George A. Strait (1914-1989) was an outstanding law librarian and long-time AALL member. In recognition of his career achievements, George Strait was awarded the AALL (now Marian Gould Gallagher) Distinguished Service Award in 1989, and in 1990 the AALL Executive Board made the minority stipend a permanent part of the Association’s scholarship program and named it in his honor. Thomson West, a provider of e-information and solutions to the U.S. legal market, generously contributed $150,000 as the initial endowment. West’s challenge to American Association of Law Libraries’ members and friends resulted in over $100,000 of additional contributions to the Fund. The Fund now supports the education of minority students who wish to pursue their career goals in law librarianship.

George A. Strait Minority Scholarships are awarded annually to college graduates with meaningful law library experience who are members of a minority group as defined by current U.S. government guidelines, are degree candidates in an accredited library or law school, and who intend to have a career in law librarianship. Applicants must show evidence of financial need.

For application and more information, see the AALL George A. Strait Minority Scholarship webpage.