George Washington University Law School - Class Book Yearbook (Washington, DC)

Page 15 text:

From 1865 to 12484 the sessions of tl1e Law School were held in the Columbian Law Building on Fifth street, opposite the City Hall. The Law School has four classes: A junior and Senior Under- graduate Department, a Graduate Class in Practice, and a class in Patent Law and Patent Law Practice. The university was the first to create a Post-graduate Course in law and to confer the degree of Master of Laws. In October, 1895, the course in Patent Law was inaugurated. Upon completion of the course, the degree of Bachelor of Patent Law is conferred. No other institution confers this degree. Columbian University Law School is fortunate. Being located at the seat of government of the United States, it is enabled to select its professors from the Bench of the Supreme Court, as Well as from the local United States Courts. The largest law library in the United States is that of the Supreme Court, and this library is open to the free use of the students of the Law School. Besides this, the University has a large law library. By reason of its loca- tion, an exceptional opportunity is afforded students for the examin- ation of methods ofjudicial procedure in the various courts, includ- ing the Court of Claims and the Supreme Court. The administration of the laws may be studied in the various Executive Departments. The alumni of the Law School are to be found in every State of the Union, and many of them have nlled positions of honor and trust in both State and National administrations, besides achieving distinction at the bar. O T5

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Rev. Benaiah L. Whitman, D. D., elected June 17, 1895, to succeed the late Dr. James C. Welliiig, was inaugurated as Presi- dent ofthe University, November 15, 1895. Columbian is signally blessed in the selection of one possessing such a high degree of culture and intellectual development. The prosperity and standing of the University are matters very near to his heart, and under his Wise guidance we shall see an unexampled advancement on the part of Columbian. At present, the University comprises the following ten departments: The Columbian College, the Corcoran Scientific School, the Summer School, the University Extension, the Grad- uate School, the Law School, the Medical School, the Dental School, the Columbian Academy and the Veterinary School. It has been decided to close the Academyi at the end of the present term, in view ot the fact that the University has reached a point of development which makes Work of a preparatory grade no longer desirable. A School oi Comparative jurisprudence has been estab- lished in accordance with resolutions adopted in june, 1892, and the introductory Work will commence during the next term. The officers of instruction number 154, all eminent in their specialties. The number of students enrolled during the year is IOI3. The lgw Selyool. The Columbian University Law School was organized February 3, 1826. Hon. XVillia1n Cranch, Chief justice of the Circuit Court of the United States, and Hon. VVi1liam T. Carroll, Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States, were the Hrst professors. The school was discontinued on account of the embarrassment of 1827, but was re established 1865, it being the oldest law school in Wash- ington, even if the year 1865 be considered the date of founding. 14

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The Qlass of '97, The members of the class consider it desirable to carry with them from the University some memento-something less fugitive than mere recollection-which in the future will call to mind the pleasant associations and friendships of the last two years. The purpose of this publication therefore, is to preserve such matters relative to the history of theclass and those who constitute it as may be of interest generally. 6l7e junior Year, 1895-6. The class entered Columbian University October 3, 1895, with great enthusiasm, judging from the greeting given the Faculty. The class enrolled one hundred and thirtyeseven members, repre- senting thirty-three States including the District of Columbia. With a new View to organization, a meeting was held November 4, with W. M. Smith, Ohio, as temporary chairman, and G. I. Hesselman, Ill., as temporary secretary. Other meetings were held November 13, and December 14, at Which last meeting a permanent organization was effected, and the following gentlemen were elected officers for the year: President, J. T. Hendrick, Tenn. 3 Vice Presi- dent, H. C. Sanford, Wis. 3 Secretary, G. I. Hesselman, Ill. 3 Treasurer, W. S. Stamper, Va., Executive Committee, Benjamin Martin, jr., S. C., Chairman, C. A. johnson, D. C. g W. E. Sullivan, Idahog C. C. Wells, Ill., W. F. VVoolard, 111.5 A. F. Specht, Pa. 5 Preston Boisseau, Va. The decision ofthe class in january, 1896, to have a banquet provoked much oratory as to whether liquors should be excluded, but after considerable contention about preliminary questions, the motion to exclude carried without opposition. The banquet was 16