Eliot Howland Lumbard papers,
- Author:
- Lumbard, Eliot H.
- Call Number:
- MSS APAP-071 local
- Abstract:
- The Eliot Lumbard papers document the life's work of a lawyer who devoted himself towards both public service and private practice with equal vigor and success. The Lumbard papers are useful to scholars, students and historians studying 1960s New York State government, bankruptcy cases, SUNY Albany, and criminal justice. The entire collection contains records from his public and private sector work which he had commercially bound. The collection includes: correspondence, memorandum, press releases, reports, court proceedings, notes, speeches, journal articles, academic papers, drafts, newspaper clippings, and background research. All significant positions that Lumbard held are represented, including his service as Assistant U.S. Attorney, Chief Counsel for the New York State Commission of Investigation, and Special Assistant Counsel for Law Enforcement to New York State Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller. Also of interest are his private practice records including: counsel to Charles Seligson and trustee in bankruptcy of Ira Haupt and Co.; the formation of the University at Albany's School of Criminal Justice; review panel to disbar to Roy Cohn, accused of professional misconduct; and legal representation of the Center for Reproductive and Sexual Health, located in New York City and the largest freestanding abortion clinic in the world at the time.
- Historical Note:
- Eliot Howland Lumbard (born 1925) practiced law for 40 years in various New York and Pennsylvania firms. In addition to private practice, he compiled a distinguished record in government service, including service on several commissions to investigate, combat, and control crime, and as a key advisor on crime to New York State Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller. After admission to the New York State Bar, he served as Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York from 1953-1956. From 1958-1961 he was Chief Counsel of the New York State Commission of Investigation. Lumbard organized and directed large and complex investigations including ones of police departments in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, as well as investigating organized crime, harness racing, bingo, New York City's school construction program, and Albany real estate tax delinquencies. In 1961 Governor Rockefeller hired Lumbard as Special Assistant Counsel for Law Enforcement. As a key advisor, Lumbard discussed many ideas and issues related to the social problems of crime and crime control. Lumbard organized the Oyster Bay Conferences on Organized Crime (1963-1967), developed the New York State Information and Intelligence System which was the first computer-based criminal justice record system that included individual criminal histories, and proposed creating a school of criminal justice, eventually established at the University at Albany. In private practice Lumbard worked on many cases of commercial litigation on finance and bankruptcy matters. His cases included: counsel to Charles Seligson and trustee in bankruptcy of Ira Haupt and Co. (1964-1973), a large Wall Street case known as the salad oil debacle and trustee in bankruptcy of Universal Money Order Co., Inc. (1977-1982) which was the nation's largest consumer bankruptcy. Lumbard served as a lecturer at New York University Law School and as Adjunct Pro.
- Physical Description:
- 25.55 cu. ft
- Access Terms:
- Access to portions of the collection is restricted. Consult a staff member for details.
- Notes:
- Part of the Archives of Public Affairs and Policy. local
- Subjects:
- Law enforcement New York (State) and Law enforcement
- Genres/Forms:
- Manuscripts. aat, Clippings (information artifacts) aat, and Minutes. aat
- Names:
- Lumbard, Eliot H
- Geographic Terms:
- New York (State)
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