Treasures from the Archives – March 2016

Artifacts from the collection of former Appeals Court Judge Barbara Rosenberg

Pages from the Bas Mitzvah scrapbook of Barbara Rosenberg, c. 1960s

By Stuart Rosenfield, DJHS Board Member

Among the many collections to explore, the archives of the Dallas Jewish Historical Society, located in the Aaron Family JCC, houses a collection from one of Dallas’s most progressive Court of Appeals judges, Barbara Rosenberg.

Barbara Rosenberg’s story, from her early political beginnings while studying for the bar, to being a pioneer as a woman in the legal profession, her nationally renowned campaign against an establishment candidate, and her tireless legal work to advance gay and lesbian rights, is a story documenting Dallas’s changing attitudes from the late 20^th century to today.

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Rosenberg attended the University of Texas at Austin, and later moved to Dallas where she became involved in the Democratic Party. In her early career, she worked with several law offices, including the legal team that defended people arrested during raids at Village Station in the late 1970’s. A constant advocate for LGBT and women’s rights, Rosenberg worked to educate members of the Gay Political Caucus on the participation process for the Democratic Convention and served as vice-chair of the Dallas Area Women’s Political Process.

Appointed to her first judiciary position as Associate Municipal Judge in 1977, Rosenberg went on to serve as an Associate Judge for the 330th District Court (1984-1991), and as an Associate Justice (1992-1994) and an Assigned Justice (1991-2003) of the Fifth District Court of Appeals at Dallas.  In addition, she has taught as an Adjunct Professor at Texas Wesleyan School of Law and maintained a private law practice from 1976-1984, and again from 1995-1999.  She currently works in the Dallas City Attorney’s office, focusing on Appellate Law.  She is most likely best known for her 1992 campaign against the incumbent Republican Criminal District Court Judge, Jack Hampton. The campaign win made national news.

This archive collection, generously donated by Attorney Rosenberg, includes childhood and college memorabilia, professional and personal speeches and information from her time on the bench, campaign materials (including ground-breaking video from her local TV advertising spots), and a copy of the Gender Bias Task Force of Texas report which she co-authored. Contact the Dallas Jewish Historical Society to view the collection, or check out the extensive collection of oral histories from Dallas Jewish personalities at www.dallasjewishstories.org.

The Dallas Jewish Historical Society works to collect, preserve, and protect the papers, photographs, artifacts, and recorded personal stories that illustrate the history of the Jewish community in Dallas.