The Historical Society of the United States Courts in the Eighth
Circuit
What are judges' papers?
Judges’ papers are an invaluable primary source of information on judicial biography and court
history. They consist of the materials generated by a judge in the course of personal life,
in work on other professional activities, and during the execution of office. These are apart
from the documents comprising the official court record. Examples of materials are correspondence,
notes, photos, scrapbooks, speeches, etc. Among the most valuable of a judge’s papers are
the chambers papers, which are the case-related documents, correspondence, and records of
court governance distinct from the official record of the court. Judges’ papers are the
personal property of the judge, so it is up to the judge to donate the papers to an archival
repository of his or her choosing. Finding them preserved for history is a gold mine.
Directory of Manuscript Collections Related to Federal Judges, 1789-1997; Peter Wonders.
Available in PDF format on the
Federal Judicial Center web site. Search on title.
Federal Judicial History Office web site
offers biographical sketches of Article III judges. Once in a biographical entry, look at the bottom
of the page for a link to manuscript sources. This site updates information found in
Directory of Manuscript Collections Related to Federal Judges, 1789-1997.
A Guide to the Preservation of Federal Judges' Papers; Federal Judicial History Office.
Available in PDF format on the
Federal Judicial Center web site. Search on title.
