Thomas Raeburn White (1875–1959) was a prominent attorney, political reformer, newspaper publisher and law professor in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

. He practiced law at

White and Williams LLP White and Williams LLP is a law firm, headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 1899 by Thomas Raeburn White. White and Williams currently has approximately 225 lawyers and serves clients from nine offices located throughout Penns ...

, wrote extensively on the Pennsylvania Constitution and taught at the

University of Pennsylvania School of Law The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (also known as Penn Law or Penn Carey Law) is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania, a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is among the most selective and oldes ...

Personal life

White was born on August 30, 1875, in Rich Square, Indiana. White graduated from

Earlham College Earlham College is a private liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. The college was established in 1847 by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and has a strong focus on Quaker values such as integrity, a commitment to peace and social ...

before attending the

University of Pennsylvania Law School The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (also known as Penn Law or Penn Carey Law) is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania, a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is among the most selective and olde ...

. In 1901, White married Elizabeth Wilson, she died in 1921. They had three children Mary,

W. Wilson White William Wilson White Sr. (February 23, 1906 – November 11, 1964) was a prominent attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and served as the first United States Assistant Attorney General for the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights D ...

and Thomas Raeburn White Jr. In 1924 he married Dorothy Shipley (b.1896-d.2001), author, journalist and lecturer, who was educated at Bryn Mawr College, at Columbia University, and received her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. She brought three children of her own to the family.

Professional life

White graduated from University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1899 and was admitted to the bar that year. Throughout his professional life he was a partner in the law firm of

, which he founded in 1899. Although he was technically retired he continued to visit the office regularly and counsel younger attorneys until his death. He died in Penllyn, Pennsylvania, on December 16, 1959.

Political reformer

In 1905 the

Committee of Seventy The Committee of Seventy is an independent, non-partisan advocate for better government in Philadelphia that works to achieve clean and effective government, better elections, and informed and engaged citizens. Founded in 1904, it is a nonprofit ...

, a good government group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, selected White as their counsel. In this capacity he investigated voting fraud and political crime."White Made His Reputation As a Reform Prosecutor" The Evening Times, December 27, 1911

Published works

Commentaries on the Constitution Business Law: A Text-Book for Schools and Colleges

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:White, Thomas Raeburn 1875 births 1959 deaths Lawyers from Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Law School alumni