D.W. Perkins Bar Association

	Daniel Webster Perkins was born January 9, 1879, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. His studies resulted in degrees from North Carolina State Normal College (1897), Temple University (1899) and Shaw University Law School. After practicing law in Knoxville, Tennessee and Tampa, Florida, he settled in Jacksonville, Florida in 1919, where he practiced until his death in 1972. During his career, he held positions of trust or authority in a host of professional, educational, civic and political organizations, including Masons, Knights of Phytias, Elks, Samaritans, Odd Fellows, Eastern Stars, Heroines, Masonic Templars, Woodsmen, Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, Business Men's League, Afro-American Council, Civic League, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, United States Military Officers Training School, Florida Normal College, Bethune Cookman College, Shaw University, NAACP, Urban League, YMCA, Negro Business League, National Bar Association and Shriners. Attorney Perkins distinguished himself as a proponent of civil rights, a community leader and a member of the bar who was genuinely interested in the careers of his younger Black colleagues. Accordingly, in 1968, the former Colored Lawyers Association changed its name in honor of Daniel Webster Perkins. Today, many of Jacksonville's local attorneys hold membership in the Daniel Webster Perkins Bar Association.

	Statement of Purpose	DWP Newsletter -
	The African-American experience has historically been fraught with exclusion and denial of meaningful participation in the positive aspects of American life. Unfortunately, the vestiges of racial discrimination have continued to manifest themselves in many of the institutions which affect the lives of the entire citizenry. The Daniel Webster Perkins Bar Association, Inc., was named after the great pioneer who was one of the first African-Americans to practice law in Duval County, Florida. It's mission and purpose continues to be that of a change agent to improve the plight of the African-American community and to erase all affects of past and present discrimination.