January/February 2004 issue

Blackmun Papers Open to the Public

by Joan Stevens, Archives/Reference Librarian
On March 4, 2004, the Library of Congress will open Justice Harry A. Blackmun's papers to researchers, journalists, and the general public. March 4 will be the fifth anniversary of the Justice's death and the date he selected for full and unrestricted access to his papers. The papers' release is eagerly awaited by scholars and journalists, according to the Tony Mauro of the Legal Times (http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1074819307458), who predicts the papers will be "an unprecedented treasure trove of inside information about the Supreme Court."

According to an index already made available on the web (http://www.goldsteinhowe.com/blog/files/Blackmun1.pdf), the collection spans the years of 1913-2001 and occupies 1,585 containers and 630 linear feet. Ross Davies, a professor at George Mason School of Law, believes, "This could be huge. Much more substantial than the Marshall or Douglas papers."

The United States Court of Appeals series, 1934-1998, documents his years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, 1959-1970. This series occupies approximately 38 containers and includes:

• Correspondence, 1959- 1970: largely personal interests and activities

• Administrative File, 1959-1970: appointment books, chronological file, court calendars documenting Blackmun's personal and official schedule while a circuit judge; includes some correspondence regarding scheduling and administrative matters

• Administrative Panel File, 1968-1969: documents related to Blackmun's six months of service on the administrative panel

• Case Files, 1953-1971: includes "slip opinions (when present), correspondence and memoranda, opinions, miscellaneous papers, oral argument notes, and clippings.... Most of the case file correspondence is between Blackmun and his fellow judges, court clerks, and staff of the West Publishing Company."

• Subject File, 1934-1998: "relates to Blackmun's administrative and professional duties as a circuit judge and contains material documenting his appointment to the court, work with various judicial conferences, attendance at professional meetings, friendship with Warren E. Burger, recruitment of Minnesota students for Harvard University, and his committee service with the United Methodist Publishing House." Also includes Blackmun's speeches and writings while a circuit judge.

The Blackmun Papers contain other materials of special interest to the Eighth Circuit. The Pre-Judicial File, 1913-1996, includes diaries covering his work as a law clerk for U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit Judge John B. Sanborn during the years of 1932-1933, as well as correspondence with Judge Sanborn. General correspondence in the Supreme Court File includes letters from friends and colleagues from his early career in Minnesota, and figured prominently among these correspondents is U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Myron H. Bright. The Subject File within the Supreme Court File also includes materials related to Justice Blackmun's attendance at Eighth Circuit judicial conferences, and the Addition File, 1959-2001, includes daughter Sally Blackmun's tribute given during the dedication of the Harry A. Blackmun Rotunda in St. Louis' Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse.

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