Eastern Washington State Historical Society (Northwest
Museum of Arts & Culture), Joel E. Ferris Research Library and Archives
2316 W. First Avenue
Spokane, WA 99201
Phone: (509) 363-5342
Email: archives@northwestmuseum.org
MsSC 147
Kizer, Benjamin H. (Benjamin
Hamilton), 1878-1978
Benjamin H. Kizer Papers
1947-1975
4 in.
Lawyer, diplomat, and civic leader, of Spokane, Wash.
Typescripts of lectures concerning China and peace issues (1947-1955); electrostatic copies
of typescript of Kizer's autobiography entitled Dark and Light, and his History of the
Spokane Bar and Bench; and essays on local history. Includes material relating to Kizer's
law practice in Spokane, his service as president of Washington State Bar and Spokane County
Bar Associations, director of United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in
China following World War II, and advocate of U.S. diplomacy with People's Republic of
China.
English
Biographical Note
Benjamin Kizer came to Spokane from his native Ohio in 1890. He attended law school at the
University of Michigan and returned to Spokane in 1903 to practice law. He was active in
professional organizations, serving as president of the Washington State Bar and Spokane
County Bar Associations. A member of many civic organizations, he was also United Nations
Relief and Rehabilitation Director in China following World War II. Even during the Cold War
years, Kizer was an active advocate of diplomacy with the People’s Republic of China.
The collection consists of original typescripts of a series of lectures on China and peace
issues, 1947-1955; and electrostatic copies of a typescript of Kizer’s autobiography,
Dark and Light; for his “History of the Spokane Bar and Bench;” and several
essays on local history.
Collection is not restricted.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Eastern Washington State Historical Society. All
requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to
the Museum Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Eastern
Washington State Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the
researcher
Benjamin H. Kizer Papers (MsSC 147), Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Northwest
Museum of Arts & Culture, Spokane, WA.
Donated by Carolyn Kizer.
Nolan, Edward W.
A Guide to the Manuscript Collections in the
Eastern Washington State Historical Society (Spokane, WA: Eastern Washington State
Historical Society, 1987).
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Online Computer Library
Center (OCLC) WorldCat database. Researchers desiring materials about related topics,
persons, or places should search WorldCat using these headings.
Kizer, Benjamin H. (Benjamin
Hamilton), 1878-1978--Archives
Washington State Bar
Association
Spokane County Bar
Association
United Nations Relief and
Rehabilitation Administration
Trade and professional
associations--Washington (State)
Bar associations--Washington
(State)
Lawyers--Washington
(State)
Practice of law--Washington
(State)
Peace
World War, 1939-1945--Civilian
relief--China
Economic assistance,
American--China
International relief
China--Foreign relations--United
States
United States--Foreign
relations--China
Washington (State)--Legal
affairs
Spokane (Wash.)--Legal
affairs
Washington (State)--Societies,
etc.--Legal
Spokane County
(Wash.)--Societies, etc.--Legal
Washington (State)--History,
Local
Spokane
(Wash.)--History
Spokane County (Wash.)--Legal
affairs
Histories
Autobiographies
Essays
Lectures
Electrostatic copies
Lawyers--Washington (State)
Diplomats--Washington (State)
Washington
(State)
Spokane
Mines and Mineral
Resources
Water and Water
Rights