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CBA
Through the years

The Cincinnati Bar Association celebrates its 150th Anniversary on February 27, 2022. Take a look through our interactive multimedia timeline and be transported through the CBA’s rich history.

Read more about our history
1877
1872

1872

The Cincinnati Bar Association formed in early 1872. On January 24, a group of local attorneys held an informal meeting to “consider formation of a Cincinnati Bar Association." On February 27, the Constitution and By-laws of the CBA were presented by Nicholas Longworth and officially adopted. Alphonso Taft, former United States Attorney General under President Ulysses S. Grant, was elected president. Dues were five dollars annually, with a ten-dollar admission fee.

1877

Rutherford B. Hayes, former Cincinnati attorney and CBA member, was inaugurated as President of the United States.



1884
1880

1880

Cincinnati Bar Association delegates attend a meeting in Cleveland to organize a state bar association.

1884

The Hamilton County Courthouse riots destroy much of the building and the law library, which is later replaced by members of the bar.

1886
1896

1886

Throughout its first thirty years or so, the CBA determined the kind of membership organization it wanted to be:“From its earliest days, food and drink were recognized as a binding ingredient of the Association. Refreshments, wine, and cigars were the order of the evening at monthly and quarterly meetings.”

1896

For most of the 19th Century, CBA meetings were held at the Cincinnati Literary Club, until 1914. Thereafter, with the exception of a few meetings held at the CIncinnati Chamber of Commerce, the CBA met at the Hotel Gibson, which was located on Walnut Street, between Fourth and Fifth Streets.

1907
1909

1907

The Legal Aid Society is organized in Cincinnati.

1909

William Howard Taft, Cincinnati attorney, former (and later honorary) member of the CBA, and son of the CBA’s first president Alphonso Taft, is inaugurated as President of the United States.

1912
1919

1912

The Cincinnati Bar Association proposes the creation of a state Court of Appeals to the Constitutional Convention.

1919

The current Hamilton County Court House is dedicated.

1922
1935

1922

The CBA celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1922 at the Hotel Gibson, an event transcribed verbatim into a publication entitled, simply, Cincinnati Bar Association, 1872-1922, Fiftieth Anniversary. Province Pogue is the president. Ten of the CBA's original members attended, four of whom gave remarks on the occasion. Pogue said, “A little over fifty years ago, there was organized in this city the Cincinnati Bar Association. The original record is in the possession of the secretary of this Association. It will be a pleasure to every member present, to take the time, as a matter of interest, to look at the names on the original roster. When I view them, and see the types of men that started in to accomplish what I feel this Bar has always maintained, the highest position in the profession in the United States, we can readily see why its foundation was so important, and why we have been so remarkably influenced by the type of men who founded that organization.”
Check out an excerpt from the original 1922 program.

1935

The Standing Committee on Activities of Junior Members is unanimously adopted, establishing the precursor to today’s Young Lawyers Section. 

1943
1947

1943

The Cincinnati Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service is founded, the third in the country.

1947

The CBA’s 75th Anniversary Celebration took place February 27, 1947, at the Netherland-Plaza Hall of Mirrors. Walter Schmitt is president, and Murray Seasongood is treasurer.

1950
1950

1950

On October 23, 1950, with the backing of many supporters, the Hon. William A. McClain became the CBA’s first Black member.

Get an in-depth history of William McClain’s life and legal legacy in this commemorative CBA podcast.

1950

That same year, the CBA Constitution is amended to provide for an Executive Secretary and an office. On August 16, 1950, Martha Hildenbrand, later Martha Perin, was hired as Executive Secretary. The CBA’s first headquarters were at 400 Court House. By 1971, the CBA resided at 26 East Sixth Street.

1961
1962

1961

The Cincinnati Bar Foundation is founded.


1962

The Cincinnati Bar Association Auxiliary is organized. 

1967
1972

1967

The Cincinnati Bar Association provides volunteer defenders for indigents during civil disturbances. 


1972

The CBA celebrates 100 years with a year of events and a black-tie Centennial Dinner Dance, held at the Netherland Hilton Hotel. By its centennial, the CBA had 1,531 members. An initiation fee remained of $5, and dues were raised according to tenure.

1986
1987

1986

Bea Larsen is the CBA’s first female president. Read Larsen's first-ever president's brief from 1986.

1987

BLAC-CBA Round Table is formed.

Learn about the BLAC – CBA Round Table’s origins and the fight for racial equity, equality and justice in the local legal community.
1988
1996

1988

John Burlew is the CBA’s first Black president. Learn about Judge Burlew's path to the CBA presidency and the bench.
Listen to Judge Burlew's daughter recall his legal career and impact in this 2021 conversation.

1996

Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers (CALL) is founded.

1998
2002

1998

The CBA website is launched. 

2002

CBA moves to its current location at 225 East Sixth Street. 

2013
2022

2013

The LGBTQ+ Interests groups is established. Visit the CBA's LGBTQ+ practice group page for upcoming CLE and events.

2022 Sesquicentennial

The CBA celebrates 150 years in existence! Check out photos from our 150th Celebration on June 9.

Photo Galleries