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Law School Special Collections & Archives: Resources

Temporary Change in Policies & Procedures

Please note that the policies and procedures described in this guide may be impacted by how the Law Library is responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Additionally, access to certain services and resources may be restricted. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Special Collections

The Judge Kathryn J. DuFour Law Library's Special Collections Reading Room focuses on preserving rare books, special collections, and law school archival material. The Special Collections Reading Room generally houses works printed prior to 1850. These titles require special care, need preservation work and in some instances may be considered rare. One will find among these:

Blackstone's Commentaries on the Law (1803);
Bacon's Abridgement of the Law (1798);
Coke's Institutes of the Laws of England (1809); and
Dalrymple's Essay toward a General History of Feudal Property Law (1758).

The Special Collections Reading Room also includes books of more recent vintage that are of unique interest to the law school community. For example, textbooks published by our early deans, materials on the Inns of Court, the history of the Old Baily, and reminiscences of local Washington law firms are shelved here. Holding a place of special honor is a collection of mid-nineteenth century legal Americana donated by former Professor Emeritus Maxwell Bloomfield. These and other rare books can be found in the Law Library's online catalog and are identified with a location of "Special Collections."

Terms of Access

Librarians are usually available to assist with retrieving materials from the Special Collections between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Monday through Friday). Visitors should contact the Reference Department (202-319-6284) ahead of time to arrange for assistance with this collection.

Resources for Researching the History of the Law School

Books

The Catholic University of America by C. Joseph Nuesse
Call Number: LD838. N84 1990
The Catholic University of America by Robert P. Malesky
Call Number: LD838. M35 2010

Timelines/Chronologies

University Yearbooks & Newspapers

The Catholic University of America, Cardinal Yearbook
The Archives of the Catholic University of America digital collection of the Cardinal Yearbook for the years 1916 through 2011.
The Catholic University of America, The Tower Archive Online
The Tower has served as the student newspaper at The Catholic University of America since the Fall of 1922. This digital collection includes the years 1922 through 2013.

Articles/Documents Arranged In Chronological Order

The Catholic University of America, Schools of Law 1900-1901 (1901).
The Catholic University of America, School of Law, Announcements 1913-14 (1914).
The Catholic University Law School and Law Library, 24 Cath. U. Bull. 73 (1918).
John McDill Fox, The School of Law of the Catholic University of America (1935).
The Catholic University of America: A Half Century of Progress (1939).
Frederick H. Jackson, William C. Robinson and the Early Years of the Catholic University of America, 1 Cath. U. L. Rev. 58 (1950).
This article discusses the first Dean of the Law School and the beginning of the School of Law.
Brendan F. Brown, Foreword, 1 Cath. U. L. Rev. xiii (1950).
Foreword to the First Issue of the Catholic University Law Review
Merger of Columbus University of Washington, D.C. into The Catholic University of America, H. Rep. 1805 (1954).
Congressional report on the merger between the two schools.
Vernon X. Miller, School of Law: A Progress Report, Cath. U. Bull., 1955, at 2.
Vernon X. Miller, The Law School of the Catholic University of America, 4 Cath. Law. 333 (1958).
Robert J. White, My Burden Light (19__)
Two chapters excerpted from Dean Robert J. White's autobiography.
William J. McDonald, Some Reminiscences on the University's Columbus School of Law, Cath. U. Bull., Oct. 1966, at 3.
Law School History (1966).
Excerpted from Leahy Hall Dedication Brochure
Alan P. Gelfuso & Kevin P. Tighe, Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America, Student Law. J., May 1967, at 14.
Michael H. Cardozo, Vernon X. Miller: Association Man, 17 Cath. U. L. Rev. 293 (1968).
Tributes to Dean Vernon X. Miller: As We Know Him, 17 Cath. U. L. Rev. 287 (1968).
Blase Robert Dixon, The Catholic University of America, 1909-1928 (1972).
H. Warren Willis, The Reorganization of the Catholic University of America Under the Rectorship of James H. Ryan 1928-1935 (1972).
Extract from a dissertation
Robert Stevens, Law School: Legal Education in America From the 1850s to the 1980s (1985).
An excerpt describing the 1894 proposal to transfer Georgetown Law School to Catholic University.
C. J. Nuesse, The Thrust of Legal Education at the Catholic University of America, 1895-1954, 35 Cath. U. L. Rev. 33 (1986).
Ralph J. Rohner, Foreword, 44 Cath. U. L. Rev. 1 (1994).
Dedication of the new law school building.
Janet Reno, Remarks of the Honorable Janet Reno, 44 Cath. U. L. Rev. 5 (1994).
Dedication of the new law school building
The Building For The Future (1994).
A brochure prepared for the dedication of the building. October 1, 1994.
Yvette Brown, A History of Columbus University School of Law (1997).
Ralph J. Rohner, The 50th Anniversary of the Catholic University Law Review, 50 Cath. U. L. Rev. 267 (2001).
Thomas Haderle, Bums, or a Bum Rap? CUA Law., Winter 2003, at 15.
Describing the war time contributions of Dean Robert J. White, First Commodore-Chaplain.
Clifford S. Fishman, 25 Years at CUA, CUA Law., Winter 2003, at 20.
Ralph J. Rohner, In Memoriam: Steven P. Frankino, 55 Cath. U. L. Rev. 1 (2005).
Veryl Victoria Miles, Dean's Dedication, 1 J. L. Phil. & Culture v (2007).
Dedication for the inaugural issue of the Journal of Law, Philosophy and Culture
Thomas Haderle, A Century of Excellence, CUA Law., Winter 2011, at 13.
Columbus Community Legal Services and Catholic University Law Review Celebrate Milestone Anniversaries
Ralph J. Rohner, Crucible of Talent: 60 Years of the Catholic University Law Review, CUA Law., Winter 2011, at 17.

