Herbert B. Ehrmann (HBE) (December 15, 1891 – June 17, 1970)[1] was an American lawyer and activist. He gained fame also for authoring books on the famous Sacco and Vanzetti case.

Ehrmann was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1891,[2] graduated from Harvard College in 1912[3] and got his law degree from Harvard University Law School.[4]

In October, 1914, Ehrmanm joined the Boston Legal Aid Society.[5]

During World War I, Ehrmann was the director of the industrial relations division of the United States Shipping Board and a member of the War Labor Policies Board.[4]

Ehrmann was active in Jewish human rights and civic affairs and in Jewish organizational life.[2] He was a trustee of the Combined Jewish Appeal, honorary trustee of the Associated Jewish Philanthropies in Boston[1], honorary president of the American Jewish Committee[4] in April 1959 and has served in that capacity until 1961.[2] He began his activism already as student at Harvard.[6]

In 1957 Ehrmann was a member of a Fact‐Finding Group, a nine-man delegation, conductinv a 15,000-mile fact-finding survey meeting government leaders in France, Italy, Tunisia, and Morocco, and Israel. The delegation was granted a special audience with Pope Pius XII.[4][2]

Ehrmann was president of the Hale House Association in Boston.(1934-1937[7]) He served on the Massachusetts Judicial Council and the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission.[4]

After the trial of Italian immigrants Sacco and Vanzetti, Ehrmann wrote two books about the case: The Untried Case and The Case That Will Not Die—Commonwealth vs. Sacco and Vanzetti - the book [2] for which in 1969 he won the Edgar Award for the best fact crime book of the year.[4][8] In addition, Ehrmann wrote articles. Ehrmann also wrote the book, and play, Under this Roof.[9] It appeared at Windsor theatre in 1942.[2][4][10][11][12]

Ehrmann translated poetry from Hebrew into English.[2][6]

Herbert's wife, Sara R. Ehrmann (1895-1993) was a Boston-area civic leader. She is best known for her work as an avid opponent of capital punishment. A career she began when Herbert became an associate counsel for Sacco and Vanzet in 1925.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Herbert B. Ehrmann". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Collection: Herbert B. Ehrmann Papers | Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center". jewishheritagecenter.libraryhost.com. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  3. ^ Harvard Alumni Bulletin. Harvard Bulletin, Incorporated. 1920. p. 141.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "H. B. Ehrmann, 77, In Famous Trial (Published 1970)". The New York Times. 1970-06-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-11.The New York Times Biographical Service, Volume 1, (New York Times & Arno Press, 1970), p.1403
  5. ^ Association, American Bar (1966). ABA Journal. American Bar Association. p. 846.
  6. ^ a b Commentary. American Jewish Committee. 1947. p. 250.
  7. ^ From the guide to the Papers, 1906-1970, (Harvard Law School Library, Harvard University), qtd in Ehrmann, Herbert B. (Herbert Brutus), 1891 at SNAC'.
  8. ^ "Herbert Brutus Ehrmann Papers, 1906-1970. Sacco-Vanzetti. Edgar Allan Poe Award for best crime fact book of 1969, 1970 clippings. Box 7, Folder 17, Harvard Law School Library, Historical & Special Collections". www.digitalcommonwealth.org. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  9. ^ The New Republic. Republic Publishing Company. 1942. p. 332.
  10. ^ "NEWS OF THE STAGE; 'Under This Roof' Opens Tomorrow Evening at the Windsor Theatre -- 'Papa Is All!' Closes Feb. 28 (Published 1942)". The New York Times. 1942-02-21. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  11. ^ The Broadway League. "Under This Roof – Broadway Play – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  12. ^ Carter, Elmer Anderson (1942). Opportunity. National Urban League. p. 91.
  13. ^ "Finding aid for the Sara R. Ehrmann Papers". www.lib.neu.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
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