Grenthal in the 1929 election for state Assembly^[7] and served in the 153rd New York State Legislature in 1930.

See also

• List of African-American jurists
• List of first minority male lawyers and judges in New York
• African-American officeholders during and following the Reconstruction era

Notes and References

1. REPUBLICANS: How He Did It. Time. July 5, 1948. 2022-09-16.
2. News: Francis E. Rivers Dies; Black City Judge Was 82 (Published 1975). Farnsworth. Fowle. The New York Times. July 29, 1975.
3. Web site: Letter from Francis e. Rivers to W. E. B. Du Bois, January 28, 1932.
4. Web site: Convocation Dinner to honor Thurgood Marshall | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News. WNYC.
5. News: QUIT BAR ASSOCIATION, CHARGING RACE BIAS; Judge Goldstein and A.G. Hays Protest Exclusion of Negro (Published 1943). The New York Times. April 9, 1943.
6. Web site: Judge Jonah Goldstein Quits Bar Association Because It Bars Negro from Membership. April 11, 1943.
7. News: GRENTHAL DEFEATED IN ASSEMBLY RACE; Loses to F.E. Rivers in Contest in Harlem for Republican Nomination. BRODERICK IS LEADING W.W. Wemple Jr. Beats W.M. Nicol in Schenectady--Dry. Loses in Rochester. The New York Times. 18 September 1929.