Back in 1953 Henry J. Abraham, a fledgling government and political science scholar, passed up an opportunity to teach at Sweet Briar College. While he went on to an illustrious academic career at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Virginia, Abraham recently found a way to give part of himself to Sweet Briar after all.

His recent donation of 1,500 books from his collection on civics- and law-related topics created The Henry J. Abraham Law and Civics Library at Sweet Briar's Virginia Law-Related Education Center (VALREC). Abraham and his wife, Mildred, visited the College on Friday, April 15 for the library's dedication ceremony in room 203 of Gray Hall.

With about 20 people filling in among the room's newly stocked shelves, Barbara Perry, SBC government and politics professor, introduced Abraham as "a true mentor" to her and VALREC colleague Steve Bragaw.

"Without [Abraham], exactly one-half of the Sweet Briar government department would not exist," she said, referring to the tutelage both she and Bragaw received under Abraham as UVa graduate students. "We would just simply not be here if we had not been fortunate enough to have Henry Abraham as our mentor."

Calling him a "scholar of the highest order," she added, "We believe Henry's mentorship will continue through these books and their new life at the Virginia Law-Related Education Center."

The books include some of the 11 Abraham wrote. They include "The Judicial Process: An Introductory Analysis of the Courts of the United States, England, and France" and "Freedom and the Court: Civil Rights and Liberties in the United States." His most recent text is "Justices, Presidents, and Senators: A History of Appointments to the Supreme Court."

A leading authority on constitutional law, civil rights and liberties, and the judicial process, Abraham has authored more than 100 articles, book chapters, essays, and monographs. He also served as a Fulbright Scholar in Denmark and lectured throughout the world.

In his introduction of Abraham, Bragaw, SBC associate professor of government and international affairs, echoed Perry's sentiments. "In our field the absolute best passport you can have as young scholar is to say, 'I was a student of Henry Abraham's.' " he said. "When you say that … a smile just comes up on the face of the person, and they always have some story about how Henry helped them or helped their mentor."

Running with Bragaw's reference to Abraham sharing a room with actor-to-be Paul Newman at Kenyon College, the elder scholar took the microphone on a light note. He strongly hinted that his schedule and immediate priorities were at odds with those of the future screen idol.

I was Paul Newman's roommate, but only for three weeks," Abraham said to much laughter. "He's a very nice guy and has been very, very generous to Kenyon College."

Momentarily putting humor aside, the humble scholar spoke of the library and his collaborations with Perry and Bragaw. "I'm really overwhelmed by this reception and by the wonderfully attentive manifestations we find here," he said. "Barbara and Steve were my students; I'm very proud of both of them."

Perry, he noted, served as his research assistant, "and we have been good friends since."

In an earlier interview from the Charlottesville home he shares with wife Mildred, a rare books collector, Abraham spoke of his education and early career. He earned his master's degree in public law and government from Columbia University in 1949. In 1952 he received a doctorate in political science from the University of Pennsylvania, where he began his teaching career. But not before turning down a teaching position at Sweet Briar.

"I was very young," he said. "I wanted to be in a more urban environment."

In 1972 he left Pennsylvania to become a chaired professor at the UVa Department of Government and Foreign Affairs. He retired in 1997, but kept in touch with many of his former students — a group affectionately known as "the Tribe of Abraham."

In 1999, the two protégés took some of what they learned from Abraham to establish the Center for Civic Renewal at Sweet Briar. Abraham calls the CCR a "very valuable addition" to the College. "The Center's done an excellent job. So has VALREC," he said. "I think those are two very imaginative and laudatory institutions and add to Sweet Briar's presence."

Abraham said he was aware of Perry's interest in adding a civics library to the Center. When he was taking stock of his extensive collection of books, he thought of her and Sweet Briar. He was moved that his former students attached his name to the library.

"I was very honored and very appreciative," he said. "For me it was a lovely thing for them to do. I've long been fond of Sweet Briar."

— By Shannon Wells, SBC staff writer