- Anthony Dimond
Anthony Joseph Dimond (
November 30 ,1881 –May 28 ,1953 ) was an American Democratic Party politician who was theAlaska Territory Delegate in theUnited States House of Representatives for many years (1933-1945). Dimond was also an early champion ofAlaska statehood.Dimond was born in
New York and attendedCatholic schools, taught school in Montgomery County, New York (1900-1903) and was a prospector/miner in Alaska (1904-1912) before studying law and beginning practice in Valdez (1913).Dimond's political experience includes: US Commissioner in
Chisana, Alaska (1913-1914); Special Assistant US Attorney for the 3rd Judicial Division of Alaska in Valdez (1917); Mayor of Valdez (1920-1922, 1925-1932); Alaska Territorial Senate (1923–1926, 1929–1932); and District Judge for the 3rd Division of Alaska (1945–1953). He also served as a Delegate to theDemocratic National Convention in 1936 and 1940. He died onMay 28 ,1953 in Anchorage.A
Roman Catholic , Dimond was a member of organizations such as the Elks,Moose and Eagles. His secretary,Bob Bartlett , eventually became aUnited States Senator from Alaska.Today,
November 30 is celebrated by the State of Alaska as "Anthony Dimond Day." In Anchorage,A. J. Dimond High School and Dimond Blvd, a major thoroughfare, are named after him.In 1940, when President
Franklin D. Roosevelt was considering making Alaska an international Jewish homeland, Dimond was the main force behind defeating the effort. Some Alaskan papers have attributed this toanti-Semitism on the part of Dimond and others, although the charge was challenged by historians who claimed that Dimond was mostly concerned about the finances.See also
*
Dimond Center
*"The Yiddish Policemen's Union "External links
*CongBio|D000353
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7366335&pt=Anthony%20Dimond Gravesite of Anthony Dimond]
* [http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/8828757p-8729537c.html In the context of the times, Jews from Germany weren't welcome] , Tom Kizzia, "Anchorage Daily News", 2007-04-26.USRepSuccessionBox
state=Alaska Territory
type=Delegate
district=AL
before=James Wickersham
after=Bob Bartlett
years=March 4 ,1933 –January 3 ,1945
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