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Judge A.G. Kennedy Papers (DeKalb)

 Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-124

Scope and Contents

The A. C. Kennedy Papers consist of a very small segment of the records maintained by Judge Kennedy. Included are correspondence from various clients (1941-1944) affidavits filed by Kennedy, and business and personal invoices (1941-1944). The records arrived with the Dennis J. Collins Papers and represent the years Kennedy and Collins were law partners.

Dates

  • created: 1941-1944
  • Other: Date acquired: 00/00/1973

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Biographical or Historical Information

Archie Goodwillie Kennedy, born in Midway, Washington County, Pennsylvania on August 24, 1866, the son of Rev. David S. and Nancy W. (Ke1ly) Kennedy, moved to DeKalb County with his family in December 1878.  He attended Sandwich High School and later, the State Normal School at Normal, Illinois from 1882 to 1884.  Returning to DeKalb County, Kennedy, taught school until 1886 when he entered Monmouth College.  In June 1892 he graduated from Monmouth with high honors and on January 16, 1899 Kennedy married Miss Katherine Fuller.  After graduation, Kennedy came to DeKalb County and began working for the Carnes & Dunton law firm in Sycamore.  Admitted to the bar in June 1894, Kennedy continued working with Carnes & Dunton until 1895 when he formed a partnership with W. L. Pond.  Kennedy served as a city attorney of DeKalb and DeKalb County state’s attorney from 1900 to 1904.  Under appointment of Governor Deneen, Kennedy also served as judge of the court of claims.  In 1931 Kennedy was elected as DeKalb City Judge, a position he held for twelve years.  In 1941 he formed a law partnership with Dennis J. Collins.  Kennedy also filled many important positions on community clubs and boards--president of DeKalb County Bar Association, board member and president of the DeKalb Township High School Board, member of the Glidden: Hospital board, the Chamber of Commerce, the Salvation Army and the First Congregational Church, and a charter member of the DeKalb Elks.  On October 15, 1943 Archie G. Kennedy died.

Note written by

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Source of Acquisition

Dennis J. Collins

Method of Acquisition

Dennis J. Collins donated the Judge A. G. Kennedy Papers to the Northern Illinois University Archives in 1973.  J. Joseph Bauxar, University Archivist, transferred the collection to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center in June 1978.

Related Materials

Researchers also should consult the legal correspondence written during the 1941-1944 period in the Collins Collection for additional information on the Kennedy-Collins law partnership (RC 5, Box 17, Folders 28-41.  The Latham Castle Collection also may be useful to researchers studying DeKalb County judges (RC 73).

Geographic

Occupation

Topical

Title
Archon Finding Aid Title
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the Northern Illinois University Repository

Contact:
Founders Memorial Library
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb IL 60115 US
815-753-9392