Albert Blaustein facts for kids

Albert Paul Blaustein (October 12, 1921 – August 21, 1994) was an American lawyer. He was an expert in civil rights and human rights. He helped many countries write their constitutions, which are like rulebooks for how a country is governed.

He helped draft the constitutions for Fiji and Liberia. He also advised countries like Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Peru. He even helped a little with the constitutions of Poland, South Africa, and Hungary. Blaustein was also the editor of a huge 20-volume encyclopedia called Constitutions of the Countries of the World.

Biography

Albert Blaustein was born in Brooklyn, New York City on October 12, 1921. His father, Allen Blaustein, was also a lawyer. Albert sometimes used the name Allen DeGraeff.

He was a very smart student. He finished Boys High School (now Boys and Girls High School) when he was just 16. Then, he went to the University of Michigan. He worked on the school newspaper, The Michigan Daily. He graduated from college in 1941, at age 19.

During World War II, Albert Blaustein served in the United States Army. He became a major. After the war, he went to Columbia Law School and became a lawyer in 1948.

From 1948 to 1955, he taught law at New York Law School. He also worked as a consultant for lawyers. Later, he moved to Rutgers University and became a law librarian.

From 1959 to 1968, Blaustein worked with important groups like the London School of Economics. He also advised the US Department of Education. From 1962 to 1963, he worked with the US Commission on Civil Rights.

Between 1971 and 1972, he was a legal advisor for several African nations. He also advised the United States Senate. He helped with civil rights issues and even helped start Law day. Later, Blaustein worked to help develop the court system and constitution in Russia. In 1966, he spoke to the US Senate about legal issues related to population.

Blaustein served 14 years in the United States Army Reserve. He retired as a major. He was part of the Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1942 to 1946.

Albert Blaustein lived in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He passed away on August 21, 1994, at age 72. He died at Duke University Hospital after having a heart attack. He had three children: Mark Allen, Eric Barry, and Dana Beth. He was also the "Pop-Pop" of the famous comedian Michael Blaustein.

Written work

Albert Blaustein wrote many books about law and constitutions, including:

• Framing the Modern Constitution: A Checklist (1994)
• Human Rights in the World's Constitutions (1993)
• Discrimination Against Women: A Global Survey of the Economic, Educational, Social and Political Status of Women (1990)
• Constitutions That Made History (1988)
• Resolving Language Conflicts: A Study of the World's Constitution (1986)
• Independence Documents of the World (1977)
• The Arab Oil Weapon (1977)
• Civil Rights and the Black American: A Documentary History (1976)
• Desegregation and the law: The meaning and effect of the school segregation cases (1957)
• The American lawyer: A summary of the "Survey of the legal profession (1954)