As a newly minted lawyer in the late nineteenth century, what did you need–and how much did it cost–to set yourself up as a solo practitioner in Boston? The Library has recently acquired a lawyer’s manuscript expense book that provides an answer. W. Frederick Kimball (1851 – 1915) practiced law in Boston from 1878 until the beginning of …
“Do I go to law school at Harvard or at Yale?” If you have this happy dilemma, seek the advice of knowledgeable friends. This was the action taken in 1935 when a young man from Schenectady, New York consulted a hometown friend who had recently graduated from the Harvard Law School. Bill Waldron grew up across the street …
852: RARE – Telford Taylor on Harvard Law School v. Yale Law School Read More »
I am pleased to announce that the Papers of Henry J. Friendly have been processed and are now open to the public. Henry Friendly (HLS ’27) served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1959-1974, serving as Chief Judge from 1971-1973. He clerked for Louis Brandeis in 1927-1928 and then entered private practice …
852: RARE – Henry J. Friendly Papers Now Open for Research Read More »
If you’ve been awaiting the opportunity to do research in the records of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, the time is here! The AALL Washington Blawg reports that in accordance with the Presidential Records Act and President Obama’s Executive Order 13489, their respective libraries will be opening 245,763 pages of material to researchers. The Time is …
What do you do with a “very painterly” portrait of a judge who was disgraced for his corruption and spent time in jail for it? For years, the portrait of the judge in question hung in the chambers of Judge Charles Brieant, a federal district judge in New York. Brieant, who had paid for the portrait to be …
Today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of self-educated lawyer and President Abraham Lincoln. The current ABA Journal focuses on Lincoln, including articles about his writing, his style at trial, his pre-presidency experience, and a reading list. Closer to home, those interested in Lincolniana should not miss the Harvard’s Lincoln exhibit at the Houghton Library. The exhibit …
The inauguration of President Elect and HLS alumnus Barack Obama and Vice President Elect Joe Biden is just a few days away. Are you ready to wow your friends with your knowledge of inauguration tradition and trivia on January 20? You will be after you read this post. For example, did you know that Congress is in charge …
Today marks the 378th anniversary of the site selection for the city of Cambridge. At the time, it was named Newtowne, and would be the colony capital for a total of six years. In 1638, the General Court moved permanently to Boston, but, according to state history website Mass Moments, the General Court gave Newtowne a “consolation prize”: …
With an easy election still in our collective rear view mirror, here’s a look back to a more exciting electoral adventure. In Bush v. Gore Set to Outlast Its Beneficiary, Adam Liptak at the New York Times has an interesting discussion of the case that was supposed to be “like that tape recorder in “Mission: Impossible.” It was …