Carl Walker Jr. Collection
Scope and Contents
The Carl Walker Jr. Collection contains the papers of Judge Carl Waker, Jr. This collection which dates from 1946 to 2002, contains newsclippings, photographs, certificates and awards, correspondence, speeches, funeral programs, and materials on oath of office. Materials document his career as a lawyer, judge, and civic leader to his community.
Dates
- 1946 - 2002
Language of Materials
All materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Carl Walker Jr. Collection must be obtained from the African American Library at the Gregory School or the appropriate copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Carl Walker Jr., was born on May 13, 1924 in Marlin, Falls County Texas. He attended and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1942. Following graduation, he was drafted to serve in the US Army Air force in 1943 during World War II. He was honorably discharged March 16, 1946 at the rank of Sergeant. In September of 1946, he enrolled at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1950. He followed that up with a Masters in Economics in 1952 and a Doctor of Juris Prudence in 1955 from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.
He served in an interim capacity as the first African American U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. He was appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney in 1961, by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, becoming the first African American to hold that position from the South. He was a member of the Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church and was Chairman of the Trustee Board from 1960.
He was appointed as the State Judge of the 185th Criminal District Court from 1987 until 1994. Throughout his career he was known as a tireless civic leader within the community and an even-handed jurist amongst his peers. He died on July 12, 2002 at the age of 78. He is survived by his spouse, Janice Martin Walker, who still resides in Houston.
Extent
1.3 Linear Feet (2)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by: Janice Walker, May 2010
Processing Information
Processed by: Vince Lee, September 2010
- African American men -- Texas -- Houston Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Civic leaders – Houston (Tex.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Civil Defense -- Texas -- Houston Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
- Imperial Grand Council and Supreme Grand Court Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
- Judges -- Texas -- Harris County Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Texas -- Politics and government Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Texas Southern University Subject Source: Local sources
- Title
- Judge Carl Walker Jr. Collection
- Subtitle
- An Inventory of his Records at the African American Library at the Gregory School, Houston Public Library
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Vince Lee
- Date
- September, 2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the African American History Research Center Repository
