Jacob Panken Papers
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Abstract
Jacob Panken (1879-1968) was a socialist, labor leader and New York City Municipal Court judge, serving on the Court of Domestic Relations from 1934-1955. He wrote about juvenile delinquency, ran unsuccessfully for governor, senator and New York City mayor as a candidate of the Socialist Party, and was active in the Organization for Rehabilitation through Training (ORT), a Jewish philanthropic organization. Contains correspondence, manuscripts, speeches, clippings, published materials and biographical materials that document Panken's political and judicial career. Correspondence frequently relates to court cases; a smaller amount relates to Socialist affairs and includes some letters Morris Hillquit, Girolamo Valenti, and A. I. Shiplacoff. Typed pages of autobiographical writings, legal documents relating to court cases, and clippings on his career after 1927 are also found.
Historical/Biographical Note
Jacob Panken (1879-1968) was a socialist, labor leader and judge. Following early involvement in labor organizing, he was elected New York Municipal Court Judge on the Socialist ticket (1917). He was appointed to the court by Mayor La Guardia in 1934. He wrote about juvenile delinquency, laying major responsibility on parental neglect and media violence. He ran unsuccessfully for governor, senator and New York City mayor and was active in the Organization for Rehabilitation through Training (ORT), a Jewish philanthropic organization.
Scope and Contents
Socialist labor leader, judge. Correspondence, mss., clippings, published materials document Panken's political and judicial career. Following his early involvement in organizing labor, he was elected New York Municipal Court Judge on the Socialist ticket in 1917. Failing at re-election in 1927, he was appointed to Court of Domestic Relations by Mayor LaGuardia in 1934, retiring in 1955. Correspondence frequently relates to court cases and includes some appreciative letters from boys and parents of boys brought before him. Much correspondence is from admirers, some from ditractors; a smaller amount relates to Socialist affairs and includes some letters from friends such as Morris Hillquit, Girolamo Valenti, and A. I. Shiplacoff. Mss. contain addresses on socialism, and social and political issues. Includes some speeches delivered during his unsuccessful campaigns for political office, such as Municipal Court Justice (1927) and Congress (1930). Also ran for U.S. Senate (1920), Mayor (1921), and Governor (1930). Active in ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training), a Jewish philanthropy. Typed pages of autobiographical writings, legal documents relating to court cases, and clippings on his career after 1927 are also found.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Tamiment Library has no information about copyright ownership for this collection and is not authorized to grant permission to publish or reproduce materials from it. Materials in this collection, which were created in 1922-1964, are expected to enter the public domain in 2039.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Jacob Panken Papers; TAM 042; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Rachel Panken, Jacob Panken's widow, in 1968. The accession number associated with this gift is 1965.001.
About this Guide
Repository
Correspondence, 1922-May 1934
Correspondence, Jun 1934-Dec 1934
Correspondence and Other Materials, undated, 1935-1966
General
Contains Correspondence (1935-66); Addresses, Lectures, Notes and Court Decisions
Biographical Items and Other Materials, undated, 1917-1939
General
Contains Biographical items; Clippings; Socialist Party elections (1917, 197, 1930, 1932, 1939); International Socialist Congresses; ORT (a Jewish Philanthropy); Rachel (Mrs. Jacob) Panken materials; Photographs.
