ROBERT J. SHERAN:
An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society
Manuscripts Collection
| | |
| Creator: |
Sheran, Robert J., 1916-,
creator.
|
| Title: | Robert J. Sheran papers. |
| Dates: | 1932-2008. |
| Language: | Materials in English. |
| Abstract: | Letters, certificates, newspaper and other articles,
addresses and interviews, photographs, memorabilia, and other materials pertaining
to Sheran's career as a champion debater in high school and college, Mankato lawyer
and state representative, Minneapolis lawyer, and associate justice and chief
justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Includes approximately seventy-five letters
received from attorneys and court officials regarding their personal experiences in
Minnesota's legal system, compiled for an article in Hamline law review (Spring
2003) entitled Minnesota Judicial System: Twenty-Five Years of Radical Change, by
Robert J. Sheran and Douglas K. Amdahl. |
| Quantity: | 2.1 cubic feet (3 boxes and 6 oversize
folders in 2 partial boxes). |
| Location: | See Detailed Description for shelf
locations. |
Robert Joseph
Sheran, son of Michael Joseph and Eleanor Alice (Bowe) Sheran, was born in Waseca,
Minnesota, January 2, 1916. He graduated from Roosevelt High School (Minneapolis) in
1932, received a B.A. degree from the College of St. Thomas in 1936, and an LL.B.
from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1939. During 1939-1940 he clerked for
Minnesota Supreme Court justice Henry M. Gallagher. He served as a special agent
with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1942 to 1945.
Sheran was elected to the 55th session of the Minnesota House of Representatives from
the eighth district in 1946 and caucused with the Conservatives. He was re-elected
in 1948 and caucused with the Liberals. He ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant
governor of Minnesota in 1950 as a Democrat.
Sheran was appointed an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court January 8,
1963 by Governor Elmer L. Andersen, serving until his resignation in July 1970. He
then returned to private legal practice. In December 1973 Governor Wendell Anderson
appointed him chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, in which position he
served until December 18, 1981. After his resignation from the court, Sheran became
associated with the Lindquist & Vennum law firm. He served as interim dean of
the Hamline University School of Law in 1993.
Sheran married Jean Marie Brown in Saint Paul on February 3, 1940. He died in
Bloomington, Minnesota, January 25, 2012.
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Availability:
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here].
Robert J. Sheran Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 16,341; 16,967
Processing Information:
Processed by: David B. Peterson, August 2011; addition by David B. Peterson,
February 2015
Catalog ID number: 990073919050104294
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P2021 | 1 | The Professional career of Robert J.
Sheran. Minnesota Justices Series No. 2. Saint Paul: printed for
the Minnesota State Law Library by the State Printer, 1982. 3 volumes. |
| | | Contents: Volume 1. Life, legal and judicial career -- Volume 2. Written
communications, articles, reports, opinions -- Volume 3. Verbal
communications, speeches, interviews, comments, remarks. |
| | | The original copies of many of these items are in Sheran's papers. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Transcript of proceedings of presentation of papers, May 27, 1982. 1 volume. |
| | | Proceedings of the ceremony in which the volumes were presented by the State
Law Library to the Supreme Court and Sheran upon his retirement as chief
justice. Includes program, photographs, and transcript of remarks. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P2021 | 2 | Biographical data. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Roosevelt High School and College of St. Thomas, 1932-1997. |
| | | Clippings concerning Sheran's activities on the high school and college
debate teams; program for St. Thomas Golden Jubilee celebration (October 7,
1935) showing Sheran as a speaker, and a copy of his speech; a St. Thomas
graduation program (1936), showing Sheran graduating cum laude; and memorabilia from Roosevelt High School's 40th,
50th, and 65th class reunions. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Legal and political career, 1946-1960. |
| | | Clippings, letters, and campaign literature items related to Sheran's career
as a Mankato attorney, his run for the state legislature (1946), possible
candidacy for lieutenant governor (1950), and activities in the
Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) political campaigns of 1956, 1958, and
1960. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sheran's service in the state legislature and to the 1950
gubernatorial campaign, 1947-1950. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bishop's Law Committee for Vocations, 1961-1962. |
| | | A few clippings pertaining to this Catholic service group, of which Sheran
was founder and diocesan chairman, and to his investiture in the Knighthood
of St. Gregory. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Appointment as associate justice, Minnesota Supreme Court, 1963. |
| | | Newspaper clippings pertaining to the retirement of justice Frank Gallagher
and his replacement by Sheran. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Supreme Court service, 1963-1970. 2 folders. |
| | | Clippings, letters, campaign items, and miscellany regarding Sheran's service
on the court, his re-election in 1964, issues of judicial election
(especially in 1966), and Sheran's stance on issues of criminal justice.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Resignation from Supreme Court, 1970. |
| | | Newspaper clippings concerning Sheran's resignation to re-enter private law
practice, his replacement by Fallon Kelly, and the issue of adequate pay for
supreme court and district court judges. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Newspaper clippings and letters, 1970-1974. |
| | | Clippings concerning Sheran's appointment as chairman of the Governor's Crime
Commission, his work as chief counsel for Reserve Mining Company, public
speeches, and a few letters from political figures (1970). |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Distinguished Alumnus award, College of St. Thomas, 1971. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Appointment as chief justice, Minnesota Supreme Court, 1973. |
| | | Newspaper clippings concerning the retirement of Chief Justice Oscar R.
