Howard Jenkins, Jr. PapersHoward Jenkins, Jr., (1915-2003) was a labor law attorney who was the first African-American appointed to the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), where he served from 1963-1983. (cont.)
He began his law career in Denver, Colorado and was Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law from 1946-1955. He also served as Special Assistant to the Solicitor of Labor, 1956-1959; Director of the Office of Regulations at the Bureau of Labor-Management Reports, 1959-1962; and Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau, 1962-1963. Jenkins concentrated on eliminating racial discrimination in labor unions and establishing national labor policy that held discrimination on basis of sex or race was unfair labor practice. He was instrumental in drafting and passing the "Landrum-Griffin" Act of 1959, a labor reform document known as "Employees' Bill of Rights." The papers contain correspondence, speeches, oral history transcripts, journals, journal articles, newspaper clippings, books, reports, notebooks, congressional hearings, certificates, diplomas, plaques, photographs, and memorabilia primarily covering Jenkins' service on the U.S. National Labor Relations Board.