Finding aid for the Harry Lloyd Eastman Photographs

Biography of Harry Lloyd Eastman

Harry Lloyd Eastman (1882-1963), Judge of Insolvency and Juvenile Court in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, from 1926 to 1960, was responsible for innovations which made the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court the model system for the entire country during the 1940s. Judge Eastman was a leading advocate of the Juvenile court philosophy which combined traditional legal processes with the techniques of medical and social sciences, the goal being to provide protection and care as well as correction. Intensely interested in bettering juvenile court relations and services in Ohio and throughout the United States, Eastman founded the Ohio State Association of Juvenile Court Judges in 1934 and the American Association of Juvenile Court Judges in 1937 (later known as the National Council of Juvenile Court Judges). On the local level, he was active in numerous organizations concerned with child welfare and juvenile delinquency.

Born in Butler, Pennsylvania on April 9, 1882, Harry L. Eastman was educated in the Findlay, Ohio, public school system. He became a photo-engraver and invented a "Perfect ratio rule" measuring device for photo-engravers. After working at the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Cleveland Leader for a few years, he continued doing odd jobs in photo-engraving to work his way through the Western Reserve University School of Law. In 1913 he received his LLB degree and was admitted to the Ohio Bar Association. He served as Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio from 1919 to 1921 and practiced law with several Cleveland firms until 1926.

In May of 1926, Ohio governor Vic Donahey appointed Eastman Judge of Insolvency and Juvenile Court of Cuyahoga County to fill an unexpired term. The following year, Judge Eastman was elected to that office and successively reelected, holding the position for thirty-four years. During Eastman's terms in office, the County Detention Home and Juvenile Court Building Group were built (completed in 1932) and the Juvenile court became a separate and independent branch of the County Court System in 1934. Administrative changes were made and new services added, making Eastman's juvenile court one of the most progressive and noteworthy in the nation.

Recognized as an authority in his field, Judge Eastman was invited to participate in the 1940 White House Conference on Children in Democracy and was selected to be the only representative of the juvenile court on the important Fact-Finding Committee of the 1950 Mid-Century White House Conference on Children and Youth. He received many awards and honors throughout his career for his outstanding professional service and community leadership.

Judge Eastman retired from the bench after thirty-four years of service in May 1960. He died after suffering a heart attack at his home in Shaker Heights, Ohio, on July 7, 1963.

Scope and Content

The Harry Lloyd Eastman Photographs, 1880-1960, consist of four albums and loose photographs relating to the life and career of Judge Harry Lloyd Eastman of Cleveland, Ohio.

One photograph album measures 10.25 x 13 inches. One photograph album measures 11 x 14.25 inches. One photograph album measures 11.25 x 15.5 inches. One photograph album measures 10.5 x 14 inches. The collection also includes two folders containing 64 loose photographs measuring 12 x 15 inches and smaller.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Access

None.

The researcher should also consult MS 3301 Harry Lloyd Eastman Papers.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 51 Harry Lloyd Eastman Photographs, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

These photographs were removed from MS 3301 Henry Lloyd Eastman Papers. Gift of Marcella Eastman (Mrs. Harry Lloyd Eastman) in 1968.

Detailed Description of The Collection