Daughter of the Empire State: The Life of Judge Jane Bolin

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments My scholarly interest in Jane Bolin began over a decade ago and benefited greatly from the many helpful staff members at the various institutions where I did research :the Library of Congress,the Schlessinger Library,the University of Pennsylvania Archives, the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of the NewYork City Public Library, where I did most of my work. I owe a special debt of gratitude to Gregory Murray of the Office of PublicAffairs,NewYork State Unified Court System,who was with the project from its inception and graciously helped to coordinate the Unified Court System’s celebration of Jane Bolin’s life in 2007.I am grateful for the research grants and professional development funding fromWestern Illinois University and Metropolitan State College of Denver that made visits to several of these institutions possible. This book matured alongside my daughter and was almost as difficult to release. But the encouragement and support of a community of family and friends allowed me to trust that I had done that which I set out to do. I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Dr. Darlene Clark Hine who helped me narrow the gulf between earning a PhD and becoming a practicing historian. In her and Dr.Wilma King, who made time when there was no time, I found sincere mentors who never doubted my commitment to complete this work.They therefore never wavered in their support during my moments of suspended productivity.And, although resumption proved to be harder with each succeeding lapse, their gentle nudges did help to keep me on task. Many thanks to my MSU comrades, especially my friend and brother Felix Armfield, who inspired by example along with Randal Jelks, and never forgot to give thanks for what was already done. ChantalleVerna, who in blind antici- pation congratulated me on a book that was yet unfinished, was as inspirational as my soul brother Haynesly Blake, who though military-bound still found time to encourage me. Many thanks also to my friend and colleague Linden Lewis, whose sociological moorings challenged me to consider a broader interpretation of my subject.This book benefited greatly from the valuable comments of the two scholars who read it for the University of Illinois Press,but I am fully responsible for any flaws that remain. I am eternally grateful for the unconditional love, support, and encouragement of family. Special thanks to Pinky who remained my big sister long after I had grown up. My mother, Doris Elaine McLeod, did not live to see the finished product, but she never left my side. Finally, my heartfelt thanks to Jeuneille, my daughter and best friend, who was my sounding board and staunchest supporter throughout this process.You continue to be a source of much inspiration and happiness in my life. xvi Acknowledgments ...