Knutson, Sheran's appointment to replace him, and Sheran's swearing-in
ceremony. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Service as chief justice, 1974-1982. |
| | | Newspaper and journal articles, including a letter of appreciation from
Leonard E. Lindquist of Lindquist & Vennum (1974), and an interview with
Sheran as chairman of the Conference of Chief Justices (1981). |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P2021 | 3 | Articles by Sheran, 1976. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Retirement as chief justice, 1981. |
| | | Clippings; a letter from James P. Shannon; a resolution by the Hennepin
County Board of Commissioners; and a ceremonial invocation. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Post-judicial, 1982-1997. |
| | | Formal announcement of Sheran's return to Lindquist & Vennum; a few
clippings and miscellany regarding his post-court activities; and a letter
from Sheran to Scott V. Kelly giving data on the early history of the law
firm of Farrish, Johnson & Maschka. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sheran family and memorabilia, 1939-circa 1980s. |
| | | Includes an announcement of the wedding of Jean Marie Brown to Robert Joseph
Sheran (1940); newspaper clippings about Jean Brown and about the Sherans'
sons' athletic endeavors; and a few clippings concerning Sheran's
brother-in-law, Judge Miles B. Zimmerman. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Photographs, undated and 1936-2008. 6 folders. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Awards and tributes, 1939-1992. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Collected letters regarding legal experiences, 2002-2003. 3 folders. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | |
| 142.G.13.1B-2 | | Newspaper clippings relating to Sheran's activities on the debate
squads of Roosevelt High School and the College of St. Thomas, 1930s-1940. |
| | | Includes a few clippings concerning Sheran's wedding to Jean Brown. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Certificate of appointment as associate justice, Minnesota Supreme
Court, January 8, 1963. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Photograph of Sheran and his wife Jean with Pope John Paul II, undated. |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Photographs, undated and 1939, circa 1973. |
| | | Includes a photograph of members of the Minnesota Supreme Court (1939) and
portraits of Sheran. |
| | | [Partial box] |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | |
| 138.E.4.8 | | Photographs, 1970s-1975. |
| | | Includes a photographs of members of the Minnesota Supreme Court (1970s), and
a photograph of Chief Justice Sheran administering the oath of office to
Governor Wendell Anderson (January 8, 1975). |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Certificate conferring the title Dean Emeritus of the Hamline
University School of Law, May 21, 1994. |
| | | [Partial box] |
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the
Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics,
persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
- Topics:
- Catholics -- Minnesota.
- Courts -- Minnesota.
- Elections -- Minnesota.
- Judges -- Minnesota.
- Justice, Administration of -- Minnesota.
- Lawyers -- Minnesota.
- Political candidates -- Minnesota.
- Organizations:
- Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Party.
- Minnesota. Legislature. House of
Representatives.
- Minnesota. Supreme Court.
- Document Types:
- Photographs.
- Reminiscences.
- Titles:
- Professional career of Robert J.
Sheran.
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