Graham T. Perry

Graham Turner Perry (1894–1960) was a prominent African-American attorney who served as assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois. He is also the father of stage director Shauneille Perry and uncle of playwright Lorraine Hansberry.

Graham T. Perry
Born
Graham Turner Perry[1]

(1894-04-22)April 22, 1894
Columbia, Tennessee
DiedSeptember 9, 1960(1960-09-09) (aged 66)[2]
Chicago, Illinois[2]
Alma materMorehouse College (1923)[1]
Northwestern University School of Law (J.D., 1923)
OccupationAttorney
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Laura Pearl Gant (?–1957) (her death)
Helen E. Clem (1959–1960) (his death)
ChildrenShauneille Perry

Biography

According to the 1900 U.S. Census, Perry was born in April 1894[3] (some sources indicate either April 22, 1897,[4] January 22, 1898[1] or April 22, 1900)[5][6] in Columbia, Tennessee,[1][4][5] the youngest child of the Rev. George W. Perry,[3] an escaped former slave,[7] and Charlotte "Lottie" Organ. He received his elementary and secondary school education in Columbia. After graduating from College Hill School,[1] he later attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. At Morehouse, Perry was a well-rounded student who in addition to the being a member of the debate team, played varsity baseball, sang in the Glee Club, served as assistant advertising manager of the school yearbook, and was a Shakespearean actor who appeared in a production of Othello. He was also a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.[1] In 1923, he received the degree of juris doctor from the Northwestern University School of Law.[8]

He was very active in civil rights, having served as vice president of the Chicago branch of the NAACP.[9] He also served on the board of the Chicago branch of the Urban League.[2]

In 1941, he was elected to the post of assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois.[8] After Nathan K. McGill, he was one of the first African Americans to hold that position in the state.[10][11] No African American would serve as a state's attorney general until Edward Brooke was elected Attorney General of Massachusetts in 1962.[12] Perry served as an assistant attorney general from 1942 to 1950, and specialized in military and labor-related issues. This included cases involving the reinstatement of veterans to positions they held prior to military service.[2]

During World War II, Perry helped enforce anti-discrimination requirements with firms holding war contracts.[2]

In January 1948, he was chosen by the Republican party as a candidate for judge in Chicago's Municipal court.[13] Despite a strong showing by U.S. presidential candidate Thomas E. Dewey at the top of the ticket, the Chicago Democrats had a clean sweep of the local election in November of that year. Perry received a total of 638,689 votes and tied for twenty-first place out of 33 candidates for twelve positions.[14]

In 1953, Perry was appointed assistant United States attorney to handle cases involving military conscientious objectors. He was working in a similar capacity for the northern district of Illinois at the time of his death.[2]

He died on September 9, 1960, at his home in Chicago.[2][5][6] and is buried at the Burr Oak Cemetery[6] near Chicago.

References
  1. "The Torch Yearbook". Atlanta University Center. Morehouse College. 1923. p. 44. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  2. "Rites Tuesday for G.T. Perry, negro leader". Chicago Tribune. September 12, 1960. p. 71. Retrieved May 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Twelfth Census of the United States (1900) [database on-line], Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee, Enumeration District: 78, Page: 15A, Line: 8, household of George W. Perry". United States: The Generations Network. June 18, 1900. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  4. "World War I Draft Registration Card [database on-line]". United States: The Generations Network. 1918. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  5. "None". Chicago Bar Record. Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Bar Association. 42: 348–349. 1960.
  6. "Burr Oak Cemetery Information [database on-line]". Chicago, Illinois: Cook County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  7. Scheader, Catherine (1998). Lorraine Hansberry: Playwright and Voice of Justice (First Library ed.). Springfield, New Jersey: Enslow Publishers. p. 24. ISBN 9780894909450.
  8. Jones, Edward Allen (1967). A candle in the dark: a history of Morehouse College. Valley Forge, Pennsylvania: Judson Press. p. 243.
  9. Wilkins, Roy, ed. (July 1935). "Branch news". Crisis. New York, New York: Crisis Publishing Company, Inc. 42 (7): 216.
  10. Yenser, Thomas, ed. (1938–1940). Who's Who in Colored America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Persons of African Descent in America. Brooklyn, New York: Who's Who in Colored America.
  11. King, Woodie (2003). The Impact of Race: Theatre and Culture (First ed.). New York: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. pp. 145–146.
  12. Brooke, Senator Edward W. (2007). Bridging the Divide: My Life. New Brunswick, New Jersey and London: Rutgers University Press. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-8135-3905-8.
  13. Tagge, George (January 30, 1948). "G.O.P. Picks Its Municipal Court Slate". Chicago Tribune. p. 17. Retrieved May 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Final election figures". Chicago Tribune. November 4, 1948. p. 2. Retrieved May 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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