The Maurice A. Roberts Fellowship Fund

For the History of Immigration Law & Policy

Cover of printed brochure produced and distributed by the American Immigration Law Foundation

About Maurice Roberts: During his long public service career, with the INS (1941-55), the Justice Department's Immigration Litigation Unit (1955-68), and the Board of Immigration Appeals (1968-74), Maurice A. Roberts participated in some of the most important immigration cases in U.S. history. In 1974, he became editor in chief and later editor emeritus of Interpreter Releases, the nation's premier digest of immigration law and policy now published by West Group. He was also the author of numerous articles and papers in the field of immigration law and procedure. Much of the public's understanding of immigration law has been the result of his work.

About the Maurice A. Roberts Fellowship

The Immigration History Research Center has established an endowed academic fellowship fund named in honor of Maurice A. Roberts (1910-2000), widely regarded as America's "Dean of Immigration Law.

Mr. Roberts' extensive papers and library are being transferred to the IHRC for preservation and research access. The IHRC is an internationally acclaimed resource for the study of American immigration. Second only to the U.S. government, the IHRC is the nation's foremost research repository of historical documentation on immigration policy and law. Included are voluminous collections of correspondence, reports, resource files, legislative digests, and more. Among these are the archival records of Immigration & Refugee Services of America (255 lin. ft.), U.S. Committee for Refugees (40 lin. ft.), Interpreter Releases (source files, 125 lin. ft.), and Immigration Briefings (source files, 10 lin. ft.). Each of these major collections intersects with the work of Mr. Roberts and will complement his own papers in constituting an unparalleled source of research material.

Due to the unique value of this documentation, used by researchers from around the world, its care and development require the ongoing commitment of knowledgeable staff. The Maurice A. Roberts Fellowship Fund will annually support the work of a graduate student to organize, promote, and undertake research in the IHRC's collections relating to immigration policy and law. The Fellowship will be regularly announced and recruited for on a national level and will be identified prominently as a memorial tribute to Maurice Roberts, one with long-lasting importance for preserving his legacy in shaping the knowledge and practice of immigration law.

Your Help is Needed

Please help endow this special and lasting tribute to the "Dean of Immigration Law." The Maurice A. Roberts Fellowship is aided by generous matching opportunities. The University of Minnesota Graduate School's 21st Century Fund will match interest generated by this fund. We must act quickly--the 21st Century Fund is expected to be depleted by the end of this year. We don't want to lose this opportunity for you to double the impact of your gift.

In addition, the National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant will provide $1 for every $4 in contributions to the IHRC's Endowment Campaign through July 31, 2006--making your gift even more valuable.

Establishment of the Fellowship requires an initial gift or pledge of at least $25,000, with an ultimate goal of $150,000 in gifts and pledges to endow the award at the appropriate annual level.

Please consider an online contribution or pledge today.

Follow the Campaign Minnesota link to use your credit card or make a pledge online at the University of Minnesota Foundation's secure site. You must type in the designation "IHRC: Graduate Fellowship in Finnish American Studies Fund (Fund 7455)" in order to have your gift directed to this particular fund.

You may also print this paper form and submit a pledge or donation through the mail.