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Isaac E. Moore, Jr. PapersBlair-Caldwell
Biographical Note | Scope and Content | Series | Container Listing Isaac Edward Moore, Jr. was born on 20 March 1924 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Dr. Isaac E. Moore (a medical doctor and World War I Veteran from Vicksburg, Mississippi) and Katherine Brown Moore (a school teacher from Athens, Georgia). After Moore, Sr. died from tuberculosis, Katherine, Isaac, Jr., and Fred (Isaac's sibling) relocated to California. Moore, Jr. graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Los Angeles and then attended the University of Southern California. Inspired by Thurgood Marshall and a desire to return to Colorado, he applied to and was accepted at the University of Colorado Law School. Amid racial injustices (sleeping in a coal shed and receiving little help from the faculty), Moore, Jr. graduated on 12 June 1949. He is recognized as the second African American to graduate from the CU Law School. After passing the Colorado Bar Exam, Moore was admitted to practice on 13 September 1949. A strong proponent of social justice, he sought to bring about change as a member of the Colorado State Legislature. Moore served in the House from 1957-1960 and 1964-1966. During his tenure, Moore, along with former Lieutenant Governor George Brown (at the time, a state senator), co-sponsored some of the strongest civil rights laws in the nation on fair housing, open records, fair employment, and prison work release. Moore was the sponsor of an historic bill giving individuals the right to counsel following an arrest - even before the U.S. Supreme Court's Miranda decision. He was particularly proud of his sponsorship of a bill legislating the right of different races to marry in Colorado. Other bills he passed include the non-segregation of cemeteries, the creation of restraining orders outside of divorce action, and blood tests in paternity suits. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps, was founder of LARASA (the Latin American Research and Service Agency), and a member of the Colorado Supreme Court Ethics Committee, the Tophatters, and both the Kappa Alpha Psi and Sigma Pi Phi fraternities. After retiring on 20 August 1998, Moore, Jr. moved to Memphis with Alfreda Ingram Moore, his second wife. (Moore's first wife was the late Dorothy Williams Moore.) He died on 16 October 2003.
The Isaac E. Moore Papers (1944-2003, n.d.) include material from his campaign as a Democratic candidate for the Colorado State House of Representatives, as well as throughout his law career. This material includes photographs, correspondence, legal material, campaign memos, and items from his time in office. The majority of the items are photocopies. Personal Papers
The first series contains personal papers from his personal life as well as his law career. This material includes correspondence, legal reports, retirement material, newspaper clippings, and certificates. This series is arranged alphabetically. Photographs
Encompassed within the second series are many undated photographs. Refer below to “list of items with annotations provided by Isaac Moore” to trace some of the dates. Political Papers
The series is arranged alphabetically and contains material from his political career. Included are General Assembly directories, democratic tickets, and pamphlets for Moore’s State Representative Campaigns.
List of items with annotations provided by Isaac Moore 1. A copy of the military record of my father, Isaac Edward Moore. 2. A photograph of me when I graduated from Compton Junior College in 1944. 3. A photograph of me when I graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 1949 together with Mrs. Frederick Banks, the lady who with her husband, Charles Banks, had purchased the home in which my father’s hospital was located. Her daughter, Mrs. Eula Andrews lives in that house today [2001]. 4. A copy of the announcement of the opening of my law office at 436 26th Street Denver, Co. in Sept. of 1949. I had formed a partnership with James C. Flanigan, who within a few weeks was chosen by Denver's District Attorney, Bert Keating, to become the first Black Deputy District Attorney in Colorado. 5. A photograph of the law office with my client (for whom I had just won a murder trial) and me. 6. A photograph when I was being installed as a Colorado Representative for the first time in 1957. From left to right is, George Brown, who was being sworn in as Colorado's first Black State Senator, Charles Conklin, who was the Speaker of the House, and Rev. M.C. Williams, who was my pick to be the House Chaplin and myself. 7. A photograph from left to right, Senator George Brown, and his wife. My first wife, Dorothy W. Moore and myself in 1957 at the Governor's Ball. 8. A photograph of the Governor's Ball 9. A photograph at the Ball, from the left is myself, George Brown's wife, and Senator George Brown. 10. A photograph of Governor Stephen L.R. McNichols signing the bill that George Brown and myself together with others in the picture had passed, changing the name of the Anti Discrimination Committee to the Civil Rights Agency. 11. A photograph of me on the campaign trail in 1958, which lead to me being re-elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1959. 12. A copy of a campaign pamphlet that I put out during my campaign for reelection in 1958. 13. A photograph of Senator George Brown and myself in 1959 after being reelected to a second term. 14. A photograph of myself being sworn in 1964 to succeed representative Robert Rhone who died in office. Chief Supreme Court Justice Robert H. McWilliams, is swearing me in. 15. A photograph showing me during a debate on a bill in the House of Representatives. 16. A photograph showing me at my desk during a debate in the House. 17. A copy of a reception that my fraternity, Sigma Pi Phi (Boule) was giving me on my retirement from the practice of law in Colorado after fifty years. 18. A copy from the June 1988 edition of Ebony for my second wedding to my present wife, Alfred Ingram Moore. 19. Same as 18. 20. A copy from the Southeast Region of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity concerning a little history on myself. 21. A copy from the Denver Blade, a black newspaper no longer in existence, from 1965 containing a little information about me. 22. A photograph of myself playing Thurgood Marshall in a play on Channel 6 in Denver. 23. Photographs of some of the original charter members of LARASA a Latin Service Organization. 24. A photograph of me during my better days. 25. A photograph of an investment club that I belonged to in Denver many years ago. It is no longer in existence. It was called that Alert Investment Club. 26. A photograph of the National Sigma Phi Pi Fraternity in 1960 when the local chapter was installed. Many members of that group are now dead. First row, Dr. Clarence F. Holmes. Third row, Dr. Clayton Hawkins, Dr. Edmond F. Noel, C. Lester Nelson, Leslie Berry, Earl M. West and Lawrence Lightner. 27. A photograph of my receiving some king of honor at the New Hope Baptist Church in 1957. 28. A photograph of the original members of the Equity Savings Bank of which I was a charter member. 29. A photograph of the Certificate of Appreciation I received from the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F. & A.M. Of Colorado and Jurisdiction for being its Grand Attorney for many years. 30. A photograph of my home, which I built from the ground up with my wife, Dorothy W. Moore, at Christmas time. Series I: Personal Papers Box 1
Series II: Photographs Box 1
Series III: Political Papers Box 1
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Updated: July 10, 2007 |