About the Archive

The Arthur J. Goldberg papers span the years ca. 1961-78 and fill 42 document boxes. The papers consists primarily of Supreme Court case records from the Court's October Terms, 1962 through 1964. The remaining records pertain to Goldberg's administrative affairs while on the Court, and to his involvement with numerous community organizations, civil committees, and scholarly institutions. The records are arranged in four categories: biographical materials, Supreme Court case records, Supreme Court administrative records, and general subject files.

Biographical Materials

Biographical materials--mainly copies of clippings, press releases, and related materials--are filed chronologically with Box 1, Folder 1 of the papers.

Supreme Court Case Records

The Supreme Court case records fill 29 boxes and are arranged primarily by October Term and then by decision date, similar to the standard order of the United States Reports. Every folder typically contains one or more drafts of majority decisions, concurring statements, and dissenting opinions, as well as correspondence between the justices. These records from each term also include bench memos, slip sheet opinions, certiorari memos, and miscellaneous cases all arranged numerically by docket number. At the beginning of the records from each October Term are cases decided within that term, but with the undetermined decision dates (box 5, folder 1; box 16, folders 4-7). Several other cases - usually two or three cases with similar content - were decided together. Seven folders contain over four cases and are arranged alphabetically by the first case listed (box 8, folder 1; box 10, folders 5, 10, 11; box 16, folder 11; box 11, folder 9-10). Box 24, folder 12 consists of dissents written by Justice Harlan on cases that are documented in the folders immediately preceding it.

Supreme Court Administrative Records

The Supreme Court administrative files, in boxes 30 and 31, pertain to case assignments and decisions executed by the justices during each October Term. The first two folders in box 30 contain records of five sit-in cases argued before the Court in the October Term, 1962. These cases concerned sit-in demonstrations, which were the only major cases decided in 1962 under the Fourteenth Amendment equal protection clause. Several other folders contain lists, which name the justices drafting the Court's majority opinion in various cases as well as records of votes cast during conference meetings. The remaining folders contain applications and recommendations concerning clerkships to Justice Goldberg.

General Subject Files

The subject files (boxes 32-42) consist of non-court-related materials organized into folders, which are then alphabetized according to topical headings. Some of the subjects documented here are divided into subgroups based on the amount of material available. These subgroups include Goldberg's Asian trip (ca. 1963-65), the Belgrade Conference (ca. 1977-78), the Harriet Elliot Lectures (1963), and congratulatory letters received from family, friends, and the public upon his appointment to the Supreme Court (1962). Also contained within the subject files are copies of Goldberg's speeches, arranged alphabetically by title (ca. 1963-65). Box 41, folders 2-9 contain various photographic portraits of Goldberg. Box 40, folders 1-7 contain correspondence and program information pertaining to Mrs. Goldberg's interest and involvement in the national School Volunteer Program.

Provenance: The Northwestern University School of Law acquired the Arthur J. Goldberg papers through the donation of the Goldbergs' children, Barbara Goldberg Cramer and Robert Goldberg, in fall 1996.

Restrictions: None

Processors: Jessica J. Strand, November 1998; Jane A. Kenamore, CA, July 1999.