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During
the first quarter of the 20th century, twelve African-American
pioneers with a mutual interest in, and dedication to justice
and the civil rights of all, helped structure the struggle
of the African-American race in America. George H. Woodson,
S. Joe Brown, Gertrude E. Rush, James B. Morris, Charles P.
Howard, Sr., Wendell E. Green, C. Francis Stradford, Jesse
N. Baker, William H. Haynes, George C. Adams, Charles H. Calloway
and L. Amasa Knox conceived the National Bar Association (NBA),
formally organized in Des Moines, IA on August 1, 1925.
When
the NBA was organized in 1925, there were fewer than 1,000
African-American lawyers in the nation, and less than 120
belonged to the Association. By 1945, there were nearly 250
members representing 25% of the African-American members of
the bar. Over the past 75 years, the NBA has grown enormously
in size and influence.
Today, the NBA Board of Governors formulates the Association's
policies. The Board consists of the following: officers (president,
president-elect, four vice presidents, secretary and treasurer;
twelve regional directors; five former NBA presidents; seven
at-large representatives; seven affiliated chapter representatives;
one representative from each of the twenty-one substantive
legal sections and one from each of the nine special interest
divisions. Between the regular meetings of the Board of Governors,
the Executive Committee, which is composed of the NBA officers
and seven board members, functions on behalf of the Board.
From the national headquarters in Washington, DC, an executive
director serves as chief operating executive and supervises
daily operations. The National Bar Association Magazine, the
official publication of the Association, mainly facilitates
communication between members, staff and others. Finally in
1984, the NBA purchased its official headquarters at 1225
11th Street, NW Washington, DC 20001.
OBJECTIVES
OF THE NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION
The objectives of the NBA "…shall be to advance the
science of jurisprudence; improve the administration of
justice; preserve the independence of the judiciary and
to uphold the honor and integrity of the legal profession;
to promote professional and social intercourse among the
members of the American and the international bars; to promote
legislation that will improve the economic condition of
all American citizens, regardless of race, sex or creed
in their efforts to secure a free and untrammeled use of
the franchise guaranteed by the Constitution of the United
States; and to protect the civil and political rights of
the citizens and residents of the United States."
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