Archives

The Archives section of the Special Collections Reading Room has received a number of important donations over the past 15 years. It is the repository of materials from several judges, former faculty members and notable alumni.

The Archives Section also serves as a historical repository for the Columbus School of Law as evidenced through the collection and retention of materials illustrating the day-to-day public life of the institution.

Terms of Access

Librarians are usually available to assist with retrieving materials from the Special Collections between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Monday through Friday). Visitors should contact the Reference Department (202-319-6284) ahead of time to arrange for assistance with this collection.

Additional Resources

Historical Photographs

Leahy Hall - Artist's Rendering (1966).

William C. Robinson - The Law School's First Dean (undated).

Moot Court in Leahy Hall (1960s).

Leahy Hall (1980s).

Model of Current Law School Building (1993).

Dulles Mansion - Columbus School of Law (undated).

Classroom in Leahy Hall (1960s).

Law School Scholarship (1939)

Law Students Leaving Leahy Hall (1966).

Law School Building Construction (1993).

Leahy Hall - The Law Library (1960s)

The First Graduating Class (1899)

Justice White Congratulating CUA Law Moot Court Team (1965).

Keane Hall (1980s)

Sutherland Cup Moot Court Competition (1962)

Supreme Court Justices Thomas & Ginsburg Attend Building Dedication (1994)

Columbus Community Legal Services Law Clinic (1970s).

Leahy Hall Groundbreaking (1965).

Washington Post Advertisement (1957).

Ribbon Cutting During Building Dedication Ceremony (1994).

The Law Library at Dulles Mansion (undated).

President Johnson Receiving Honorary Doctor of Laws (1965).

Construction of Current Law School Building (1993)

Leahy Hall - The Law Library (1966)

Dean Miller and Law Students (1966).

Justice O'Connor (1998).

Law Library in McMahon Hall (undated).

U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno at Law School Building Dedication (1994).

Columbus University Yearbook (1941).

Button Commemorating the Opening of the New Law School Building (1994).

Justice Alito - Commencement Speaker (2008).

McMahon Hall - Law Library (1917).

Last Updated: Oct 1, 2020 2:33 PM
URL: https://libguides.law.cua.edu/archives
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Judge Kathryn J. DuFour Law Library / 3600 John McCormack Road N.E., Washington, DC 20064 / 202-319-5155