University of Texas School of Law - Peregrinus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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EX COLL: ELTON M. HYDER, JR. The walnut-framed French Regency mirror which hangs in the lobby of Tanton Law Library is famous. The mirror dates from the mid-nineteenth century, and its Italian walnut frame is adorned with carved chimera, acanthus leaves, flower and fruit garlands, and birds. But perhaps its most famous feature is that it has become the ‘'interview mirror.” qualified by its ine foot high, six foot wide proportions and by its magnificence to be the •uitab e last minute glass for students on their way to interviews. The interview mirror is one of 73 pieces of furniture, rugs, and accessories, which along with 585 historic prints, paintings, and framed Americana comprise the Hyder Collection, on loan to the law school by Elton M. Hyder. Jr., a Ft. Worth attorney. The Hyder Collection is the most extensive collection of legal art and documents in the nation, having recently surpassed a rival collection at Harvard Law School. Since 1981, when Mr. Hyder presented 350 pieces to the university, such documents as a concessional land grant signed by Thomas Jefferson and by then-Secretary of IState James Madison, and two pages from the English Register of Writs (circa 1300). have been added to the collection. Handsome and rare oil paintings, such as a 1790 oil by J. Rising entitled Portrait of Counselor 'Men.” cover the walls of the law school. The average age of the collection pieces is over 150 years. Mr Hyder is a 1943 graduate of the law school and a life member-trustee of 'he University of Texas Law School Foundation. Before starting his law practice in Ft. Worth. Hyder acted as assistant Attorney General of Texas, and was involved in the prosecution of General Tojo and other Japanese war criminals in Tokyo after World War II. The curator of the collection is M's. Custis Wright. Mrs. Wright sleuthed the identity of the Rising portrait in England, and her research has taken her as far as China. The collection ranslorms the library into a place of beauty and history, and adds an addi-tonai dimension to learning. Ferae naturae are featured on a number of the valuable antiques: above, a detail of an engraved brass lock on a Korean elmwood storage chest; below, a gargoyle on the interview mirror. Lynn Berat A table leg fashioned into a dragon and elephant, from a mid-nineteenth century Burmese rosewood table Ex Con —21

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Exactly thirty years ago, the law school moved to its structure on 26th Street. Townes Hall appears above left, sans current construction buildings and Tarlton Library. Tarlton Law Library was housed in the east Townes Hall, the far right in each picture, until the fifth academic law library in the nation was built in 1980. Prof. Johnson bolts oot a show tunc in 1977 The Assault and Flattery revue began in 1952 in an open-air theater near the Main Building, and became a real spectacle the following year when Oean Page Keeton. Prof. Corwin Johnson. Prof. Gus Hodges. Cornell law dean Gray Thoron. Judge Joe Sneed of the Ninth Circuit, and Fulbrtght Jaworski partner Jack Procter won first place with a cancan line billed as A Dozen Wicked Legs. Featured over the years have been Dean Ernest Smith performing an elegant soft shoe in tails. Corwin Johnson, above, singing his showstopper Mr. Wonderful. That's Me. and associate dean T. J. Gibson in one hit after another. Above and left: the Law Building.

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FALL S n ivadoff DRUNK David Wolff was proclaimed the 1982 Fall Drunk by acclamation at the SBA-sponsored Fall Drunk Halloween party. October 29. at the Union 8allroom. As usual, there were a slew of Hawkins v. McGee hairy hands to cheer him on. as well as abortionists, vampires, punkers, and dead animals by the side of the road. Tom Allen won best costume with his version of what the judge had for breakfast, the Flintstones and Hare Krishnas tied for best group costume, a playboy bunny captured best all over honors, the plug and socket and King Kong and the Empire State Building tied for best duo. and Sarah Woelck was named the most surprising for appearing as a sorority girl. Prof. Guy Wellborn made a cameo appearance as Bryan Daly, and posed briefly with Chris Reynolds {Baby Huey.) The judging panel consisted of Joe Pevsner, who was also announcer, and Steve Maislin and Eric Tucker. 22 - Tall Chunk