Written on the back of the photo: “Merle & Best Friend, Elmer Selman – Grad from Western Reserve.”

In 1947, Merle graduates from (Case) Western Reserve’s College of Law, and is admitted to the Ohio Bar on July 31^, 1947. He is still living at 2200 E 87^th Street in Cleveland, an integrated neighborhood comprised of wealthier African American and Jewish families during this time. Brenda McCurdy Rhoads, Merle’s daughter, recalled living next door to the Goldberg family who treated them “wonderfully”.

Sources

McCurdy Rhodes, B. by Dana, R. (Personal Communication, April 2015).

Supreme Court of Ohio. (n.d.). The Supreme Court of Ohio Attorney Directory. Retrieved from https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/attorneysearch/#/search