RWU Law School to Dedicate Classroom to RI’s 1st African-American Woman Lawyer

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RWU Law School to Dedicate Classroom to RI’s 1st African-American Woman Lawyer

Dorothy Russell Crockett Bartleson PHOTO: Dianne Bartleson/RWU
The Roger Williams University School of Law will dedicate a classroom to Rhode Island’s first African American woman lawyer, Dorothy Russell Crockett Bartleson.

“The Dorothy R. Crockett Classroom dedication is meaningful for the RWU Law community because there is a through-line from Dorothy to our student body, which is now majority female and increasingly made up of students of color,” said RWU Law Dean Michael Yelnosky.

He added, “Dorothy is significant to our alumni as well. For example, this year three of our African American alumni, one a woman, have been sworn in as judges in Rhode Island. And finally, honoring Dorothy Crockett helps all the members of the Rhode Island bar learn more about the history of the profession in this state. Playing a role in exploring that history is a natural for this law school.”

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The event will be held in the Bruce M. Selya Appellate Courtroom (Law 283) at the RWU Law campus on Tuesday, September 9 at 4 p.m.

The keynote address will be given judge Rogeriee Thompson.

About Bartleson

Bartleson was the first African-American woman admitted to the Rhode Island bar in 1932, and just the seventh female lawyer in the state’s history.

Born in Providence in 1910, Bartleson filed an application for admission to the Rhode Island bar on March 1, 1932.

She passed the written portion of the bar examination in April, and the oral portion in May of that year. 

Bartleson had a practice in Providence for six years with a focus on family law and debt collection.

According to the 1935 Rhode Island census, she worked on the third floor at 4 Weybossett Street, now One Financial Plaza.

After falling into legal trouble in the late 30s, Bartleson moved to California with her husband, Abe.

According to the 1940 U.S. census, there is no record of her practicing law in California.

Bartleson died of cancer on February 27, 1955, just seven years after giving birth to her daughter Dianne Bartleson.


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