University of Nebraska College of Law - Yearbook (Lincoln, NE)

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kjistorg of the Ciollege of Saw BY PROF. CHARLES A. ROBBINS. .In the fall of 1888, some two dozen young men, who were read- ing law in the oflices of Lincoln lawyers, organized a class for more systematic study and the trial of moot cases. This class met for a few weeks in the law oflices of Lamb, Ricketts Ro Wil- son, over the old Lancaster County Bank, on Tenth street. Soon after the organization of the class the writer accepted an invita- tion to become its leader and instructor. The place of meeting was changed to the rooms of the Lincoln Business College. The class met two evenings in each week. Readings were assigned in some standard text book, and the regular class work was limited to a quiz upon the subject matter of the reading. The work of the class as a whole was not satisfactory. All the advantages of law oflice study, so much vaunted by some law- yers who know nothing of the better methods, were possessed by these young men, supplemented by the regular assignment and discussion of readings, but their average progress was discour- agingly slow and uncertain. Class organization was too lax, recitations were too few, the study of the assigned readings could not be made compulsory. It ought to be said that a num- ber of the young men appeared to apply themselves diligently to the work and made satisfactory progress. With the coming of summer heat the work was suspended. Probably encouraged somewhat by the apparent success of that class, and at the suggestion of Messrs. T. S. Allen and W. F. Schwind, Mr. William Henry Smith, who had lately come to Lin- coln from Philadelphia, organized, in the fall of 1889, a law class which he called Central Law College. Good quarters were se- cured in the Burr block. The printed announcement contained the names of a very long list of lecturers including some of the most prominent lawyers in the state. Some of these gentlemen,

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THE UNIVERSITY AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM depression and the cutting oi of the Preparatory Department. The students are for the most part mature young men and Women peculiarly earnest in their pursuit of an education, and many of them working their way through college. The ages range from fifteen years to fifty-six years. They are stalwart Nebraskans, with an intermingling of students from twenty-two other states. The University is assuming its rank as the largest trans-Missise sippi University with the exception of the University of Cali- fornia. The students maintain a great variety of college organi- zations ranging from the religious and literary to the athletic field. ORGANIZATION. 1 The University was originally founded by an Act of the Leg- islature which took effect February 15, 1869. The government of the University is vested in a Board of Regents of six members elected by popular vote for terms of six years. The Regents elect the Chancellor, who in the law is called the chief educator of the State. He is the names between the Regents and the Faculty, of which he is a member. The Regents also select the members of the Faculty. The Faculty is ordinarly the legisla- tive body, initiating the purely educational measures of the in- stitution and entrusted with the discipline of the students. REVENUES. The revenues of the University are derived from ra tax of three- eighths of a mill per dollar upon the grand assessment roll of the State and from the income from land leases and sales under the Land Grant Act of Congress. There is also a money grant from the United States. The University is also possessed of cer- tain lands reserved for the endowment of the University. The Legislature of the State that has just adjourned made pro- vision to meet the shrinkage in the income of the University and voted money for the erection of the wing of a new building for the College of Mechanic Arts. It is clearly the determination of the people of Nebraska that the eliiciency of its University shall be maintained unimpaired.

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HISTORY or THE OOLLEGE or LAW 81 and notably Judge WVebster and Mr. Wilson of the present fac- ulty of this college, did deliver systematic courses of lectures. In the number and variety of her courts, the extent and char- acter of her libraries, the number and importance of her educa- tional institutions, and in her central location, Lincoln possessed decided advantages for the establishment of a law school, to which these earlier efforts served to attract attention. Members of the Lancaster county bar saw the opportunity and breached' the sub- ject to members ofthe general faculty of the State University and board of regents. In April, '91, a committee of the faculty consisting of Profes- sors Howard, Kingsley, Caldwell, Nicholson, and McMillan re- ported in favor of the expediency of establishing a law depart- ment, not neglecting to add that it the favorable influence of the bar will doubtless prove a new source of strength to the Univer- sity. Professor Howard presented the report to the board of regents. Judge J. R. Weloster addressed the board in favor of the proposed school. The Lancaster county bar association passed favorable resolutions and appointed a committee to confer with the chancellor and regents. At the June meeting, 1891, the board of regents authorized the chancellor to confer with the bar committee upon the organi- zation of the school. At later meetings it provided for the sala- ries of a dean and four lecturers, 'cemployedv William .Henry Smith as Dean, appointed a large corps of lecturers, and author- ized the chancellor to assign to the ULaW College W the use of such rooms Has might be secured without interference with reg- ular University Worlrf' and to have printed a H small, extra sheet for the present catalogue. The Hlaw facultyf' 'C until otherwise ordered,'7 consisted of: lVilliam H. Smith, Dean, James M. lVoolWorth, Science of J urisprudence, Joseph R. Webster, Equity Jurisprudence, J ohn U. Cowin, Constitutional Lawg Manoah B. Reese, Real and Per- sonal Property, Samuel Maxwell, Pleadings, lVilliam H. Mun- ger, Private Rights a fl Obligations, Grenio M. Lambertson, Crimi- nal Lawg Henry H. wfilsoii, Evidence. 'N lVith the exception of Mr. Cowin, the gentlemen accepted the appointments. Mr. Munger lectured on the Domestic Relations