Anthony Dimond

Anthony Dimond
Territorial Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Alaska
In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1945
Preceded by	James Wickersham
Succeeded by	Bob Bartlett
Personal details
Born	November 30, 1881 Palatine Bridge, New York, U.S.
Died	May 28, 1953 (aged 71) Anchorage, Alaska Territory, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Judge, lawyer, schoolteacher
Religion	Catholicism

Anthony Joseph Dimond (November 30, 1881 – May 28, 1953) 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 Palatine Bridge, Montgomery County, New York and attended Catholic schools, taught school in Montgomery County (1900–1903), and was a prospector/miner in Alaska (1904–1912) before studying law and beginning practice in Valdez (1913).^[1]

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 Boulevard, 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.^[2]

See also

• Dimond Center; like Dimond High School, its name derives from its proximity to Dimond Boulevard
• The Yiddish Policemen's Union, a 2007 alternate history novel by Michael Chabon whose divergence point from actual history is the early death of Dimond due to a car accident.

References

1. "Dimond, Anthony Joseph." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Office of the Historian. Accessed 1 Feb. 2013.
2. Kizzia, Tom. "Are there no exceptions?" Anchorage Daily News, 19 May 1999. Accessed 1 Feb. 2013.

External links

• United States Congress. "Anthony Dimond (id: D000353)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Anthony Joseph Dimond at Find a Grave

• Anthony Dimond at 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature