Anthony Dimond
Encyclopedia
Anthony Joseph Dimond was an American
Democratic Party
politician who was the Alaska Territory
Delegate in the United States House of Representatives
for many years (1933–1945). Dimond was also an early champion of Alaska
statehood.
Dimond was born in New York
and attended Catholic
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 the Democratic National Convention
in 1936 and 1940. He died on May 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 a United 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 to anti-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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician who was the Alaska Territory
Alaska Territory
The Territory of Alaska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 24, 1912, until January 3, 1959, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska...
Delegate in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for many years (1933–1945). Dimond was also an early champion of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
statehood.
Dimond was born in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and attended Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
schools, taught school in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
, New York (1900–1903) and was a prospector/miner in Alaska (1904–1912) before studying law and beginning practice in Valdez
Valdez, Alaska
Valdez is a city in Valdez-Cordova Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 4,020. The city is one of the most important ports in Alaska. The port of Valdez was named in 1790 after the Spanish naval officer Antonio Valdés y...
(1913).
Dimond's political experience includes: US Commissioner in Chisana, Alaska
Chisana, Alaska
Chisana is a census-designated place in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2010 Census, the population of the CDP was 0...
(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 the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1936 and 1940. He died on May 28, 1953 in Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
.
A Roman Catholic, Dimond was a member of organizations such as the Elks
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
, Moose
Moose International
Moose International is a fraternal and service organization founded in 1888, consisting of the Loyal Order of Moose, with nearly 1 million men in roughly 2,400 Lodges, in all 50 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces, plus Great Britain and Bermuda; and the Women of the Moose with more than...
and Eagles
Fraternal Order of Eagles
Fraternal Order of Eagles International is a fraternal organization that was founded on February 6, 1898, in Seattle, Washington by a group of six theater owners including John Cort , brothers John W. and Tim J. Considine, Harry Leavitt , Mose Goldsmith and Arthur Williams...
. His secretary, Bob Bartlett
Bob Bartlett
Edward Lewis "Bob" Bartlett was an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party.Bartlett was born in Seattle, Washington. After graduating from the University of Alaska in 1925, Bartlett began his career in politics...
, eventually became a United States Senator from Alaska.
Today, November 30 is celebrated by the State of Alaska as "Anthony Dimond Day." In Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
, A. J. Dimond High School and Dimond Blvd, a major thoroughfare, are named after him.
In 1940, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
was considering making Alaska an international Jewish homeland
Slattery Report
The Slattery Report, officially titled "The Problem of Alaskan Development,” was produced by the United States Department of the Interior under Secretary Harold L. Ickes in 1939–40. It was named after Undersecretary of the Interior Harry A. Slattery...
, Dimond was the main force behind defeating the effort. Some Alaskan papers have attributed this to anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
on the part of Dimond and others, although the charge was challenged by historians who claimed that Dimond was mostly concerned about the finances.
External links
- Gravesite of Anthony Dimond
- In the context of the times, Jews from Germany weren't welcome, Tom Kizzia, Anchorage Daily News, 2007-04-26.