Graham Arthur Barden

Graham Arthur Barden ( born September 25, 1896 in Turkey, Sampson County, North Carolina; † January 29, 1967 in New Bern, North Carolina ) was an American politician. He represented the state of North Carolina as a delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Career

Graham Barden moved with his family in 1908 Burgaw in Pender County, where he attended public school. During World War II he served as a corporal ( Seaman ) in the United States Navy 1918-1919. According to the war he graduated in 1920 at the Law Faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was admitted as a lawyer in the same year and opened a practice in New Bern. Meantime he worked in 1920 as a teacher at the New Bern High School. Subsequently, he was a judge of the District Court in Craven County 1920-1924.

Barden sat in 1933 as a deputy in the House of Representatives from North Carolina. He was then elected as a Democrat in the 74th and the twelve subsequent Congresses. His term came from 3 January 1935 to 3 January 1961. He decided in 1960 not to run again, and returned to his old job back as a lawyer. During his tenure in Congress, he was chairman of the Education Committee ( 78th and 79th Congress ) and the Committee on Education and Labor ( 81, 82 and 84 to 86 Congress ). He was also involved in the constitution of the Southern Manifesto, which spoke out against racial integration in public institutions.

Graham Barden passed away on January 29, 1967 in New Bern. He was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery.