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

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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

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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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held April 17, at the Riggs House, and was well attended. In an important particular it involved a departure from the usual custom which excludes from participation all but members of the class, and an invitation was extended to the Faculty. Honored by the dig- nified and gracious presence of our beloved President, Dr. Whitman, Mr. justice Harlan, Hon. W. A. Maury, Hon. Benjamin Butter- worth, and Secretary Martin, and enthused by their kindly and appropriate words, together with an elaborate mevzzz, and the best of fellowship prevailing, the affair was one to be long remembered. President Hendrick acted as toastmaster, and the ease and ability with which he presided assured success from the very irst word of welcome to the guests. The various toasts were responded to as follows: Our Profession, I. M. Spellman, Tex., A Hung jury-Eleven Stubborn Men,', G. R. Linkins, D. C. 3 The Uni- versity, H. C. Sanford, Wis.g Alpha and Omega-Junior and Chief Justice, Preston Boisseau, Va. 3 Class of '97, Benjamin Martin, Ir., S. C., An Honest Lawyerf, J. E. Jenks, Minn.g Our Athletes, H. I. Brown, N. H. 3 The Machine Politician, W. M. Smith, Ohio, Youthful Ambition, I L. Cousar, Ark., Lawyer vs. Liar, M. L. Alden, Kan., The Ladies, Frank Keiper, Ind. Not to be lost sight of is the extemporaneous but entertaining response of Mr. Snodgrass, Pa., of the class, to hearty calls of that gentleman's name. Mr. I. M. Fisher, Va., president of the Senior Class C962 was also a guest. Gbe Senior Yqar, 1896-7. Of the one hundred and thirty-seven members of the class during the junior year, seventy-four returned with the opening of the present term, on September 30, 1896. To this number are to be added' twenty-eight which were received from various sources, making the enrollment of the present Senior Law Class of Columbian University one hundred and two. The large number of missing Juniors is attributed by some to the fact that the Faculty deemed I7 '