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

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S2 THE DIGEST and Mr. Lambertson on Inter-State Commerce. Mr. John C. Watson was subsequently appointed lecturer on Criminal Law. The following gentlemen were also invited to deliver lectures at such times and upon such subjects as might be determined upon, but Without compensation: NS. J. Tuttle, S. B. Pound, N. S. Harwood, C. O. Whedon, T. M. Marquette, S. L. Greisthardt, A. R. Talbot, WV. J. Bryan, all of Lincoln, Eleazer Wakely, John M. Thurston, VV R. Kelly, H. J. Davis, all of Omaha, Judge Broady, of Beatrice, S. W. Osborne, of Blair, John B. Cessna, of Hastings, Judge Post, of Columbus, Judge VV. H. Morris, of Crete? A number of these gentlemen delivered lectures before the school. A very 'C small, extra sheetv announced the opening of the school in October, 1891. The tuition was fixed at 830 a year. lt was increased to 345 in 1895. Fifty-two students registered the first year, and twelve Were graduated in June, 1892. Classes met in the botany room in Nebraska Hall. Possibly their presence there interfered if with regular University Work, since the next year the school sought quarters in the Burr Block. The original course of study prepared by Dean Smith covered fairly Well the field of elementary law, but it was greatly lacking in systematic arrangement, and unsuited to that orderly develop- ment of legal principles so helpful to the student, and so neces- sary to an understanding of the essential unity of our common law. It is said that the actual performance Was even more dis- orderly than the printed program. Judge Reese, Mr. Wilson, and possibly other lecturers, as- signed regular readings in standard teXt-books in connection with their lectures. Indeed, ea1'ly the lirst year, Mr. VVilson in- troduced a resolution at a faculty meeting suggesting the adop- tion of this method by all lecturers, but consideration of the resolution was postponed. The Dean Was a iirm believer in the eiflciency of the so-called lecture system. There was no case study in the proper sense of the term. Text-books and cases were cited rather as authorities to justify the conclusions of the lecturer than as the proper subjects of careful study. Method and Qlack ofj order combined to perplexithe student, f y F 1 1 ,.

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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

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HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE OF LAW 83 '4Mastering what seemed the lawless science of our law, That codeless myriad of precedent, That wilderness of single instances. The results obtained were disappointing to the friends of the school. After much deliberation a committee consisting of Chan- cellor Canfield and Regentllstabroolc reported at the June, 1893, meeting of the board of regents, that the Mcurriculum should be simplified and so modified as to give to each student a compara- tively small number of topics at any one time,'7 and that if the greater part of the undergraduate course must be that of the recitationfl 'ibased very largely upon the use of text-boolrsfi Dean Smith resigned, not being Min accord with this method of instruction. U Judge Reese succeeded to the deanship at the opening of the next school year. Lecturers lVilson, Webster, lVIunger, Max- well, and Wlatson were retained. Judge Frank Irvine, Jacob Fawcett, W. WV. Giifen, Judge J. H. Broadyjand Judge W. H- Hastings fthe last two for one year onlyj -were added to the corps of lecturers, and the writer was appointed instructor- The school was brought back to the University campus, and the room in University Hall now occupied by Steward Dales as- signed to its use. These quarters proving inadequate the school Nlodgedv the next year in room 16 in the same building, and upon the completion of the library building was allotted its pres- ent quarters. The course of study was simplified and so re-arranged that each subject might, as far as possible, serve as a fitting preparation for the next. The subjects of remedial law were grouped in the Second year. lVith slight changes and some additions the course of study then adopted is still followed. Probably future changes will consist in a more elaborate treatment of present topics rather than in substantial additions to thecurriculum. The method of instruction was changed. A modified form of the so-called text-book method was adopted and is still used. On some minor topics instruction is by lectures only' Some lecturers combine the lecture and text-bool: methods. T he writer has gen- erally combined the text-book and case study methods. The modern practice courts have been substituted for the ancient and well-nigh useless moot-courts.