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Marjorie Girth papers

 Collection — Box: 1-25
Identifier: 21-F-1177

Scope and Contents

The collection covers 1970-1991 when Ms. Girth was a law professor at the University of Buffalo Law School. Included are materials from her service at the University of Buffalo and the Law School, particularly her records of the Law School Dean search in 1976 which resulted in Thomas Headrick's appointment as Dean, and other committees and issues. As consultant and advisor to many law and community organizations in Buffalo, N.Y. and New York State, Ms. Girth's work focused on women's issues, commercial law and bankruptcy law. Included are reports, minutes, clippings and notes from her membership and/or advisory roles in these organizations: Neighborhood Legal Services (1980-1989), The Women's Group of Buffalo (originating founder)(1983-1991), Erie County Task Force on the Status of Women (later became the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women), Chair (1984-1991), Floorplay Contemporary Dance Theatre (1988-1989), the New York State Bar Association Banking, Business and Corporate Law Section (1981-1991) and its Bankruptcy Law Committee (1978-1991), and the Special Committee on Women in the Courts (1986-1989). National service is reflected in the her papers from the American Bar Association's Section on Corporation, Banking and Business Law (1979-1990) and its Consumer Bankruptcy Committee.

Dates

  • 1970-1991

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material in English.

Terms of Access

The Marjorie Girth papers, 1970-1991, are open for research.

Restrictions

Access to the files on promotion and tenure is restricted.

Copyright

Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Biographical Note

Marjorie Girth was the first female appointed to the faculty of the University at Buffalo Law School in January 1971 as a Visiting Associate Professor. She became an Associate Professor of Law in the Fall of 1971, received tenure in 1973, and was promoted to full professor in 1978. She served as Associate Dean of the Law School from 1986-1987. She was named Dean of the Georgia State University College of Law in January 1992 and served until June 1996 when she stepped down to resume teaching as a Professor of Law. She became Professor Emerita in 2009.
Prior to teaching law, Ms. Girth practiced bankruptcy law in Trenton, New Jersey from 1963 to 1965. She then served as a research associate in the Brookings Institution from 1965 to 1970.
As consultant and advisor to many law and community organizations in Buffalo, N.Y. and New York State, Ms. Girth's work focused on women's issues, commercial law and bankruptcy law. She was a member of or advisor to these organizations: Neighborhood Legal Services (1980-1989), The Women's Group of Buffalo (originating founder)(1983-1991), Erie County Task Force on the Status of Women (later became the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women), Chair (1984-1991), Floorplay Contemporary Dance Theatre (1988-1989), the New York State Bar Association Banking, Business and Corporate Law Section (1981-1991) and its Bankruptcy Law Committee (1978-1991), and the Special Committee on Women in the Courts (1986-1989). She also served on the American Bar Association's Section on Corporation, Banking and Business Law (1979-1990) and its Consumer Bankruptcy Committee.

Extent

10 Linear Feet (24 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize folder)

Abstract

The papers of Marjorie Girth the first female law professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo who taught from 1971-1991 and served on many law and community organizations in Buffalo, N.Y., New York State, and nationally with the American Bar Association, especially dealing with women's issues, commercial and bankruptcy law.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in six series: I. University at Buffalo; II. Community service; III. Erie County Task Force on the Status of Women; IV. New York State Bar Association; and V. American Bar Association.

Acquisition Information

Collection received from Marjorie Girth in January 1992 and July 1998.

Accruals and Additions

No further accruals are expected to this collection.

Separated Material

Much of the material regarding the University at Buffalo Law School was removed to 21/1/1176.

Processing Information

Processed by Karen Spencer, July 2010.
Finding aid encoded by Danielle White, January 2015.

Source

Title
Finding Aid for the Marjorie Girth papers
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Karen Spencer.
Date
2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives Repository

Contact:
420 Capen Hall
Buffalo New York 14260-1674 US
716-645-2916
716-645-3714 (Fax)