Perry Brooks Jackson (1896-1986) was a native of Zanesville, Ohio, who moved to Cleveland in 1914. He was Ohio's first African American judge. After graduating from the Law School of Western Reserve University in 1922, he became involved in politics and by 1929, began his career in public service when he was elected state representative to the 88th Ohio General Assembly.
Jackson's judicial career began in 1942 when he was appointed by Governor John W. Bricker to an unexpired term on the Municipal Court Bench. In 1946, he was elected to the bench and continued to serve there, and later in the Court of Common Pleas, until 1972.
Jackson served on over 25 boards and committees of either a civic, religious, educational, or professional nature. As a result of his achievements and public service, he received several awards.
The Perry B. Jackson Photographs, Series II, 1900-1986 and undated, consist of individual portraits of Perry B. Jackson, family portraits, views of Jackson presiding as a jurist, and various photographs of social organizations, including the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the Worlds and the Prince Hall Masons. The collection includes 198 black and white and color photographs of varying sizes.
This collection is of interest to researchers studying the African American experience in Cleveland, Ohio and particularly in regards to biographical information concerning Perry Jackson and his political and judicial affairs. In addition to this, the collection contains some notable portraits that include such prominent political figures as Carl B. Stokes, Representative Louis Stokes, George Forbes, Senator Howard Metzenbaum, William O. Walker, Virgil E. Brown, and a host of judges, clergymen, lawyers, educators, and other influential people associated with Cleveland's political, educational, legal, religious, and social circles.
The collection is arranged by subject and then chronologically.
The researcher should also consult MS 3581 Perry B. Jackson Papers; MS 4659 Perry B. Jackson Papers, Series II; and PG 98 Perry B. Jackson Photographs.
Processed by Will Davis in 1995.
None.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 467 Perry B. Jackson Photographs, Series II, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
These photographs were removed from MS 4659 Perry B. Jackson Papers, Series II. Gift of Doris J. Grant in 1992.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.