Allyson K. Duncan Papers, 1914-2019

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Summary

Creator:
Duncan, Allyson K.
Abstract:
Allyson Kay Duncan is a U.S. Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She is the Fourth Circuit's first female African American judge. This collection consists largely of personal and professional correspondence from Duncan's nomination, induction, and service on the Fourth Circuit, with letters from family, friends, and colleagues across the legal profession. The bulk of the collection dates from the 2000s, but includes some assorted materials from her work as an attorney for Kilpatrick Stockton and the NC Utilities Commission in the 1990s.
Extent:
7.0 Linear Feet
0.06 Gigabytes
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.11642

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of Duncan's correspondence, including both personal and professional communications with family, friends, and colleagues, including other judges such as Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, Diane Wood, J. Harvie Wilkinson III, William Traxler Jr., and several others; press clippings and articles about Duncan's activities as president for the NC Bar Association and her appointment to and service on the U.S. Court of Appeals (4th Circuit); copies of speeches and programs from her various professional activities for Duke Law School and NC Central Law School, among other appearances; assorted materials from her work for the NC Utilities Commission and Kilpatrick Stockton law firm; her diplomas and awards; some family history materials from her parents and other relatives, including her aunt Helen Blackburn and uncle Armour Blackburn; and assorted photographs, largely unlabelled. Also includes published opinions for the NC Court of Appeals and NC Utility Commission and writings by Duncan.

Biographical / historical:

Allyson Kay Duncan (b. 1951) was born in Durham and attended Hampton University (BA, 1972) and Duke University (JD, 1975). She worked for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (1978-1986) and was a professor at NC Central School of Law (1986-1990) before being appointed by Gov. James Martin as Associate Judge to the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 1990. After losing the next election, she was appointed to the North Carolina Utilities Commission in 1991, where she worked until joining the Kilpatrick Stockton firm in 1998. In 2003 she was elected as the first African American president of the North Carolina Bar Association, and was also nominated by President George W. Bush to fill a vacancy on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in July 2003 and inducted to the court in August 2003, where she continues to serve (as of 2018). Duncan was the first African American woman to join the Fourth Circuit.

Acquisition information:
The Allyson K. Duncan Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2018 and 2019.
Processing information:

Processed by Meghan Lyon, July 2018.

Addition 2019-0114 processed by Alice Poffinberger and Jasmine Alexander-Greene, Septmeber 2019.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2018-0013, 2019-0114

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

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Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Access restricted: Donor must be contacted for use permission prior to accessing the collection. Access will be unrestricted upon the death of the donor. Contact Research Services to request permission to access this collection.

Electronic records in this collection have been migrated to a library server and digital use copies can only be accessed onsite in the Rubenstein Library Reading Room. To request access, please contact Research Services before coming to use these records.

Original audiovisual materials are closed to use. Contact Research Services for the production of listening or viewing copies.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Allyson K. Duncan Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.