Downtown in Louisville in Jefferson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Louisville Bar Association

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2020

1. Louisville Bar Association Marker

Inscription. Roots traced to 1871, with meetings of lawyers advocating legal reform. Those efforts led to state law guaranteeing that a witness could not be barred from testifying on basis of race or color. Officially established on January 13, 1900, the LBA is Kentucky's oldest, continuously operating bar association.

The LBA, with the Louisville Women's Club, was instrumental in establishing Louisville's Legal Aid Society in 1921, to provide legal aid for the poor. The LBA was also active in securing passage of the judicial article of 1975, which article barred non-lawyers from serving as judges and created a unified court system.

Erected 2000 by Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways; Presented by Louisville Bar Association. (Marker Number 2051.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 13, 1900.

Location. 38° 15.244′ N, 85° 45.633′ W. Marker is in Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of South 6th Street and West Jefferson Street (U.S. 60), on the right when

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traveling south on South 6th Street. Marker is located in front of the Jefferson County Hall of Justice. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 West Jefferson Street, Louisville KY 40202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Louis Dembitz Brandeis (a few steps from this marker); Charles W. Anderson, Jr. (a few steps from this marker); Louisville Firefighters Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); City and County Named / Jefferson County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Louisville Law Enforcement Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Jefferson Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); George Rogers Clark (about 300 feet away); Jefferson County (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisville.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2020

2. Louisville Bar Association Marker

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2020

3. Louisville Bar Association Marker

Edward J. McDermott image. Click for full size.

Public domain

4. Edward J. McDermott

More than a century ago on January 13, 1900, Edward J. McDermott gathered a group of lawyers and elected James S. Pirtle as their chairman. A committee chaired by McDermott prepared the group's constitution and bylaws, and Pirtle was eventually elected to serve as the association's first president. There were 178 charter members. — Louisville Bar Association

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 145 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 30, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.