By Andrew Salinas
Title: A.M. Trudeau Jr. papers, 1962-1975
Creator: Trudeau, A. M. (Antoine Marcel), Jr. (1927-1978)
Extent: 2.0 Folders
Date Acquired: 11/01/1982
Languages: English
The A. M. Trudeau, Jr. papers consist of two folders of correspondence and printed ephemera. These pertain to the Supreme Court cases in which Trudeau was involved. The correspondence consists largely of Trudeau’s outgoing carbons recommending local African American civil leaders to various posts. Notable items include Trudeau’s letter to President Gerald Ford recommending Revius O. Ortique, Jr. for the United States District Court and letters of recommendation for Clarence Barney of the Urban League and Harvey Britton of the Office of Field Director of the NAACP located in New Orleans. Other correspondents include: Allen J. Ellender, O.C.W. Taylor, James Domengeaux, Frank S. Jones, Samuel I Rosenberg, and evious O. Ortique. Another notable item includes Trudeau’s 1972 letter to the editor of the Times-Picayune criticizing the paper’s moderate stance on school integration. The printed ephemera includes briefs of cases from the United States Supreme Court and the US Court of Appeals. The most notable pertains to the 1972 case in the Supreme Court concerning the desegregation of Jefferson Parish Schools, Jefferson Parish School Board v. Lena Vern Dandridge.
This collection was processed under a grant from the Keller Family Foundation.
Antoine Marcel (A.M.) "Mutt" Trudeau Jr. was born on March 27, 1927, to Antoine Marcel Sr. and Amelia Miller. He was educated in New Orleans' local Catholic schools and received degrees from Xavier University in New Orleans and Southern University Law School. Before beginning his activist work, Mutt Trudeau fought in World War II. In 1954, Trudeau was appointed to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Educational Fund by Thurgood Marshall. Additionally, Trudeau served as co-counsel in a number of civil rights cases from 1955 through 1978. He is perhaps best known for his work to end segregation in schools throughout southeastern Louisiana parishes. Trudeau held numerous distinguished positions in his professional and civic life, including President of the NAACP State Conference of Branches, President and member of the board of directors of the Urban League of Greater New Orleans, Assistant City Attorney, and President of the Safety Industrial Life Insurance and Sick Benefit Association Incorporated. Trudeau was also an Eisenhower appointee to the Presidential Commission on Government Contracts.
A.M. Trudeau was married to Audrey Aramburo with whom he had four children: Paul, Marvin, Marcel, and Avis. He died October 23, 1978, and was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions: Copyright to these papers has not been assigned to the Amistad Research Center. It is the responsibility of an author to secure permission for publication from the holder of the copyright to any material contained in this collection.
Acquisition Source: Mrs. A. M. Trudeau, Jr.
Acquisition Method: Gift
Appraisal Information: The A. M. Trudeau, Jr. papers consist of two folders of correspondence and printed ephemera related to Trudeau's legal career.
Related Materials:
NAACP Office of Louisiana Field Directors records
Ortique, Revius O. papers
Taylor, O. C. W. papers
Tureaud, A. P. papers
Urban League of Greater New Orleans records
Processing Information: Collection processed April 2010 by Andrew Salinas.
