Judge Herman Moore, originally from Chicago, served as U.S. District Judge for the Virgin Islands from 1939 -1957. There was only one African American to serve on the U.S. District Court prior to him and that was William Hastie. Judge Moore first graduated from Howard University and from there graduated from the Boston University College of Law. While in Chicago he was appointed to the Illinois Commerce Commission and served as president of the Cook County Bar Association.
The photo is signed, To my pal Aaron Payne from Herman E. Moore. Aaron Payne was another African American attorney who turned into a somewhat controversial figure later on due to his involvement with the notorious Noble Drew Ali and the Moorish Science Temple of America. Payne was Ali’s attorney and business manager.
The photo itself is beautiful and as you can see at the bottom, it’s from the well know Moffett Studio started by George Moffet in the late 1800’s.
